Geely Starray EM-i PHEV SUV breaks Guinness World Record... with a catch

Geely Auto has claimed a new Guinness World Record with its Super Hybrid SUV, the mid-size Starray EM-i, travelling from Sydney to Melbourne via the Coastal Drive on a fully charged battery and a single tank of fuel.

The record “lowest fuel consumption driving the Sydney–Melbourne Coastal Drive by a plug-in hybrid powered production SUV” was achieved over a 1056km route via Wollongong, Jervis Bay, Narooma, Lakes Entrance and Yarram.

With a verified fuel consumption figure of 3.83L/100km – measured after completely refilling the Starray EM-i’s tank in Frankston (40.38L) – the Chinese SUV not only managed to set a new world record, but also bettered Geely’s own official NEDC fuel consumption figure of 4.4L/100km.

There’s a catch, though. The test vehicle used to achieve this feat is a global-spec vehicle that gets a new, larger hybrid battery than the version currently on sale in Australia – 29.8kWh versus the 18.4kWh unit in local Starray models.

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Geely says the Coastal Drive between the NSW and Victorian capitals was “specifically chosen to reflectreal-world driving scenarios rather than a closed-circuit test”.

The record-breaking attempt was conducted under the “strict supervision” of official Guinness World Records adjudicators, with the route taking the Geely Starray EM-i though coastal plains, undulating hills, and urban congestion.

“The primary purpose of this challenge is to demonstrate the practical user benefits of EM-i Super Hybrid technology,” said director of the energy control department from Geely Research Institute, Don Wan.

“We selected this route to test the vehicle’s performance in everyday user scenarios. The result proves that Geely Auto’s EM-i Super Hybrid Engine achieves world-record-level energy efficiency.”

The Geely Starray EM-i is powered by the Chinese brand’s efficiency-focused plug-in ‘Super Hybrid’ system, teaming a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor and lithium iron phosphate battery pack.

Australian models use a 18.4kWh LFP battery, good for a claimed 83km of EV range based on WLTP testing, and a combined driving range of 943km (WLTP) with a full charge and brimmed 51L fuel tank.

CarExpert has reached out to Geely Australia regarding the local availability of the larger 29kWh battery, given it doesn’t appear to be on sale currently in any global markets.

The Starray EM-i was launched in the Australian market back in September, priced from $37,490 plus on-road costs. To the end of November, 939 units have been registered Down Under.

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MORE: Explore the Geely Starray EM-i showroom