2027 Geely Starray EM-i PHEV adds more powerful AWD flagship

The 2027 Geely Starray EM-i plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUV range will be headlined by the addition of a new AWD flagship, due to hit dealers in mid-September.

Priced from $44,990 plus on-road costs, the Starray EM-i All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) will be offered solely in flagship Inspire trim, commanding a $3500 premium over the equivalent Inspire FWD.

While standard specification is largely the same, the Inspire AWD scores an 80kW/150Nm electric motor on the rear axle, bumping system outputs to 220kW/412Nm, good for a claimed 0-100km/h time of 6.3 seconds – nearly 2.0s quicker than the FWD version.

Further, the AWD's larger 60L fuel tank (up from 51L) offsets the minor decrease in EV driving range (130km vs 136km WLTP) and adds nearly 70km of extra combined driving range, with the AWD quoting 1065km on a single charge and tank (vs 996km).

The Starray EM-i Inspire AWD retains the larger 29.8kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery from the front-drive Inspire grade, though combined WLTP fuel consumption is slightly higher at 1.7L/100km (vs 1.6L/100km).

In addition to the extra grunt and cruising range, the Starray EM-i Inspire AWD gets a five-link rear suspension system (vs four-link in FWD versions) which is claimed to "improve ride comfort, stability and handling", while additional Snow and Off-Road drive modes help optimise the drivetrain's performance on unsealed surfaces.

The new Starray EM-i AWD lines up against the GWM Haval H6 Ultra PHEV AWD (currently $45,990 D/A), though the GWM offers even more power and performance on paper (268kW/760Nm, 0-100km/h in 4.8s).

Another key rival, also from China, is the BYD Sealion 6 Premium AWD, which quotes system outputs of 253kW/550Nm, and 0-100km/h in 5.5 seconds. The BYD, however, is much dearer at $52,990 before on-road costs.

Geely's Starray EM-i and EX5 SUVs have been steadily gaining momentum in Australia, aided by volatile fuel prices which have prompted a sharp increase in sales of plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles.

To the end of July, Geely has delivered 5391 Starray EM-i SUVs this year. The PHEV SUV was launched here late in September 2025.

Meanwhile, the related EX5 EV is hitting loftier heights with 8790 units registered year-to-date, marking a 276.4 per cent increase on the same January-July period in 2025.

Geely is up 527.6 per cent overall to the end of July, and that growth trajectory will likely continue with the recent launch of the EX2 compact EV, and plenty more models to come in the next 18 months.

Pricing

MORE: Explore the Geely Starray EM-i showroom