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Electric
2026 Geely Starray EM-i PHEV medium SUV: price, specs and release date in Australia
RACV
July 02, 2025
The Geely Starray EM-i plug-in hybrid is coming to Australia soon and looks set to be a highly affordable, strong and economical new contender in the best-selling medium SUV class.
Chinese auto giant Geely has confirmed the plug-in hybrid 2026 Geely Starray EM-i will launch in Australia in the final quarter of this year, joining the battery-electric Geely EX5 in the top-selling medium SUV segment.
Geely Auto has already found more than 1000 homes for the budget EX5 in the EV’s first three months on sale and is hoping the Starray EM-i will draw more buyers into the fold with highly affordable pricing and a package that offers premium features and strong, yet economical, performance.
It’s another confident move from Geely, which has built up a following as the parent of well-known prestige marques such as Volvo, Polestar and Lotus and is working on an ambitious plan under its own hat that involves a broad model range, national dealer network and a position among the top 10 brands in Australia.
The Geely Starray EM-i has an upmarket cabin with plenty of space, versatility and tech.
How much will the Geely Starray EM-i cost in Australia?
Local pricing for the 2026 Geely Starray EM-i is still to be announced, however Geely Auto Australia says the medium SUV will offer “more included features and more cost efficiency” in what it calls “accessible innovation”.
Occupying the same segment as the battery-electric 2025 Geely EX5, which has an aggressive starting price of $40,990 plus on-road costs, pricing for the Geely Starray EM-i plug-in hybrid could start well below $40,000.
The EX5 arrived as one of the most affordable EVs in the medium SUV class and the Starray EM-i is tipped to follow suit among the PHEV ranks. As with EX5’s Complete and Inspire model grades, a two-tiered line-up is anticipated for the Starray EM-i, the flagship trim level adding extra equipment for a circa-$4000 premium.
When does the Geely Starray EM-i go on sale in Australia?
The 2026 Geely Starray EM-i will launch in the final quarter of this year, joining the Geely EX5 as the second model for the brand in Australia.
These will be followed by other new models in key segments, with a mix of EV, PHEV and even regular combustion engines under consideration. Expect the Geely line-up to swell to at least six models over the next three years as the Chinese brand builds its presence in our market.
Geely Starray has a roomy cabin with a large panoramic sunroof.
Daytime running lights for Starray have a ‘Milky Way’ ripple design.
Flexible front and rear seats allow Starray occupants to sprawl out.
The Geely Starray’s plush interior includes colourful ambient lighting.
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Geely Starray EM-i design and specification
The 2026 Geely Starray EM-i will slot neatly into the top-selling medium SUV segment, standing slightly bigger overall than the EX5 and very close to the BYD Sealion 6.
Known as the Galaxy Starship 7 in its Chinese home market, the Starray is a five-seater only and measures 4740mm long, 1905mm wide and 1685mm tall. It rests on a 2755mm wheelbase. These figures should translate to generous interior room across the front and rear seats, aided by Geely’s GEA (Global Intelligent New Energy Architecture) platform that enables a flat floor. The EX5 uses the same platform.
Cargo space is listed at 528 litres, including 100L under the boot floor. Folding down the split-fold rear seats can liberate 2065 litres of room, while the front seats can also recline 180 degrees and connect with the second row to create an area where the driver and front passenger may sprawl out or take a lie down at a rest stop, for example.
High-series variants are expected to be fitted with fully electric front seats that offer heating, ventilation and even a 14-point massage function. The plush interior treatment includes LED strips running for 2.7 metres around the cabin to provide ambient lighting with 256 colours and 20 brightness levels. On a practical note, Geely say 34 storage areas are also provided.
Outside, LED headlights feature at the front and rear, including daytime running lights in a ‘Milky Way’ ripple design that’s a nod to the car’s Galaxy branding overseas and its Starray moniker here. According to Geely, the tail-light treatment evokes a rising sun and sparkling lake.
The SUV has a slippery 0.28Cd drag coefficient that Geely says contributes to low fuel consumption and a long driving range. Premium versions in China have electric tailgate assistance, an openable panoramic sunroof, thumping 1000W Flyme Sound stereo and 19-inch wheels (up from 18” at the entry level).
Underneath, the suspension design comprises MacPherson struts up front and a four-link configuration at the rear. Geely also claims a tight 10.6m turning circle. The SUV has been spotted testing in Australia and will hopefully receive chassis tuning tailored to our road conditions.
The Starray should follow the EX5 with a seven-year/unlimited-kilometre factory warranty, extending to eight years (with unlimited kilometres) for the battery.
The Geely Starray’s GEA platform sees the engine up front and the e-motor at the rear, while the battery sits low underneath the floor.
What powers the Geely Starray EM-i?
The 2026 Geely Starray is the first export model from that brand to feature its EM-i (E-Motive Intelligence) Super Hybrid technology. This is a plug-in hybrid powertrain that combines a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine with an electric motor to drive the front wheels only via a single-speed transmission.
The small petrol engine produces 73kW of power and 125Nm of torque, while the e-motor develops a handy 160kW/262Nm and draws energy from an 18.4kWh lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) battery. The combined power output for the PHEV is an impressive 193kW, which should provide for strong acceleration.
The LFP battery will enable electric-only driving for “short commutes” but Geely Auto Australia has stopped short of providing specific details on driving range (EV and total range with hybrid combined). Ditto for fuel consumption, although Geely in China says the brand has “entered the 3L/100km era” and that the engine has a 50-litre fuel tank.
The battery can take DC charging up to 36kW and replenish from 30 to 80 per cent in 20 minutes at this rate, according to Geely.
There are three driver-selectable power modes with the Starray’s EM-i Super Hybrid system: Pure (electric only), Hybrid (automatically switching between e-motor and petrol engine for maximum range and fuel efficiency) and Power (electric/petrol working in tandem for maximum performance).
Geely says the EM-i system is designed to be “electrically driven”. In other words, the SUV should offer the instant torque and smooth take-off of a battery-electric powertrain while retaining the range and flexibility afforded by a regular petrol-electric hybrid.
The carmaker also points to silicon carbide technology integrated into the electric drive to optimise temperature management, “delivering consistent driving feel with no dependence on battery state of charge”.
The Geely Starray EM-i has Vehicle to Load (V2L) capability.
Boot capacity in the Geely Starray EM-i is a handy 528 litres.
The Geely Starray has an aerodynamic design that helps with efficiency.
The driver is provided with dual screens and a head-up display.
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What safety and technology features on the Geely Starray EM-i?
The GEA platform underpinning the 2026 Geely Starray EM-i was engineered to ensure the battery can withstand extreme conditions. According to Geely, these scenarios include immersion in corrosive sea water, high-altitude and sub-zero temperature exposure, repeated undercarriage impacts, application of 26 tonnes of force, side collision at speed and direct flame exposure for over two minutes.
The Geely EX5, which uses the same platform, has achieved a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating, so this bodes well for the Starray. However, the exact suite of safety features fitted to the PHEV is still to be confirmed for the Australian market.
Count on at least six airbags and a broad range of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), including autonomous emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, active cruise control and active lane keeping assist. A comprehensive camera system will not only provide a 360-degree view around the car but should also keep an eye on the driver for signs of fatigue and distraction.
Australian models will have Vehicle to Load (V2L) capability, which allows you to power external appliances using the car’s battery (up to 3.3kW), while the infotainment tech includes a 14.6-inch central touchscreen, 10.2-inch driver’s instrument display and a 13.8-inch head-up display.
There’s also a cooled 50W wireless smartphone charging pad on the centre console.
The information provided is general advice only. Before making any decisions please consider your own circumstances and the Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determinations. For copies, visit racv.com.au. As distributor, RACV Insurance Services Pty Ltd AFS Licence No. 230039 receives commission for each policy sold or renewed. Product(s) issued by Insurance Manufacturers of Australia Pty Ltd ABN 93 004 208 084 AFS Licence No. 227678.
