- UK’s cheapest plug-in hybrid
- Zero-emission range of up to 84 miles
- Top marks for safety
Geely is looking to make its mark on the UK car market this year and the Starray EM-i is its star player, for now. The mid-size SUV is cheap, well-equipped and efficient. Don’t expect top-tier driveability or class-leading infotainment, however.
Overview
The title of ‘UK’s cheapest plug-in hybrid’ is likely to be contested more than once this year but, for now, it’s held by the Geely Starray EM-i, thanks to its £29,990 price tag.
The Starray is the second model from the Chinese automotive giant that already oversees Lotus, Polestar, Smart and Volvo – following the introduction of the Geely EX5 only a few months earlier. The two cars arrived in the UK to spearhead the launch of the Geely brand. A larger line-up is promised, to meet the car maker’s ambition of selling 100,000 cars in the UK by 2030.
The Starray was developed specifically for a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain – a growing segment. In the first quarter of 2026, private retail PHEV sales were up 88% year-on-year as British car buyers seek out affordable and eco-friendly alternatives to electric vehicles (EVs). Still, Geely expects 60% of them to sell via the fleet channels. The brand hasn’t shared specific volume aspirations for the model, but it plans to sell 20,000 cars this year.
Its key rivals include the BYD Sealion 5 and the Chery Tiggo 7 – both of which cost a mere £5 more than the Geely. There’s also the strong-selling Jaecoo 7 and the established MG HS. Of course, buyers of all these cars would have previously been looking at the Nissan Qashqai or Kia Sportage – demonstrating just how competitive the mid-size SUV segment is now getting.
To really give buyers extra confidence, Geely is offering an eight-year or 125,000-mile warranty via its growing dealer network. The brand currently has 55 dealerships open and plans to expand are underway for 2026.
Pricing and spec
At £29,990, the Starray EM-i represents exceptional value. The model line-up is split into three versions: Pro, Max and Ultra. Most people should be satisfied with the entry-level version, otherwise it’s £32,690 for the fully-specced Max. Ultra versions are £34,900 and are identical other than having a larger battery.
Geely provides a generous standard specification, befitting of a premium-segment model. Equipment highlights of the entry-level Pro version include a 360-degree Surround View Camera system, keyless entry, synthetic leather upholstery. heated front seats with electric adjustment and a suite of safety and driver assistance systems.
The Max gains a head-up display, a panoramic sunroof, an electric tailgate, wireless phone charging and an enhanced driver’s seat with ventilation and a memory function. There’s also a 16-speaker audio system and adjustable interior ambient lighting.
PCP deals are offered with 0% interest, starting at £335 per month (49 months) with a £599 deposit.
Technology
The Starray’s 15.4-inch central touchscreen falls easily to hand, with a bright and high-resolution display that provides key infotainment functions, as well as access to many of the car’s features.
You can customise the display with a selection of pre-installed background images and home screen widgets, but the user experience is nowhere near the standard set by established brands. Everything seems a bit generic, like a cheap android tablet. Basic climate controls (single zone only!) are found at the bottom the screen, but you’ll need to open the climate menu to make more specific adjustments or operate the heated seats.
The system offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and it’s likely most users will favour these systems rather than the built-in music and satnav options.
There is, happily, a large volume control knob on the dashboard, along with a small switch panel for certain climate functions. Geely says there will be over-the-air updates available to improve the system’s functionality, in time.
Drivers get their own instrument cluster display although a large portion of the screen is dedicated to showing the car’s awareness of other vehicles and objects via its extensive suite of assistance systems.
Safety
Following in the footsteps of the Geely EX5, the Starray EM-i has been awarded the maximum five-star Euro NCAP safety rating. It achieved impressive scores of 90% for adult occupant protection, and 86% for vulnerable road users.
All versions of the Starray are loaded with safety aids to mitigate the chances of a collision. These include various lane assist systems, pre-collision braking, cross traffic alert and blind spot monitoring. You also get adaptive cruise control which can adapt to speed limits and maintain the car’s lane position.
In the Starray there’s a fair amount of beeps and bongs as the various systems wrongfully detect danger. You have to scroll though multiple menus to adjust the sensitivity settings. After our drive, we were informed of a one-press button on the steering wheel that disables the worst offenders, making the drive more peaceful. It would be better if Geely just calibrated the tech more effectively, like most European manufacturers have managed.
Driving experience
The Starray’s powertrain utilises a 1.5-litre petrol engine that operates predominantly as a generator while the electric motor powers the wheels. It’s a fairly complex setup that enables direct drive from the engine in certain situations and is quite different to the PHEV systems we’re used to.
Pro and Max cars are fitted with an 18.4kWh battery, while the Ultra uses a 29.8kWh unit. These provide zero emission ranges of 51 and 84 miles, respectively. For the typical user, this should mean that most trips can be covered in EV mode – assuming you plug it in!
Geely quotes a figure of 117mpg for cars equipped with the smaller battery and up to 201mpg for those with the larger battery. Both can accelerate from 0-62mph in eight seconds.
The electric motor powers the front wheels with an output of 217PS. It gives decent driveability in town and feels very much like an electric car. When you call for full power, the engine kicks in and the combined power output climbs to 262PS.
Geely says the Starray was fully optimised for UK roads by Lotus, which is part of the wider Geely group. That doesn’t mean it has sportscar-like handling, though. It’s a relatively soft and compliant ride, until you really push the car. Under more enthusiastic driving the Starray feels flamboyant and unfinished. It lurches around giving very little confidence to the driver that it’s sticking to the road. Coupled with that laggy throttle, it’s a car that much prefers a relaxed driving style.
Practicality
The Starray’s interior is more eye-catching than its exterior. There’s a swooping centre console that joins the dashboard to the central armrest and a surprisingly upmarket feel inside.
Rear seat space is especially generous too, making the Starray well-suited to larger families, and the boot is comparative with key rivals with a volume of up to 526 litres.
In typical ‘new Chinese car’ fashion there’s not a great deal of switchgear, as the central touchscreen runs most of the car. The interior more user friendly than some, however, with proper controls for the door mirrors, at least.
The driving position is reasonable. There’s plenty of adjustment in the up/down and forward/backwards directions, but no lumbar support or ability to tilt the seat base. The front passenger seat also lacks height adjustment which may displease some buyers.