With a name like a washing-up liquid, the Starray has bubbled up in the mid-size SUV
segment as an effervescent plug-in hybrid. Relatively new to Australia, the Chinese
automobile manufacturer Geely has been in the business for almost half a century and
owns brands like Volvo, Polestar, Zeekr and Lotus, so it should know a thing or two
about ‘moving metal’.
The Starray EM-I is only the second Geely to be launched Down Under and comes in
two variants – the Complete and Inspire – which at $37,490, plus on-road costs and
$39,990, respectively, are in the thick of the popular mid-size SUV market here.
The Complete comes with a wide range of features, including a 15.4-inch infotainment
screen, the gateway to Geely’s innovative Flyme operating system, surround view
monitor, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and six-speaker audio.
Also standard are automatic climate control, LED headlamps, satellite navigation and
heated front seats, while moving up to the Inspire attracts a premium 16-speaker Flyme
sound system, panoramic sunroof and head-up windscreen display.
Geely Connected Services is also on offer for the first two years of ownership, allowing
buyers to access Geely App remote functions, in-unit streaming and apps, plus Over-
The-Air updates.
Inspire, the test car, includes front seat ventilation, driver’s side memory, power tailgate
and the ability to choose from 256 ambient lighting colours.
STYLING
Geely says behind the design of the Starray EM-I is the desire to produce a vehicle that
stands without losing the aerodynamic qualities of the body. Up front is a prominent
face, the result of a layered LED headlamp set-up consisting of 264 individual beads
lighting up to 148m ahead.
A sculpted shape takes care of aerodynamics of the vehicle with a drag coefficient of
just CD 0.288 and fuel efficiency. Out back of the Starray a body-width LED lightbar
made up of 368 individual beads spanning 2240mm.
The inspire grade includes a panoramic sun roof, power tailgate and front parking
sensors, while a standard looking SUV side view is given a lift by 19-inch alloy wheels.
INTERIOR
The cabin speaks elegance and function, via a 15.4-inch touchscreen, 10.2-inch digital
instrument cluster and a 13.8-inch head-up windscreen display.
The surroundings are highlighted with a modern, clean design and soft-touch materials.
Front seats are ventilated and the driver’s spot has memory. Families are specially
catered for with good head and legroom for rear passengers. More than 30 storage
areas are scattered around, including a boot with no room for a spare wheel.
INFOTAINMENT
The main screen dominates the central dashboard – not surprising as Geely runs Volvo
and Polestar, early adopters of monster monitors in their vehicles. Strangely, there’s a
bit of a zoo here, with the main screen displaying wallpaper that includes pictures of
fluffy animals, such as kittens, puppies and guinea pigs.
Tech support is via wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite navigation.
automatic climate control and six-speaker sound system, while Inspire is upgraded with
Flyme 16-speaker premium sound.
ENGINES / TRANSMISSIONS
The Starray EM-I is powered by a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine
putting out 73kW of power and 125Nm of torque, mated with two electric motors
developing 160kW and 262Nm and onto the front wheels.
Supporting the hybrid system is an 18.4kWh lithium iron phosphate battery pack
supplying vehicle -to-load (V2L) function with maximum powder output of 6kW.
SAFETY
An extensive suite of active and passive measures ensure occupants are under
maximum protection. Active features include automatic emergency braking,
adaptive/intelligent cruise control, lane keeping assist, lane changing assist traffic sign
recognition, surround view monitor with 3-D vehicle view and driver fatigue alert.
Passive safety comes with seven airbags, including two front, two side, two curtain and
one centre fixtures.
DRIVING
The EM-i system works well in daily driving, tootling around town with brisk performance
when overtaking. EV mode has much to recommend it, including a substantive range of
around 80 kilometres (combined range of 943km). However, when the petrol engine
fires up, it does so with a notably noisy note. Ditto course road surfaces.
The suspension serves up low-speed comfort but loses composure on uneven surfaces,
which is not helped by a twitchy active cruise control.
The test car constantly warned of low tyre pressures on all four wheels despite repeated
attention at the local free-air pump, while a search in the usual places for a real-time
petrol tank flap release was in vain. It’s on the touchscreen, stupid boy!
The EM-I systems allows the driver to switch between three drive modes – Pure, Hybrid
or Power. Pure is electric only, providing smoothness and efficiency; Hybrid seamlessly
switches between electric and petrol for range and fuel economy; Power has electric
and petrol combined for maximum performance.
Geely says the 18.4kWh battery can be charged from 30pc to 80pc in 20 minutes and
performance remains consistent regardless of the battery’s state of charge. A real-time
experience with the test vehicle proved particularly un(Inspring). Three of the four
charge points were out of action and the remaining one was occupied. The ICE under
the bonnet got me home.
SUMMARY
The Starray EM-I Inspire is a competitive affordable, tech-laden PHEV, with a premium
cabin feel for the segment.
RATINGS
Looks – 9
Performance – 8
Safety – 7
Thirst – 5
Practicality – 7
Comfort – 7
Tech – 8
Value – 8
AT A GLANCE
MODEL LINE-UP
Geely Starray Complete EM-i 1.5L Plug-In Hybrid $37,490
Geely Starray Inspire EM-i 1.5L Plug-In Hybrid $39,990
Options
Premium paint $600
Note: These prices do not include government or dealer delivery charges. Contact your
local Geely dealer for drive-away prices.
SPECIFICATIONS (Geely Starray Inspire EM-I 1.5-litre 4-cyl petrol Plug-In Hybrid
FWD, SUV)
ENGINE
Configuration: Four cylinders
Petrol power 73kW
Petrol torque: 125Nm
Fuel type: Premium unleaded petrol 95 RON
Combined fuel cycle: (ADR 81/02) 2.4L/100km
CO2 emissions 54g/km
Electric range: 83km
Combined range 843km
Fuel capacity 51L
ELECTRIC MOTOR
Dual permanent magnet synchronised motors
Maximum Net Power: 160kW
BATTERY PACK
Type: Lithium iron phosphate
Capacity: 18.4kWh
Energy consumption 14.7kWh/100km
Maximum charging capacity AC/DC 6.6kW/30kW
Power share capacity A2L/V2V 6kW/6kW
DRIVELINE: Dedicated Hybrid Transmission, FWD
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT, AND CAPACITIES
Length: 4740mm
Width: 1905mm
Height: 1685mm
Wheelbase: 2755mm:
Turning circle: 10.4m
Gross vehicle mass: 2205kg
BRAKES
Front: Ventilated disc
Rear: Disc
STANDARD WARRANTY
Seven years / unlimited kilometres
Eight years / unlimited kilometres on high-voltage battery
