Geely Coolray vs Changan UNI-S

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

Geely Coolray in South Africa

Geely Coolray

Vertex Petrol 7-Speed DCT Current
ZAR 429,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 128 kW 🔧 290 Nm ⛽ 15.38 km/l
VS
Changan UNI-S in South Africa

Changan UNI-S

1.5T AT CE Petrol 7-Speed DCT Current
ZAR 469,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 138 kW 🔧 300 Nm ⛽ 14.49 km/l
Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Geely Coolray vs Changan UNI-S: the short answer

Coolray and UNI-S are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Coolray starts ZAR 20,000 cheaper Coolray from ZAR 369,900 · UNI-S from ZAR 389,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification Coolray UNI-S
Maximum Power Coolray128 kW UNI-S138 kW
Maximum Torque Coolray290 Nm UNI-S300 Nm
Engine Size CoolrayNot Officially Disclosed UNI-S1500 cc
Combined Fuel Economy Coolray15.38 km/l UNI-S14.49 km/l
Ground Clearance CoolrayNot Officially Disclosed UNI-SNot Officially Disclosed

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Coolray

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Fewer listed safety features
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Efficiency
Specification evidence leader

UNI-S

Strengths
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: Published Practicality

Which One's Right for You?

Coolray

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use

UNI-S

  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Coolray UNI-S
Model Introduced Year 2026 2026
Generation Current South African model / exact generation number not separately published First current South African UNI-S retail generation, offered in CS, CL and CE grades.
Facelift History No applicable South African facelift history established No South African facelift has been announced since the UNI-S entered local retail sale in 2026.
Facelift Launched Since Not Applicable Not Applicable
Facelift Version Ending Not Applicable Not Applicable
Body Style SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status active active
Segment Passenger vehicle Compact SUV
Vehicle Type SUV Passenger car
Spec Coolray UNI-S
Length 4380 mm 4539 mm
Width 1795 mm 1865 mm
Height 1609 mm 1680 mm
Wheelbase 2600 mm 2656 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) Not Officially Disclosed Not Officially Disclosed
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) Not Officially Disclosed 167 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 45 l 51 l
Boot/Cargo Space 330 l 475 l
Kerb Weight 1815 kg 1505 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) Not Officially Disclosed 1825 kg
Payload Capacity Not Officially Disclosed Not Officially Disclosed
Towing Capacity Not Officially Disclosed Not Officially Disclosed
Seating Capacity Not Officially Disclosed 5 seats
Number of Rows Not Officially Disclosed 2 rows
Doors Not Officially Disclosed 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius Not Officially Disclosed 5.66 m
Front Headroom Not Officially Disclosed Not Officially Disclosed
Rear Headroom Not Officially Disclosed Not Officially Disclosed
Front Legroom Not Officially Disclosed Not Officially Disclosed
Rear Legroom Not Officially Disclosed Not Officially Disclosed

In depth: how these cars differ

This Coolray and UNI-S comparison uses the exact South African derivatives selected above. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: Coolray 60 vs UNI-S 59.

Efficiency index: Coolray 61 vs UNI-S 55.

Safety-equipment index: Coolray 90 vs UNI-S 92.

Practicality index: Coolray 46 vs UNI-S 68.

Ownership-cover index: Coolray not separately scored vs UNI-S not separately scored.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.

Specification Evidence Index

A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.

Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout

UNI-S leads by 5 points

Coolray and UNI-S are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Evidence leader 69 /100
Lead 5 points
Data 67% source coverage
69
#1 Evidence leader

UNI-S

67% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 92 Check Efficiency 55
Performance 59
Efficiency 55
Safety 92
Practicality 68
Leads by 5 points
64
#2

Coolray

63% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 90 Check Practicality 46
Performance 60
Efficiency 61
Safety 90
Practicality 46
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Coolray +1 Efficiency Coolray +6 Safety UNI-S +2 Practicality UNI-S +22

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

UNI-S

Performance 59/100
Efficiency 55/100
Safety 92/100
Practicality 68/100

Coolray

Performance 60/100
Efficiency 61/100
Safety 90/100
Practicality 46/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index Changan UNI-S leads the specification evidence index with 69 pts vs 64 pts for Coolray

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, UNI-S leads. However, Coolray may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Coolray vs UNI-S questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the exact South African derivatives on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.