Geely Starray EM-i UK Launch & First Drive Review

Big Tech, Big Range, Surprisingly Cheap

Geely has launched its second model into the UK market, and this time it is not electric. The Starray EM-i arrives as a plug-in hybrid SUV with up to 84 miles of electric range, 618 miles combined range, and prices starting from £29,990. I attended the UK launch, filmed the full presentation, and took it for a quick first drive. Here is everything you need to know.

The UK Launch – A Confident Second Step

The UK launch of the new Geely Starray EM-i was slick, blue-lit and heavy on the messaging around efficiency, intelligence and value. This is Geely’s second UK model and, strategically, it makes sense. Rather than doubling down immediately on full EVs, they have introduced a plug-in hybrid SUV into one of the most fiercely contested segments in Britain.

In other markets this car is known as the Geely Galaxy Starship, which, let’s be honest, sounds infinitely cooler and far more ambitious. In the UK, it is the Starray EM-i, with the EM-i standing for E-Motive Intelligence, the brand’s integrated hybrid system architecture. Same car, different badge strategy.

The presentation leaned heavily on technology, battery integration, safety systems and value positioning. But beyond the stagecraft and the lighting effects, the question is simple: does this car actually stack up in the real world?

We will get to that.

Pricing and Finance – The Real Attention Grabber

Let’s start with the numbers, because they matter. UK pricing is as follows:

• Pro – from £29,990
• Max – from £32,690
• Ultra – from £34,990

All are plug-in hybrids. There is also a headline-grabbing finance offer with deposits from £339 to £399 and equivalent monthly payments at 0% representative APR on a PCP structure, subject to terms and conditions. In a market where interest rates have become the silent killer of affordability, that alone will raise eyebrows.

Sub-£35,000 for the top model in a mid-size, tech-heavy plug-in hybrid SUV segment is not accidental. This is a deliberate value play.

Powertrain – Proper EV Range for Daily Use

Under the skin, the Geely Starray EM-i combines a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor in an EV-first plug-in hybrid setup. There are two battery options: 18.4kWh and 29.8kWh.

The larger battery delivers up to 84 miles WLTP electric range, with a manufacturer-quoted combined range of up to 618 miles. Even the smaller pack manages up to 51 miles WLTP EV range and around 585 miles combined range.

Those are not token hybrid numbers. Eighty-plus miles of electric range covers the majority of daily commutes for most UK drivers. If you charge regularly, you could effectively run this as an EV for weekday driving and rely on petrol for longer journeys.

Fast DC charging capability is quoted at up to 30 kW on the smaller battery and 60 kW on the larger, with 30 to 80 percent charging claimed in around 16 to 20 minutes depending on variant. On paper at least, that is a compelling proposition.

Cabin and Technology – Big Screens, Big Ambition

Step inside and the ambition is immediately obvious. A 15.4-inch HD central touchscreen dominates the dash across all trims, paired with a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster. Higher trims add a substantial head-up display. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, alongside wireless charging.

The Max and Ultra models introduce the 16-speaker Flyme Sound system, ambient lighting, panoramic roof, ventilated seats and more. The interior materials, particularly in the higher trims, feel deliberately upmarket. There is a minimalist, Scandinavian-leaning aesthetic that inevitably invites comparisons to Volvo and Polestar, brands that sit within the broader Geely group portfolio.

Is it premium-premium? That depends on your benchmark. But at this price point, the level of perceived quality and digital sophistication is undeniably strong.

Storage is generous, the rear space is impressive, and the boot capacity stands at 528 litres, expanding to over 2,000 litres with the rear seats folded. For family buyers, that matters far more than LED light signatures.

First Drive Impressions – Surprisingly Refined

Now to the important bit. I had around fifteen minutes behind the wheel during the launch, on wet British roads, hardly ideal conditions for heroics but perfectly suited to assessing ride comfort and refinement.

The first impression is smoothness. Pulling away is immediate and clean. Even in hybrid mode, the transitions feel unobtrusive. The steering is light but predictable. The brakes are well judged. The suspension, despite the battery pack forming part of the floor structure, is not harsh or crashy over rough surfaces.

It feels composed. Settled. Grown-up. There is a slightly unusual steering wheel shape, flattened top and bottom in a way that initially feels odd, but it clearly exists to maximise visibility of the digital instruments. Practicality over convention.

Grip in wet conditions was reassuring. Ride quality over poor surfaces was better than expected. Noise levels were well suppressed. In short, it behaves like a car that has been properly engineered rather than hastily assembled to meet a price target. But I would need more time with it to fully assess it.

The Starray EM-i comes equipped with Level 2 ADAS features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert and adaptive cruise control. A 540-degree camera system provides comprehensive visibility around the car. Again, these are features often associated with higher price brackets.

So What Is It Really?

Here is the uncomfortable question for some established brands. Is this a cut-price premium alternative? Geely owns Volvo and Polestar. It would be naive to assume that knowledge, platform integration and design philosophy have not filtered through. The Starray EM-i does not feel like a bargain basement compromise. It feels like a calculated, intelligently positioned product.

It is not flamboyant. It is not outrageous. The design is inoffensive rather than dramatic. But in a segment dominated by rational buying decisions, that may be precisely the point. For under £35,000 at the top end, with serious electric range, modern digital architecture and strong equipment levels, this is not a car to dismiss casually.

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