Geely confirms Starray EM-i Super Hybrid SUV for Australia
Chinese car maker Geely confirms its second model for the Australian market, the Starray EM-i Super Hybrid SUV.
It’s known in its Chinese home market as the Galaxy Starship 7, but Geely has chosen the less evocative handle of Starray EM-i for a new plug-in hybrid SUV that’s set to launch here in early Q4.
The mid-size SUV will be Geely’s second vehicle available locally, following the brand’s debut with the Geely EX5 in March.
Dubbed a Super Hybrid by its manufacturer, the five-seat Starray EM-i is built on the same platform as the EX5, but where the latter is a pure battery electric, the Starray EM-i utilises Geely’s Super Hybrid system.
Super Hybrid powertrain, efficiency and range
Dubbed E-Motive Intelligence (hence the EM-i nomenclature), the hybrid powertrain combines a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol outputting 73kW/125Nm, with a 160kW/262Nm electric motor to deliver claimed combined outputs of 193kW. Geely does not provide a combined torque figure.
Combined cycle fuel consumption for the front-wheel drive hybrid is an impressive 2.4L/100km, with Geely claiming up to 83km of EV- only range courtesy of an 18.4kWh lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) battery, and a combined total range of up to 943km.
As a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) the Starray EM-i can be charged via either AC (6.6kW) or DC (30kW) chargers and can drive on battery power alone, or in hybrid mode with the electric motor and the petrol engine working together and the battery being charged either via regenerative braking or via the engine.
A third Power mode provides maximum acceleration via the combined outputs of the electric motor and petrol engine.
The Starray EM-i also features up to 3.3kW of Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) charging capability, allowing it to power electric power tools and appliances.
How much will the Starray EM-I cost?
Geely has not yet put a price on its new model but being similar in size to the battery electric EX5 and with a PHEV drivetrain it is likely to undercut that model.
The Geely EX5 is priced from $40,990 (RRP) for the entry-level Complete, or $44.9990 (RRP) for the better equipped Inspire, so it’s possible the Starray EM-i will land with a sub $40k sticker price.
When it does arrive the Starray EM-i will drive headlong into an increasingly competitive PHEV SUV segment that includes the likes of the BYD Sealion 6 (from $44,400 driveaway), Chery Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid (from $39,990 driveaway), Leapmotor C10 Design REEV Ultra Hybrid (from $45,900 driveaway), and MG HS Essence Super Hybrid (from $52,990 driveaway).
Geely owners are offered a competitive seven-year/unlimited kilometre vehicle warranty, an eight-year/unlimited-kilometre high-voltage battery warranty, and up to seven years of roadside assist.
The Geely story
Despite having a limited brand presence here in its own right, Geely is one of China’s automotive heavyweights with a star-studded lineup of brands in its portfolio including Volvo, Polestar, Lynk & Co, Zeekr, Lotus, Smart, and Proton Cars.
The car maker first tried its hand here some 15 years ago via a Western Australian car importer, but the single petrol-powered sedan was poorly received and the brand soon disappeared from our shores.
Since then, Geely Automotive Holdings has grown into an industry giant, with sales reaching 2.79 million units worldwide in 2023, and some 35% of those being New Energy Vehicles.
Unlike some Chinese rivals which have dipped their toe in the Australia market via independent importers, Geely’s second-coming in Australia is with a full factory-backed effort.
The car maker relaunched here earlier this year with 22 dealerships Australia-wide including five in Queensland, and has plans to grow that to more than 100 dealerships in the coming years.
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