Geely Farzion FX is an all-new ute – and an SUV too

Geely’s commercial vehicle division Farzion has begun selling the FX in China, a curious blend of SUV and pick-up truck.

Based on the Geely Boyue SUV, the Farzion FX adds extra length at the rear of the vehicle to provide a small tray in lieu of a traditional boot.

Priced from 126,900 yuan ($A26,000), the cross-bred SUV-cum-ute is designed primarily for five passengers and their gear, with the rear tray featuring a lockable cover with fake timber inlays for luggage.

It’s unlikely Chinese tradies will be clamouring to fit a canopy in the small tray or chuck their tools in there, given the bed measures just over a metre long (1125mm), 1.2 metres wide (1230mm) and can only lug around 540kg… which doesn’t include passengers.

Measuring 4905mm long and 1831mm wide, the Geely Farzion FX has similar dimensions to a Toyota LandCruiser Prado but is not as big as a Ford Ranger dual-cab ute for instance, which is 5446mm long and 1977mm wide.

The idea of a comfortable and refined family-friendly pick-up is not lost on mainstream global brands; Hyundai will soon release its own lifestyle ute in the US in the form of the Santa Cruz pick-up.

However, the Geely Farzion FX’s monocoque underpinnings and independent rear suspension inherited from its donor SUV means it cannot carry the one-tonne loads that Aussie ute buyers expect.

Ditto for the Hyundai Santa Cruz on that score.

Towing will be well below average given the Farzion FX is propelled by a small 1.8-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine that produces 137kW of power.

The cabin of the SUV/ute is well presented with a modern dashboard design with an integrated touch-screen for the infotainment system and neatly-organised controls underneath it.

There’s also a partially-digital instrument cluster, a flat-bottom multi-function steering wheel and drive mode selector dial.

Geely is a large car company with global resources and manufacturing capabilities and has enough product diversity to continue testing the waters with unorthodox products.

The Chinese auto giant owns Volvo, Lotus and Proton, among several other brands.

While the ‘lovechild’ of a family SUV and a dual-cab ute may not be the holy grail that Chinese brands are seeking to finally crack the Aussie new-vehicle market, the ungainly design shows a willingness within Geely to push the envelope in terms of new vehicle concepts and designs.