2026 Geely Starray EM-i Launch Review

Geely is ramping up its push in the Australian market with the plug‑in Starray EM‑i that will now sit alongside the recently launched EX5 electric SUV. Think of two Chinese newcomers as a set; after all, they do look similar and are set to complement each other in Geely’s local lineup.

Essentially a long‑range PHEV version of the EX5, the 2025 Geely Starray EM‑i pairs some handsome, albeit generic styling with a plug‑in powertrain that promises over 80km of pure EV range and some impressively low running costs — all from a shockingly affordable $37,490 plus on‑road costs. That’s right people, the Starray EM-i costs around $5,000 less than a base Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, a car which can barely manage to drive a single kilometre without engaging its petrol engine.

We headed to Sydney for a drive to the Hunter Valley and back, to see how the Starray EM‑i feels in the real world and whether it should be on the shortlist for anyone cross‑shopping Chinese newcomers and established makes in the crowded plug-in segment. Will the Starray EM-i be just another also ran in the segment, or the well-rounded value-packed hero we’ve wanted for years? Let’s find out.

2026 Geely Starray EM-i Pricing

The 2026 Geely Starray EM‑i line-up kicks off at $37,490 before on-road costs for the entry-level Complete, with the range topping out at $39,990 for the Inspire flagship. That sharp pricing places it well below many of its direct rivals, including the BYD Sealion 6 (from $42,990 plus on-road costs), GWM Haval H6 PHEV ($44,990 drive away), Jaecoo J7 SHS ($47,990 drive away) and MG HS Super Hybrid (from $50,990 drive away).

Step outside the Chinese brands and the gap widens even further, with the pre-facelift Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV starting at $57,290 plus on-road costs, while Mazda’s CX‑60 PHEV commands at least $63,290 plus on-road costs.

To sweeten the deal, Geely is offering a launch package until the end of November. Buyers will receive a Mode 2 charging cable and complimentary premium paint, along with the choice of either a 3.88 per cent p.a. comparison finance rate (based on a 36‑month term with no deposit) or three years of complimentary scheduled servicing.

It’s this strong value play that reinforces the Starray EM‑i as a value packed choice in the segment.

2025 Geely Starrary EM-i Feature List

2025 Geely Starrary EM-i Complete

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Dusk-sensing automatic LED exterior lighting
• 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster
• 15.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Satellite navigation
• Wireless Apple CarPlay
• Wireless Android Auto – OTA update Q1 2026
• 6-speaker sound system
• Automatic climate control
• Power front seat adjustment
• Heated front seats
• Geely Connected Services – 2 years
  • Enhanced Voice Assistant
  • 4G network connection
  • Live traffic information
  • Over-the-air updates
  • Geely Application Store
  • Online media streaming
  • Remote vehicle functions

Geely Starray EM-i Inspire adds:

• 19-inch alloy wheels
• Power panoramic sunroof
• 13.4-inch head-up display
• Wireless smartphone charging
• 16-speaker 1000W Flyme premium sound system
• Power tailgate
• Front parking sensors
• 256-colour ambient interior lighting
• Ventilated front seats
• Driver seat memory function

2026 Geely Starray EM-i Safety Features

• 7 airbags including a front-centre
• Adaptive cruise control
• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Collision mitigation support – front, rear
• Door open warning
• Driver fatigue alert
• Emergency lane-keep assist
• High-beam assist
• Hill descent control
• Multi-collision braking system
• Lane Changing Assist
• Lane-keep assist
• Occupant detection alert
• Rear cross-traffic assist
• Rear parking sensors
• Seatbelt reminders
• Surround View Monitor including a 3D View
• Traffic sign information

Starray EM-i Inspire adds:

• Front parking sensors

2026 Geely Starray EM-i Colour Options

The Geely Starray EM-i comes in six exterior colours: Alpine White, Polar Black, Jungle Green, Glacier Blue, Volcanic Grey, and Cloudveil Silver. Alpine White is the sole standard, complimentary colour, while the other five premium colours are available for an additional $600.

What’s under the bonnet?

The 2026 Geely Starray EM‑i runs Geely’s so‑called ‘Super Hybrid’ setup, which pairs a naturally aspirated 1.5‑litre petrol engine making 73kW/125Nm with an electric motor with 160kW/262Nm outputs and a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack, giving a total system output of 193kW through the front wheels.

That all gives you a WLTP-rated electric range of 83km and an overall distance-to-empty in hybrid mode of 943km.

Working out the real-world fuel economy of a plug‑in hybrid is always tricky, because so much depends on how often you charge and how you drive. Make the most of the Starray EM‑i’s sizeable battery and keep it topped up regularly, and it can be just as cheap to run as a full EV until you need to lean on the petrol engine for longer trips. The key, though, is plugging in as often as practical to unlock the real benefits of the system.

During the launch drive from Sydney to the Hunter Valley, we set off with almost full EV range showing – though the car always keeps around 20–25 per cent in reserve for hybrid operation – and recorded an average of 18kWh/100km over roughly 70km of EV-only driving, before the petrol engine started to kick in. That’s a respectable figure, even if it doesn’t quite match pure EVs, and even if the real-world EV-only range fell short of the 83km advertised. On the route back to Sydney with no EV-range showing the Starray EM-i averaged around 6L/100km which, once again, is pretty decent for a car of this size.

With a 51‑litre fuel tank on board, it’s likely the Starray EM‑i could actually exceed Geely’s quoted combined range of 943km when running on a full tank and a fully charged battery.

The Starray EM-i’s battery can be DC fast-charged on a public station, too, although only at 30kW. Not brilliant, but still good enough for a 30-80% top-up in 30 minutes. It can give back, too: there’s vehicle-to-load and vehicle-to-vehicle (V2L/V2V) capability.

What is it like to drive?

We walked away pleasantly surprised by the Starray EM‑i’s driving experience. It doesn’t truly excel in any single area, but it delivers a well‑rounded package that feels more competent than expected.

In EV mode, the SUV offers smooth, effortless punch that’s more than adequate for everyday driving. It never feels outright fast, but for its intended audience there’s plenty of grunt, and it comes across livelier than many rivals running naturally aspirated petrol engines – and even some small turbocharged units. Switch to the hybrid modes and the system again leans heavily on the electric motor, with the 1.5‑litre petrol engine acting more like a generator to sustain charge. In this series‑hybrid setup, the driving experience is reminiscent of Nissan’s X-Trail e‑Power, even if the petrol engine does actually have a connection to the front wheels. The petrol engine cycles on and off unobtrusively most of the time, though at higher speeds it can occasionally flare to high revs, bringing some extra noise and vibration.

While the Starray EM-i is actually a bit lighter than the EX5 (1739kg versus 1765kg for equivalent Inspire models), it’s also a bit slower. Not slow per-se, with 0-100km/h in a respectable 8.0 seconds, but nowhere near as perky as the EX5’s 6.9 second sprint to 100km/h.

As with many Chinese‑built SUVs, the chassis and controls are tuned more for comfort than outright engagement. The ride is soft, even on the Inspire’s larger 19‑inch wheels, and while it can take an extra beat to settle over big undulations at highway speeds – particularly at the rear – it never feels wallowy or clumsy. Body lean is noticeable in bends, but not excessive.

Steering is light and somewhat insulated from the road, yet the small wheel and quick ratio help the Starray feel manoeuvrable and even a little eager in tighter spaces. Braking response can be inconsistent, with no pedal feel as the system transitions between regenerative and mechanical braking, though this is common among PHEVs and easy to adapt to.

Refinement is generally good. The petrol engine stays muted in most scenarios, and road and wind noise are well contained, even on rougher surfaces. Driver assistance technology is also a highlight compared with some Chinese competitors. Where brands like Chery and GWM often struggle with poorly calibrated lane‑keeping or over‑sensitive adaptive cruise, the Starray’s systems are more polished and genuinely helpful.

Know what really didn’t work well? Geely’s adaptive cruise control. The system is fine in a straight line, but it scrubs off 20–40km/h in even mild corners, forcing the driver to jump back on the throttle, which ultimately undermines the very purpose of the technology.

What is it like inside?

Stepping inside the 2026 Geely Starray EM‑i shows a rather modern, and well-built interior with decent quality and tons of space. The steering wheel is a quirky two‑spoke design that falls nicely to hand and from there, there’s a broad, sculpted dash and centre console, anchored by a slim 10.2‑inch driver display and a massive 15.4‑inch infotainment screen that dominates the cabin like a cinema screen in a lounge room. The oddly placed speakers protruding from the dash do feel a little out of place and feel a tad tacky for our tastes. We like that Geely has kept a large physical rotary dial in the middle of the centre console to control things such as volume and the temperature of the climate control, two functions that are often buried deep in the menus of other Chinese cars.

The base model sticks with an all‑black interior, but the Inspire variant unlocks an Ivory White trim that instantly lifts the ambience. It’s brighter, more premium in feel, and makes the cabin look like it belongs to a car with a far higher sticker price. That’s not entirely surprising when you remember Geely also owns Volvo, Polestar and Zeekr.

The displays themselves are crisp and fluid, with sharp graphics and slick animations that wouldn’t look out of place in a luxury SUV. Still, the driver’s cluster is a little too basic and could offer more configurability, while the central touchscreen sometimes buries simple settings under too many menu layers.

Practicality is well thought out: twin phone trays sit ahead of the centre armrest, which hides a decent cubby beneath. Cupholders live under a folding lid (though they’re a little large for most cups, meaning things tend to move around), and the door bins are fine for slimmer bottles and odds and ends. Build quality impresses too, with soft‑touch surfaces, pinstriped wood‑style trim, and flashes of silver and chrome that make the cabin feel more expensive than the price tag suggests.

In the back, space is generous. At 5’10” I could sit comfortably behind my own driving position, even with the Inspire’s panoramic sunroof stretching overhead. The rear bench is a little flat – good for squeezing in three across, less so for cornering support – but amenities are plentiful: map pockets, a fold‑down armrest with cupholders, rear vents, USB ports, ISOFIX and top‑tether points. The only omission is a dedicated third climate zone.

Boot space is a mixed bag. With the rear seats up, its 428 litres is no better than a Toyota RAV4, but fold them down and you unlock a cavernous 2065 litres. It’s disappointing to see no spare wheel – Geely supplies only a tyre repair kit across the range.

What’s the warranty and servicing like?

Geely Australia backs the entire Starray EM‑i lineup with a seven‑year/unlimited kilometre warranty, while the high‑voltage battery is protected for eight years with no distance cap, including a guarantee it will maintain at least 70 per cent of its original capacity over that period.

Roadside assistance included for the first 12 months and extended up to seven years when servicing is maintained through the dealer network. Scheduled servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000 kilometres, and buyers benefit from capped‑price servicing for five years or 75,000 kilometres, with the total cost over that period coming to $1932.

2026 Geely Starray EM-i Rating: 7.5/10

It’s super easy to lump the 2026 Geely Starray EM‑i into the sea of other Chinese SUVs competing for your hard-earned cash. This isn’t just another soulless budget‑friendly entry in the crowded mid‑size SUV space – it’s a surprisingly polished package that delivers strong value where it counts. While it doesn’t dominate in any single area, its balance of performance, efficiency and equipment makes it feel more cohesive and better resolved than many of its Chinese‑branded rivals.

Yes, there are quirks – the cruise control system needs to be retuned, and the ride gets floaty at higher speeds, but this is a fundamentally good, honest car that should be on your shopping list. With Geely Australia continuing to invest in its dealer and aftersales network, the 2026 Geely Starray EM‑i shapes up as a compelling option for buyers willing to back a new brand in one of the most competitive segments on the market.