Lower pricing has been locked in for one of the most affordable new plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUVs in Australia in the aftermath of a leak that initially suggested the Geely Starray EM-i would cost as much as $42,990 plus on-road costs.
The Australian price of the Starray, a Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-5 rival, has now been revised down to $37,490 + ORCs for the base model Complete, and $39,990 + ORCs for the range-topping Inspire.
That will mean driveaway pricing in the low- to mid-forties depending on where a customer lives in Australia, as states and territories apply different tax and insurance costs around the country.
Early customers who purchase the PHEV before the end of November 2025 will nab launch bonuses consisting of a Mode 2 charging cable ($385 value), premium paint ($600 value), and a choice of financing at a 3.88 percent comparison rate or three years/45,000 free servicing.
A further earlybird deal of a $1000 discount is available for Australians that order in the next two weeks—before the end of September 2025.
As a result, when the Starray EM-i rolls into Geely’s 47 showrooms from late September 2025, it will almost certainly be the second-cheapest PHEV in the midsize SUV segment in this country behind the Chery Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid ($39,990 driveaway).
“We are never looking to be the cheapest car in the segment,” said a senior spokesperson for Geely Auto Australia.
Chasing Cars understands that final pricing agreements between Geely Australia and the company’s HQ in Hangzhou Bay, China, came down to the wire and the earlier pricing ($39,990/$42,990) submitted to an industry price guide reflected an earlier point in negotiations.
The Starray EM-i PHEV joins the Geely EX5 battery electric (BEV) crossover in the company’s retail outlets. The two midsize SUVs share a platform and are similar in size, though the PHEV is slightly longer.
Crucially, the PHEV is also meaningfully cheaper, being $3500 more affordable in base guise while the top-shelf Inspire spec is a significant $5000 less expensive in the Starray EM-i compared to the EX5.
While the EX5 is a BEV with 430km (WLTP) range, the Starray EM-i uses a smaller 160kW/262Nm electric motor fed by both a 17kWh (usable) battery and a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine that acts like a generator via an 11-in-1 hybrid transmission.
The vehicle can be fuelled with premium petrol (at least 95 octane) and with electricity via AC charging (6.6kW) or DC charging (30kW) in as little as 20 minutes via the latter option. Total driving range is 943km (WLTP) with electric-only range of 83km (WLTP).
Standard specification on the Starray EM-i Complete base grade ($37,490 + ORCs) includes:
- LED headlights and tail lights
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Vinyl seat upholstery
- 15.4-inch touchscreen
- 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster
- Wireless Apple CarPlay (at launch)
- Wireless Android Auto (via over-the-air update in Q1 2026)
- Integrated satellite navigation
- Six-speaker stereo
- Climate control
- Six-way power-adjustable driver’s seat
- Four-way power-adjustable passenger seat
- Heated front seats
- 360-degree camera
- Rear parking sensors
- 6.6kW vehicle-to-load functionality (V2L)
Spending a further $2500 on the Starray EM-i Inspire trim ($39,990 + ORCs) adds:
- 19-inch alloy wheels in multi-spoke design
- Power tailgate
- Panoramic opening glass sunroof with power sunshade
- 13.4-inch colour head-up display
- 16-speaker Flyme premium stereo
- Cooled front seats
- Memory function for the driver’s seat
- 256-colour interior ambient lighting
- Wireless device charger
- Front parking sensors
The sole options are premium paint ($600) and an ivory white interior colour for the Inspire (no cost vs black).
Warranty on the Starray EM-i is seven years for the vehicle and eight years for the high-voltage components (both with unlimited kilometres).
Servicing is required every 12 months/15,000km and doing so via the Geely dealer network unlocks up to seven years of roadside assistance.
