Ditching My BMW for a Geely: A Surprising Upgrade That's Actually Worth It

I've been driving a BMW e70 for the past 8 years, but it's been giving me a lot of trouble lately. The rear end would come loose, and it would break down on me. With the current economic situation in our country, I knew I'd have to make some changes. My budget was 3 million rubles, and I wasn't willing to spend a fortune on a new car. I'd already tried Hyundai, Kia, and Nissan, but they didn't quite feel right. I wanted a car that was comfortable, stylish, and fast – something that would give me the same satisfaction as my BMW. A brand-new BMW for 10 million rubles was out of the question, so I started looking at other options. That's when I came across the Geely Tugella 2021 model. I was skeptical at first, but the Tugella blew me away during the test drive. It's got 238 horsepower, handles like a dream, and has amazing brakes. The sound insulation is top-notch, and it's almost as smooth as a BMW 3-liter diesel. The 2-liter turbocharged engine runs on gasoline, and it's a real game changer. The perks include heated seats and a steering wheel, ventilation for the front seats, wireless charging, interior lighting, and a panoramic roof in all trims. The trunk opens with a swing of your leg, and the car's smart enough to start automatically without any fuss. I was hesitant to try out the Geely, but it's been a great decision. The 20-inch wheels are a nice touch, and the red brake calipers add a sporty touch. The infotainment screen is massive and controls the entire car. I also appreciate the feature that when you turn off the engine and open the door, the seat slides back to make it easier to get out. There's also electric seat adjustment and memory. If you're willing to spend an extra 100-200 thousand rubles, get the Flagship trim – it's worth every penny. The 2022 restyled models have projection on the windshield and a dark roof liner. It's got multiple driving modes: comfort, sport, economy, deep snow, and off-road. Each mode has its own lighting scheme and exterior design. I didn't find any major downsides. The trunk sometimes doesn't open with a swing of your leg, the wireless charging is a bit inconveniently placed, and the seat back doesn't heat up. That's about it. I've been driving the Tugella for a while now, and it's been a comfortable crossover with all the necessary features and more. Plus, it's fast – really fast. I've been enjoying the ride, and I'm glad I made the switch. Now, let's talk about importing the Tugella from Minsk. In Belarus, they don't accept rubles, so we had to pay in dollars. However, we couldn't bring more than 10,000 dollars per person due to some law. The exchange rate wasn't in our favor either. But, as they say, where there's a will, there's a way. At the border, they didn't inspect the car documents, only our passports. After arriving, we had to go through certification for the imported car, which cost us around 40,000 rubles. Unfortunately, there weren't any such services in our city, so we had to travel to another city. We also had to get an electronic vehicle registration, which was done at the border. The whole process took over a month. Then, we had to register the car with the traffic police. Buying the car in Belarus was 300,000 rubles cheaper. It's up to you to decide if it's worth it. But, the car is awesome – I'm really happy with my decision. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a reliable and feature-packed car.

Now that I've had a chance to get familiar with the Tugella, I can confidently say that it's a great car. It's got everything I need and more. The build quality is impressive, and the features are top-notch. I've been driving it for a while now, and I'm really happy with my decision.

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