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Chinese maker Geely's Starray EM-i is a family-sized Plug-in Hybrid SUV that majors on value and space. Essentially here, the brand is doing for the PHEV segment what it did for EVs with the EX5. And that's a strong proposition.
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Background
Britain is taking time to warm up to Chinese EVs, but with Chinese PHEVs, it seems to be a different story. Both the BYD Seal U-DMi and the Jaecoo 7 SHS have been recent sales hits here, so you'd think the auspices might be good for another similarly-sized Chinese Plug-in Hybrid, this car, the Geely Starray EM-i. Particularly as it easily undercuts both those two rivals on price and makes European, Japanese and Korean segment competitors look ridiculously expensive.
This is the second Geely Auto model to launch in the UK and shares much in appearance with the first, the similarly-sized all-electric EX5. If you're not quite ready for the EV revolution, you need a family-sized crossover and like the idea of an affordable Plug-in Hybrid, Geely hopes it has your number here.
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Range data
| Min | Max |
| Price | 29990 | 34990 |
| Max Speed (mph) | 105 | 105 |
| 0-62 mph (s) | 8 | 8 |
| Electric WLTP-Rated Driving Range (miles) | 51 | 51 |
| Min | Max |
| Length (mm) | 4740 | 4740 |
| Width (mm) | 1905 | 1905 |
| Height (mm) | 1685 | 1685 |
| Boot Capacity (l) | 528 | 528 |
Driving experience
The Starray is one of those Plug-in Hybrids that's definitely more EV than combustion. The petrol part of powertrain, a 1.5-litre four cylinder unit, develops just 98bhp and isn't used unless the drivetrain absolutely needs it (which is just as well because it's pretty noisy when it cuts in). Most of the time the car reverts to its EX5-derived 214bhp electric motor, which works together with what Geely calls an 'E-DHT' ('Electric Dedicated Hybrid Transmission') that oversees both power sources.
EV range will depend on the trim level chosen. More affordable 'Pro' and 'Max' specs get an 18.4kWh battery pack with a 51 mile range. Top spec 'Ultra' trim gets you a larger 28.9kWh battery pack with a claimed 84 mile range figure.
If you read our report on the brand's EX5 EV, you'll know that the 'Lotus handling tweaks' promised by that car didn't really translate into reality. Geely claims to have gone a bit further in terms of handling involvement with the Starray but you'll still find it forgettable to drive. Which won't matter much if you merely prioritise the quiet, soft-riding experience this car delivers. Steering feedback is minimal, but you'll appreciate the light helm in town.
What might bother you more is the intrusive nature of all the standard ADAS features this Geely's strong value proposition entitles you to. Definitely try before you buy. The relaxed gait this car prioritises suits its relaxed performance - 0-62mph in 8.0s en route to 105mph. To get near to these figures, you'll have to engage the 'Power' mode, which depletes the battery quickly. The other settings are Pure and Hybrid.
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Design and build
Like its EX5 electric stablemate, the Starray's main appeal lies in the fact that it offers you a mid-sized crossover for the cost of a compact one. The two models look almost identical from behind but the EM-i gets its own frontal look with daytime running light strips above hidden lower LED headlamps. In profile across the 4,740mm length, the looks are clean but anonymous - certainly not particularly SUV-like - with subtle roof rails and big 19-inch wheels. There's the usual full-width light bar at the back.
Inside, as with almost every other Chinese car these days, there's a general absence of physical buttons, a compact cluttered instrument display and a weirdly shaped wheel. You'd expect a huge centre screen too and this Starray's big 15.4-inch monitor doesn't disappoint, though too much of its real estate is taken up by pretty pictures (with important things like Apple CarPlay relegated to small boxes). Voice control isn't particularly intuitive either.
The centre console's high-set and has a click wheel which is normally used for audio volume but can also be configured to control other features like fan speed. It's easy to get comfortable at the wheel and despite the eye-catching sticker price, there's loads of standard kit, including heated and power-adjustable front seats and, on the top version, a premium 16-speaker 1000-watt Flyme audio system.
Future taxi operator owners will be pleased to find that rear seat space is palatial, even for tall adult sitting behind lanky front seat occupants. And there's a decently-sized 528-litre boot too, though that's 177-litres less than comparable (but far pricier) Volkswagen Tayron eHybrid. The boot's well shaped though, offering a low loading lip and a flat split-level floor. There's 2,065-litres with the rear bench flat.
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Market and model
The sticker prices here are certainly eye-catchingly worrying for the mainstream brands. From launch, you could have a Starray EM-i in base 'Pro' trim for around £30,000, with around £2,700 more necessary for plusher 'Max' spec. To get the larger 28.9kWh battery pack, you'll need to find around £35,000 for top 'Ultra' trim. Shop at the bottom of the line-up and you'll find yourself saving around £5,000 on a comparable Jaecoo 7 SHS and around £2,000 on an MG HS PHEV. The only Plug-in Hybrid you can buy in the UK that's cheaper than this Starray is the BYD Atto 2 DM-i - and that's a much smaller car.
Despite the value pricing, equipment levels are high. All models get 19-inch wheels, LED headlights, LED tail lamps, roof bars, keyless entry, rear parking sensors, power-folding mirrors, rear privacy glass and a V2L Vehicle-to-Load power supply so you can plug external devices into the car's drive battery. Inside, there's artificial leather upholstery, heated power-adjustable front seats, automatic air conditioning with a cabin filter, a 360-degree panoramic view camera and a 10.2-inch LCD instrument screen. Media connectivity's taken care of by a 15.4-inch HD FLYME central monitor with 4G network connectivity, online navigation and 'Apple CarPlay'/'Android Auto'.
Avoid base trim and you also get a panoramic powered roof, a powered tailgate, a heated steering wheel, 256-colour ambient lighting, ventilation for the driver's seat with a memory function, a head-up display, a wireless charging mat and front parking sensors. Above base trim, the entry model's 6-speaker audio system is upgraded to a 16-speaker FLYME set-up including a driver's headrest speaker.
As you'd expect, there's a very complete set of ADAS features, including a Automatic Emergency Brake with a Brake Assist system, Intelligent Cruise Control, a Lane Keeping Assistance, Collision Mitigation Support (front and Rear), Intelligent High Beam Control, Rear Cross Traffic Alert with braking, a Doors Open Warning system, Blind Spot Detection, a Lanes Changing Assistant, Intelligent Speed Assistance and Traffic Sign Information.
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Cost of ownership
We gave you the EV mileage figures in our 'Driving' section - 51 miles from the 18.4kWh battery and 84 miles from the 26.9kWh version. That looks pretty class-competitive on paper, but we'd want to see how those claims translate into everyday ownership reality. Take the petrol engine into account and Geely says that you'd be looking at an operating range of between 585 and 618 miles, depending on the battery size you choose. Which is really where the EM-i shines of course compared to its more journey- limited all-electric EX5 showroom stablemate. The overall combined cycle fuel economy is rated at between 117.7mpg and 201.8mpg, depending on the version you choose.
The Starray supports DC fast-charging - up to 30kW for the 18.4kWh battery and up to 60kW for the 28.9kWh pack. A 30-80% DC charge possible in 16 or 20 minutes, depending on battery size. AC charging at home will obviously be much faster than with a comparable full-EV. With a single-phase 7.4kW wallbox, you'll need between 3 and 4.6 hours for a full charge, depending on your battery choice. For reference, the EX5 full-EV needs 10 hours.
The peace of mind you'll need when buying into an unknown brand comes with the eight year warranty (for the full car, not just the battery). Which should take away some of the fear factor from investing in an unknown brand. Servicing intervals are quite frequent - every year or 12,000 miles, whichever comes first.
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Summary
The Starray is known as the 'Starship' in many other markets and there's no shortage of enterprise from Geely with this model. It's eye-catchingly priced, spacious, nicely built and very well equipped. We're not sure though, that it's quite as well suited to European buyers as the BYD Seal U-DMi and Jaecoo 7 SHS PHEV models whose sales success it wants to emulate.
You might be put off by the intrusive ADAS features, the strange steering well and the thrashy petrol engine. But if those things aren't deal-breakers for you, and there's potentially lots to like here. Geely will eventually bring us better cars than this but it certainly seems to be building momentum.
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