The Geely Starray EM-i marks the next step into the New Zealand market for the Chinese automotive giant as its second model to launch here, arriving shortly after the pure-electric EX5.
But rather than being an EV like the EX5, the Starray lands in a segment that is utterly bursting at the seams with new entrants - that of the so-called “super hybrid”.
Super hybrid is a term favoured by Chinese manufacturers for their advanced plug-in hybrids that pack big all-electric ranges of generally between 80-120km, with small petrol engines that general act as generators to charge the batteries and complex “Dedicated Hybrid Transmissions” that combine gears, electric motors and, I dunno, hamsters?, to handle the flow of electricity, drive and generally just get the power to the wheels.
The Starray - which belongs to Geely’s 'Galaxy' range, hence the name - is more or less a PHEV version of the EX5, albeit bigger and with significantly different sheet metal, and is pretty much the hero model for local distributor NordEast, being central to the company’s ambitious goal of selling 5000 Geely vehicles in New Zealand by 2028.
On the outside: what are the Geely Starray EM-i Inspire's main design features?
The Starray is a medium-sized SUV that leans toward the larger end of its segment, measuring 4740mm in length, which actually makes it 100mm longer than a Toyota RAV4.
The chassis is firmly biased toward comfort. You’re not going to be pushing on here, but you will be rather comfortable.
Packing a more squared-off, angular design than the EX5, the Starray’s front fascia is particularly distinctive, featuring a layered light arrangement with 264 individual LEDs.
While arguably more distinctive than most, the Starray is still quite “generic Chinese SUV” in terms of its overall styling, so while relatively handsome and completely inoffensive, it isn't particularly remarkable either.
Depending on the trim level, the Starray sits on either 18-inch or 19-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels, with our top-spec Inspire model sitting on some particularly striking 19s that did lift the overall exterior aesthetic.
On the inside: what's the Geely Starray EM-i Inspire's cabin like?
The Starray’s cabin is broadly similar to the EX5's and, by extension, most other Chinese SUVs currently on the local market, with a big 15.4-inch touchscreen handling most of the vehicle functions, with minimal switches or buttons, and a slick, minimalist look overall.
Practicality is a major highlight inside the Starray, with the long wheelbase and completely flat rear floor allowing passengers to stretch out comfortably.
The Starray distinguishes itself with the inclusion of a central physical rotary dial that allows drivers to toggle between audio volume and climate control with a simple click, addressing common criticisms of screen-only interfaces.
Material quality is high for relatively low its price point, featuring soft-touch surfaces and Geely’s nine-layer "marshmallow" seats, which are designed for long-distance comfort and are indeed particularly comfortable.
Practicality is a major highlight inside the Starray, with the long wheelbase and completely flat rear floor allowing passengers to stretch out comfortably, while the boot provides 428 litres of space, which can expand to 528 litres by dropping the adjustable floor to a lower setting.
On the road: what's the Geely Starray EM-i Inspire like to drive?
The Starray uses Geely’s E-Motive intelligence (EM-i) hybrid system that pairs a 73kW/125Nm 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine with a 160kW/262Nm electric motor and a 18.4kWh battery. It prioritises electric driving, with the petrol engine primarily acting as a generator and only engaging the wheels during high-demand situations like overtaking. On the road, the experience is smooth and exceptionally quiet, even when the engine is running.
On the whole, the Geely Starray EM-i is a decently compelling value proposition that undercuts mainstream rivals.
Geely had help from Lotus engineers to tune the suspension to handle rough surfaces and potholes effectively and as a result the chassis is firmly biased toward comfort, leading to noticeable body roll in tighter corners eventually leading to gentle understeer. It's quite floaty, so you’re not going to be pushing on here, but you will be rather comfortable.
Like the EX5, the biggest flaw in the Starray’s veritable arsenal of high-tech driver assists is the adaptive cruise control, which tends to scrub off a good 20 to 40km/h of speed at the merest sniff of a corner, but Geely says it has plans to address this via a software update.
The rest of the numerous aids and assists are generally brief and softly spoken, but do tend to err on the overly cautious side when it comes to, well, anything really.
In terms of economy, Geely claims a combined average fuel consumption of 2.4l/100km for the Starray on a full charge, which will take it up to 83km on electricity alone. This proved to be relatively easy to reproduce in real world driving, and driving it with the battery depleted saw a still pretty good figure of 6.4l/100km. One caveat here though is that it demands 95 octane petrol.
On ownership: what's the Geely Starray EM-i Inspire's warranty and servicing situation?
For early adopters, the NordEast is currently offering a three-year service plan, 15,000km of Road User Charges (RUCs), and free premium paint with the Starray, while it comes as standard with the typically robust kind of warranty we are seeing with new BEVs and PHEVs from Chinese manufacturers, in this case a seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, while the high-voltage battery components being covered for eight years.
On the whole, what do we think of the Geely Starray EM-i Inspire?
On the whole, the Geely Starray EM-i is a decently compelling value proposition that undercuts mainstream rivals like the Toyota RAV4 and Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV while offering a more spacious interior and a high level of standard technology, but with a few rough edges.
While the driving dynamics are definitely not sporty and somewhat undercooked, and the driver assists can be overly sensitive and annoying, the Starray is a comfortable, quiet, and practical SUV that is also suitably economical, and serves as an impressive bridge for Kiwi families transitioning toward electrification, offering substantial EV-only range for the city without the range anxiety of a pure electric vehicle on long-distance road trips
If Geely can refine the adaptive cruise control and safety alerts through OTA updates, the Starray will be a formidable competitor in the local SUV market.
Geely Starray EM-i Inspire FAQs
What kind of car is the Geely Starray EM-i Inspire?
A medium-sized family SUV.
Does the Geely Starray EM-i Inspire have hybrid or EV technology?
Yes, the Starray is plug-in hybrid that conforms to the broad "Super Hybrid" category.
What’s the fuel economy of the Geely Starray EM-i Inspire?
With a full battery charge Geely says the Starray will return a combined average of just 2.4l/100km.
Is the Geely Starray EM-i Inspire safe?
The Starray gets a full 5 Star ANCAP rating and packs seven airbags, as well as a full suite of safety assists.
What safety and assistance features does the Geely Starray EM-i Inspire have?
What are the Geely Starray EM-i Inspire main rivals?
- MG HS PHEV Excite ($52,990): Slightly smaller rival with a more refined powertrain.
- Leapmotor C10 Ultra Hybrid REEV ($47,990): Largely matches Starray spec-for-spec, but slightly cheaper.
- Jaecoo J7 SHS EX+ ($46,990): Tougher looks and a slightly cheaper point of entry, with similar range.
- Chery Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid Ultimate ($43,990): Bigger and cheaper, but not as refined.
- GWM Haval H6 Ultra 2WD ($48,990): A compelling alternative with the advantage of excellent localised suspension.
