Geely 1.5T BHE15 Engine Specs

The Geely 1.5T BHE15 is a 1.5-liter turbocharged, direct-injection inline-three petrol engine produced since 2018, co-developed with Volvo under Geely's ownership of the Swedish brand and used across a range of Geely and Lynk & Co models, including the Coolray, Atlas Pro, Tugella, and the Lynk & Co 01, 02, and 06. Its Volvo-linked development is significant: this engine benefits from considerably more rigorous engineering standards than Geely's older, wholly in-house designs, and it has been recognized as one of the more genuinely competitive engines to come out of the Chinese auto industry to date.

Producing 177hp and 255Nm of torque from just 1,477cc across three cylinders, the BHE15 uses a DOHC 12-valve head, direct injection, a variable-geometry turbocharger, and a compression ratio of 10.5:1, resulting in performance that is genuinely comparable to established European turbocharged engines of similar displacement - a notable achievement for a three-cylinder unit this size. The turbocharger's responsiveness helps smooth out some of the inherent vibration characteristic of three-cylinder engines, giving the BHE15 a more refined character than its cylinder count alone would suggest.

A handful of maintenance considerations are worth understanding on this engine. Unusually for a modern engine of this type, the BHE15 uses a timing belt rather than a chain, meaning it must be replaced at the specified service interval - skipping this is particularly risky on a turbocharged engine where under-hood heat accelerates rubber component wear. As with any three-cylinder engine, some drivers notice more vibration at idle and certain engine speeds than they would in a four-cylinder equivalent, though this is inherent to the layout rather than a fault. The turbocharger requires quality oil and strict adherence to service intervals, since poor maintenance is the leading cause of premature turbo failure on small, hard-working turbocharged engines. As a relatively new engine, early production examples should be checked for outstanding technical bulletins or recalls. Direct injection means carbon buildup on the intake valves will develop over time regardless of how well the engine is maintained, and budgeting for periodic cleaning is a sensible part of long-term ownership planning.