Price: AUD $37,490 (Complete) | AUD $39,990 (Inspire) before on-road costs
TL;DR: Should You Buy It?
The Good:
- Insane value — Fully loaded PHEV for under $40K AUD (₹22-23 lakh equivalent)
- 1000W Flyme audio system — One of the best sound systems under $100K. Not joking.
- 193kW combined power — Quick enough for a family SUV
- 943km combined range — 83km pure EV, then 51L petrol tank kicks in
- Premium interior — Soft-touch materials, panoramic sunroof, heated/cooled seats
- Porsche-inspired styling — Looks way more expensive than it is
The Bad:
- Wireless CarPlay is broken — Stutters, lags, ruins phone calls
- No Android Auto — Won’t arrive until early 2026 (maybe)
- Goodyear tires are trash — “Efficient Grip Performance” = neither efficient nor grippy
- Annoying safety beeps — Cuts off your music constantly
- Soft suspension — Bouncy, unsettled, “dynamically challenged”
- Rear seats too reclined — Can’t adjust angle, feels weird
Verdict: If you want a PHEV family SUV with killer features for $6,000 less than a BYD Sealion 6 and $5,000 less than a base RAV4, this is shockingly good. Just know what you’re getting into with the software issues.
Introduction: What Did Geely Screw Up? (Spoiler: Not Much)
Look, when a Chinese brand launches a fully loaded plug-in hybrid SUV for under $40,000 AUD, my first instinct is: What’s the catch?
The 2026 Geely Starray EM-i (yes, that’s actually the name) starts at $37,490 for the Complete trim and tops out at $39,990 for the Inspire trim before on-road costs.
For context:
- $6,000 cheaper than a BYD Sealion 6
- $5,000 cheaper than a base Toyota RAV4
- $2,500 difference between base and top trim
And yet, this thing comes with a 1000W 16-speaker Flyme audio system, panoramic sunroof, wireless charging, 360-degree cameras, and enough tech to make you wonder if Geely forgot to charge for half of it.
So I went in with one question: Where did they cut corners?
Turns out, mostly in the software. Let’s break it down.
Design: Porsche Called, They Want Their Rear End Back
Exterior
The Starray EM-i doesn’t look like a $37K budget SUV. It looks elegant.
Front: Nice LED daytime running lights, fake light bar (don’t care, it works), heavily plugged grille for aerodynamics. The Geely badge looks like a chocolate bar, which is weirdly charming.
Side: 19-inch alloy wheels (Inspire trim), roof rails, privacy glass, 360-degree cameras everywhere. Keyless entry with proximity sensing — you just walk away and it locks.
Rear: This is where it gets Porsche Cayenne vibes. Full-width light bar, clean bumper, “Starray EM-i” spelled out. Safe, elegant, not offensive.
Dimensions: 4740mm long, 2755mm wheelbase, 172mm ground clearance.
Those Goodyear Tires Though…
Here’s the first red flag: Goodyear “Efficient Grip Performance SUV” tires.
The name is confusing — are they efficient or grippy? Because those two things don’t go hand-in-hand. Turns out, they’re neither.
These tires are absolutely shocking. During spirited driving, the car was practically on three wheels. Grip is non-existent. First thing I’d do? Replace these immediately.
Charging & Range: Decent, Not Class-Leading
The Starray EM-i has an 18.4kWh LFP (lithium iron phosphate) battery.
Charging speeds:
Compare this to the Chery Tiggo 7 PHEV with the same size battery but 40kW DC charging, and it’s clear Geely isn’t leading here.
Range:
- 83km pure electric (WLTP)
- 943km combined with 51L petrol tank
- 2.4L/100km fuel consumption (claimed)
In real-world testing, they saw 3.8L/100km, which is still excellent.
For most people, this is fine. You plug it in at home overnight, get 80km+ of electric range for daily commutes, and the petrol engine kicks in for road trips.
Vehicle-to-Load: 6kW output for powering camping gear, tools, etc..
Boot Space: Adequate, Not Amazing
With the false floor up: 428L.
With the false floor down: 528L.
That’s 12L less than a RAV4 — basically the same.
Fold the rear seats and you get 1,600L+.
Missing: No power outlets in the boot, which feels like a miss given the 6kW vehicle-to-load capability.
Interior: Where Geely Absolutely Nails It
This is where the Starray EM-i punches way above its weight.
Materials & Build Quality
Soft-touch materials are almost everywhere. The only scratchy plastic is a small section on the dash.
The panoramic sunroof makes the cabin feel light and airy.
Build quality: Solid. No creaks, no rattles.
Tech & Infotainment
15.4-inch HD touchscreen — Incredibly snappy and fast.
Digital instrument cluster — Simple, minimalistic, shows all the info you need.
Wireless Apple CarPlay — This is where things fall apart.
The Wireless CarPlay Disaster
Geely added wireless Apple CarPlay, which sounds great. Except it’s completely broken.
- Stutters constantly during phone calls
- System lags and glitches
- People can’t understand you on calls
- You literally cannot take phone calls reliably
If you’re a power CarPlay user who makes calls constantly, this is a dealbreaker.
Android Auto: Not available until early 2026 (allegedly). Don’t buy anything with the promise of future updates — they can be delayed indefinitely.
The 1000W Flyme Audio System
This is the number one reason to upgrade to the Inspire trim.
16 speakers, 1000W of power. Speakers in the headrests, down-firing speakers above rear passengers, speakers everywhere.
Pump up the bass a little in the EQ settings and this thing rocks.
It makes sense — Geely owns part of Volvo, and Volvos always have killer audio. This is one of the best sound systems under $100K. Not even joking.
Storage & Features
- Massive center console storage (unlined plastic, things roll around)
- Wireless charger (drains iPhone instead of charging it — not great)
- USB-C, USB-A, 12V ports
- Physical air vents (not a given anymore)
- Heated & cooled front seats (Inspire trim)
- 13.4-inch head-up display (Inspire trim)
- 256-color ambient lighting (Inspire trim)
The Annoying Safety Beeps
The Starray EM-i is beepy and bongy.
Worse? It cuts off your music every time it beeps. You can’t disable it easily — you have to dig through menus while driving.
This will drive you insane.
Seats
Front seats: Very nice, heated/cooled (Inspire), speakers in headrests. But they’re too flat — no under-thigh support. You slip and slide a bit.
Rear seats: Weirdly over-reclined. You’re leaning way back like you’re at the dentist. Can’t adjust the angle.
Legroom and headroom are excellent at 5’11”. Soft-touch materials everywhere.
Performance: Quick Enough, Not Fast
Powertrain Specs
- Engine: 1.5L naturally aspirated 4-cylinder petrol
- Engine output: 73kW / 125Nm
- Electric motor: 160kW / 262Nm
- Combined power: 193kW
- Transmission: 1-speed Dedicated Hybrid Transmission
- Drive: Front-wheel drive
0-100 km/h
8.3 seconds in testing. Geely claims 8.0 seconds.
It’s not slow. It’s just not fast. And that’s fine for a family SUV.
The electric motor delivers instant torque in EV mode. Smooth, silent, punchy. When the petrol engine kicks in, it likes to rev and makes some noise, but it’s not intrusive.
Driving Experience: Comfortable, Not Sporty
The Good
Power delivery is smooth and refined. The hybrid system seamlessly switches between electric and petrol.
Quiet cabin — Acoustically treated glass (not double-glazed, sadly).
Adaptive cruise control and lane centering work well.
The Bad
Soft suspension — Too soft. Hit a bump and your ass leaves the seat. The rebound control is poor — the car bounces and takes time to settle.
Dynamically challenged — You should not take this car on challenging roads and drive fast. Between the soft suspension and terrible tires, you’ll easily lose control.
Annoying corner slowdown — Adaptive cruise control slows you down around even gentle corners. No way to disable it.
The Verdict on Driving
For daily commuting and highway cruising, this thing is great. Quiet, comfortable, refined.
For spirited driving or twisty roads, it’s a mess.
Safety Features
The Starray EM-i comes loaded with driver assistance tech:
- 7 airbags (including front-center)
- Adaptive cruise control
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Collision mitigation support (front and rear)
- Lane keep assist and lane change assist
- Traffic sign recognition
- Driver fatigue alert
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Surround-view 360-degree camera with 3D view
All of this is standard. At $37K-$40K. Wild.
Geely Starray EM-i Specs Summary
Complete vs Inspire: Which Trim Should You Buy?
Inspire adds (for $2,500 extra):
- 19-inch wheels (vs 18-inch)
- Panoramic sunroof
- 16-speaker 1000W Flyme audio system
- 13.4-inch head-up display
- Wireless charging
- Ventilated front seats
- 256-color ambient lighting
- Power tailgate
- Front parking sensors
- Driver seat memory
Verdict: Get the Inspire. The sound system alone is worth the upgrade.
Real-World Competitors
BYD Sealion 6: $6,000 more expensive. Similar tech, but Geely feels more refined inside.
Toyota RAV4: $5,000 more for the base model. Less tech, weaker performance, but better resale value and reliability reputation.
Haval H6 PHEV: Similar price, Australian-tuned suspension. Geely feels nicer inside.
Chery Tiggo 7 PHEV: Technically better value with faster charging. But the Starray looks and feels more premium.
Final Verdict: What’s Actually Wrong With It?
Honestly? Not much.
The wireless CarPlay is broken, the tires are terrible, the suspension is too soft, and the safety beeps are annoying.
But for under $40,000 AUD, this thing offers:
- Premium interior materials
- One of the best sound systems under $100K
- 943km combined range
- 193kW of power
- Loaded with safety tech
- Elegant design
I genuinely have no idea how Geely brought this product in at this price. It demolishes everything else at the price point.
Buy it if: You want a PHEV family SUV with killer features and can live with software quirks.
Skip it if: You’re a heavy Apple CarPlay user who makes constant phone calls, or you demand sharp handling.
For most buyers, this is a shockingly good deal.
Have you driven the Geely Starray EM-i? What do you think about Chinese PHEVs taking over the budget segment? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.
