I tested the Geely Starray EM-i — it’s impressive but not perfect

This is the all-new Geely Starray EM-i. Yes, it’s another Chinese SUV entering the UK market — but this one comes from the group behind Volvo, Polestar and Lotus, so expectations are high. The price? Surprisingly, not.

I tested the mid-spec Max trim, which costs £32,690 on the road, making it one of the strongest value plug-in hybrid SUVs in its class. But there is one thing that might frustrate you.

7.6/10

Based on

5 categories

Reviewed by Dylan Freeburn

2026 Geely Starray EM-i

The Geely Starray EM-i is a budget-friendly hybrid SUV. It's packed with tech, flaunts a premium-feeling interior, and is very efficient. However, it relies a little too much on the touchscreen.

Comfort 8

Technology 7

Performance 6

Quality 8

Price 9

Pros

• Lots of tech
• Plush interior
• Excellent value for money

Cons

• Relies on touchscreen
• rough engine
• Voice assist struggles with accents

2026 Geely Starray EM-i first impressions

Not Quite Porsche… But Close Enough?

I’m not fully sold on the front end. It’s sharp, modern and calm but not especially distinctive. Round the back, though? That’s a different story. The rear quarter, lights and overall stance give subtle Porsche Cayenne vibes. It looks wide, planted and more expensive than it actually is.

In Max trim you get:

Starray EM-i Max key features

• LED headlights and daytime running lights
• Keyless entry and go
• 19-inch alloy wheels
• Rear privacy glass
• Roof rails

Interior design and comfort

Premium feel for the money

It’s a big car that sits firmly in family SUV territory, so it needs to be practical for everyday life. Thankfully, it is. There’s a generous amount of room throughout, plus 528 litres of boot space behind the powered tailgate, which is more than enough for family holidays, pushchairs or a big weekly shop.

Three ISOFIX points (2 in the rear, one in front passenger seat) contribute to the 5-star EURO NCAP safety rating, while perforated PVC leatherette seats, a leatherette instrument panel and a clean, minimalist layout feel modern and well finished. The driver’s seat is heated, ventilated and electrically adjustable with memory. The steering wheel is heated too. It’s not Volvo-level plush, but it’s comfortably ahead of what you might expect at this price.

Inside feels fresh and airy as light floods through the panoramic sunroof and there are 256 colour combos available in the ambient lights. If you enjoy customising your cabin at night, you’ll have fun here, especially with the disco mode synching to your music.

Technology is impressive but overcomplicated

This is where the Starray really loads on the value. You get two digital screens and a head-up display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a wireless mobile phone charging pad. On paper, that’s excellent. But the issue is that the central touchscreen controls almost everything, like the sunroof, switching drive modes, and managing the ‘Super Hybrid’ system.

When you’re on the move, tapping through multiple screens isn’t ideal. Yes, there are voice controls, but they aren’t always dependable with accents. This is one of those cars that would genuinely benefit from a few more physical shortcut buttons. It’s not unusable. It just demands more attention than it should.

What is the Super Hybrid System?

The Starray EM-i uses a Super Hybrid System, similar to that in the CHERY Tiggo 8, pairing a 1.5-litre petrol engine with an 18.4kWh battery for up to 51 miles of electric-only driving, and up to 585 miles of combined range. It’s powerful enough at 262PS and in everyday driving, I mostly left it in Hybrid mode. Around town it runs almost silently on electric power. When you accelerate harder or battery charge drops, the petrol engine muscles in. You do notice that transition as you go from near silence to engine noise suddenly, but music drowns it out.

Charging from 10-80% takes around 20 minutes connected to a DC charger, but you never need to plug it in. Since the system cleverly uses the petrol engine as a generator to maintains a battery reserve, you’re rarely driving without electric assistance.

So, how does the Geely Starray drive?

Still not a Porshce

Despite its size, the Starray doesn’t feel intimidating on narrow country roads. Steering is very light by default, which I didn’t enjoy at first. Thankfully, you can adjust the weighting in the settings. Once tweaked, it feels much more direct and confidence inspiring. There is some body roll if you push it into corners at speed, but that’s not unexpected in a tall SUV.

Anyway, the suspension manages it well enough that you never feel out of control. On top of the engine rumble, wind and road noise could be better suppressed. Again, with music on, most owners probably won’t notice. It’s not sporty. It’s not a German performance SUV. But it’s stable, composed and easy to drive. And for most family buyers, that’s what matters. Plus, I averaged 47.4 MPG between Glasgow and Edinburgh without trying, and you can expect up to 585 miles of range combined.

Geely Starray EM-i Super Hybrid performance

*Note: Towing is for Ultra trim only.

How much does a Geely Starray EM-i cost?

Here’s the key part: You get heated and ventilated seats, panoramic roof, head-up display, 360 camera, premium audio and serious safety tech all for barely more than £32k. That’s strong value. You could also cut back on a few features and some pounds in the Pro grade, or upgrade to the Ultra trim just shy of £35,000. However, this only adds a slightly larger 29.8 kWh battery and optional white interior. In real-world terms the Max trim ticks all the boxes.

Should you buy a Geely Starray EM-i?

The Geely Starray EM-i Max does a lot right. It’s spacious, well equipped, quick enough, efficient and very competitively priced. For families wanting a large plug-in hybrid SUV with serious tech and safety features, it makes a convincing case. However, the reliance on the touchscreen is its biggest weakness. While parked, it feels modern and slick. When driving, it becomes distracting and unnecessarily complicated.

Then again, the Starray offers a huge amount of car for the money along with a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating. If you can look past the lack of buttons, it’s a sensible choice. To see one up close, visit John Clark Geely in Edinburgh, Stirling or Dundee for a test drive.