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Geely is giving people what they want.
The old saying is, you fish where the fish are, and that’s exactly what Geely is doing with its new Starray plug-in hybrid (PHEV) family SUV.
Sales of plug-in hybrids have skyrocketed 210 per cent in the first six months of this year, and that followed a sales boom of 100 per cent in 2024.
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It is no longer a fringe technology, but a viable option for many customers and brands to explore.
The Geely Starray is due early in quarter four this year and is the Chinese brand’s second model in Australia, following the all-electric EX5.
Both models are built on the brand’s GEA modular architecture, which means there are a lot of similarities.
The Starray decouples itself from the EX5’s electric car looks, adding a bit more pop and road presence compared to the other’s homogenous aerodynamic-focused design.
The Starray borrows several packaging benefits from the EX5, such as a roomy cabin, large cargo area, completely flat floor in the second row and plenty of hi-tech features.
At its heart is a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine matched to an electric motor delivering a combined 193kW sent to the front wheels via a single-speed hybrid transmission.
An 18.4kWh lithium iron phosphate battery allows for an electric-only driving range of 83km via the benchmark WLTP testing regime.
Geely claims it drinks just 2.4 litres per 100km and has a total driving range of 943km. It does require pricier premium unleaded petrol.
The battery can accept up to 6.6kW of AC power or 30kW of DC power.
There is a vehicle-to-load function that allows you to power appliances such as laptops, coffee machines and the like, and even charge an electric car.
The Starray will launch with two yet-to-be-named variants, with the top grade fitted with 19-inch alloy wheels, panoramic sunroof, heated and ventilated front seats, 16-speaker stereo, wireless device charger, ambient interior lighting, power tailgate and a head-up display that projects vital information such as travelling speed and safety warnings on to the windscreen in front of the driver.
There is a big 15.4-inch multimedia screen that is compatible with Apple CarPlay - Android Auto will be available from early 2026 via an over-the-air update.
There is no spare tyre but Geely is investigating the possibility of an optional accessory to have one fitted in the drop-down boot.
Geely hasn’t revealed prices yet, but it is believed it will be competitive. That’s likely to put it on a collision course with the BYD Sealion 6 and MG HS Super Hybrid.
The BYD Sealion 6 range kicks off at $42,990 (before on-road costs) and the MG HS Super Hybrid starts at a pricier $50,990 drive-away.
Expect the Starray to be priced closer to the Sealion 6 as the EX5 undercuts the equivalent BYD.
