Geely Starray EM-i adds AWD flagship: 220kW plug-in hybrid SUV priced from $44,990

New AWD flagship tops the range

Geely's plug-in hybrid mid-size SUV line-up has expanded with the addition of an all-wheel drive flagship, reported by CarExpert in September 2026. The Starray EM-i Inspire AWD is priced from $44,990 before on-road costs, a $3,500 premium over the equivalent front-drive Inspire, and was due in dealers in mid-September. It joins the Complete ($37,490) and Inspire ($41,490) grades, all exclusive of on-road costs. ⁴

CarExpert reports the Inspire AWD keeps the flagship's largely unchanged standard specification and adds an 80kW/150Nm electric motor on the rear axle. Combined with the 160kW/262Nm front motor, system output rises to 220kW/412Nm, and Geely claims 0-100km/h in 6.3 seconds — nearly two seconds quicker than the FWD version. ⁴

The AWD variant retains the larger 29.8kWh lithium iron phosphate battery from the front-drive Inspire, with claimed EV driving range of 130km. CarExpert notes the AWD's combined WLTP fuel consumption is slightly higher at 1.7L/100km versus 1.6L/100km, while a larger 60-litre fuel tank — up from 51L on the FWD — helps push the claimed combined range to 1065km, close to 70km more than the FWD's 996km figure. ⁴

Beyond the drivetrain changes, CarExpert reports the Inspire AWD gains a five-link rear suspension system (versus four-link in FWD grades), which Geely claims improves ride comfort, stability and handling, plus additional Snow and Off-Road drive modes for unsealed surfaces. Braked towing capacity rises to 1050kg from the 750kg of both FWD grades, according to CarExpert's specifications. ⁴¹

The Beep: how the MY27 update set the stage

The larger battery arrived first in the front-drive Inspire. As The Beep reported in May 2026, the 2027 (MY27) Starray EM-i Inspire Extended Range swapped its outgoing 18.4kWh battery for a 29.8kWh LFP unit, lifting claimed electric range by 53km to 136km on the WLTP cycle and combined range to 996km. Priced at $41,490 before on-road costs — a $1,500 increase over the outgoing Inspire — it reached Australian dealerships from late May 2026. ⁷

The Beep also reported that DC fast-charging speed doubled from 30kW to 60kW on the Inspire Extended Range, with Geely claiming a 30 to 80 per cent top-up in around 16 minutes, while combined-cycle fuel consumption dropped from 2.4L/100km to 1.4L/100km — a 42 per cent improvement. The entry-level Complete carried over unchanged at $37,490, retaining the 18.4kWh battery, 83km EV range and 30kW DC charging. ⁷

The Beep's report adds that both MY27 Starray EM-i variants gain a 5m Mode 2 charging cable, towing preparation and trailer stability assist as new standard equipment, with the Inspire Extended Range also picking up a front-seat massage function as standard. ⁷

There is a minor discrepancy between outlets on the FWD Inspire's figures: The Beep quotes 136km WLTP electric range and 1.4L/100km combined, while CarExpert's specifications list 135km and 1.6L/100km. Both figures are claimed WLTP values and the differences are small; this report preserves both rather than substituting one outlet's numbers for the other's. ⁷⁴¹

CarExpert drives the AWD

In its first review of the new flagship, CarExpert found the AWD beat its own EV range claim, recording 135km of electric-only driving from Sydney to Berry on the NSW south coast from a full battery, against the 130km claimed figure. Once the petrol engine engaged, the displayed average settled at 5.3L/100km by the return to Sydney, even after a steep climb out of Kangaroo Valley. ¹

CarExpert's reviewer found the AWD a different proposition to the softer, pliant FWD versions: the rear motor brings suspension changes yielding a firmer, more controlled setup better suited to country roads, though it can feel sharp over road joints and broken surfaces. The reviewer judged it better to drive than the FWD but 'not as fun as some rivals', with intrusive lane-keeping assistance and speed-limit warning chimes among the irritations, and praised the value: CarExpert characterised the AWD as undercutting rivals by as much as $20,000. ¹

For context on pricing, CarExpert lists the AWD against the GWM Haval H6 PHEV AWD (from $47,990 drive-away), the Jaecoo J7 SHS Summit PHEV ($47,990 drive-away), the BYD Sealion 6 AWD ($52,990 plus on-roads), the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV AWD (from $58,990 plus ORCs) and the Toyota RAV4 PHEV AWD (from $64,015 plus ORCs). Note these figures mix drive-away and plus-on-road-costs bases as stated by each outlet. ¹

Cabin, safety and ownership

CarExpert's review describes a 15.4-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay, a configurable rotary controller, drive modes including Pure, Hybrid, Power, Snow and Off-road, plus Rest and Camping modes. Inspire grades add a panoramic sunroof, 13.4-inch head-up display, 16-speaker 1000W Flyme Sound system, ventilated and massaging front seats and 256-colour ambient lighting. Boot capacity is 428 litres behind the rear seats on all grades, though the AWD loses some underfloor space to its resculpted subfloor, and no spare wheel is offered. ¹

The Starray carries a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating based on 2025 testing, with scores of 90 per cent for adult occupant protection, 87 per cent for child occupant protection, 86 per cent for vulnerable road user protection and 82 per cent for safety assist, according to CarExpert. Standard safety kit includes seven airbags, autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring, with front parking sensors on Inspire grades. ¹³

On ownership, CarExpert lists a seven-year unlimited-kilometre vehicle warranty, an eight-year unlimited-kilometre high-voltage battery warranty, 12-month/15,000km service intervals, capped-price servicing for five years or 75,000km, and an average annual service cost of $386. Separately, CarExpert's own showroom lists Sydney-basis drive-away prices for the 2027 Starray EM-i of $41,632 for the Complete and $45,752 for the Inspire Extended Range — a different price basis from the before-on-road-cost list prices above and should not be compared directly with them. ¹²

Long-term living and the brand's trajectory

Chasing Cars ran a front-drive Starray EM-i Inspire as a long-term test, averaging 5.1L/100km cumulatively over more than 5000km and recording a best electric-only run of 95.2km at 14.2kWh/100km in Sydney motorway driving. Its verdict praised the equipment, efficiency and space but criticised the oversoft ride, noisy petrol engine on long grades, weak adaptive cruise control and a buggy companion app. ⁶

Chasing Cars also noted that once the battery was depleted, its long-term FWD Starray returned 5.2-5.7L/100km in real-world conditions, and that Geely rolls out over-the-air software updates addressing some early frustrations, including a customisable drive-setting shortcut. ⁶⁵

In a separate interview published by CarExpert, Geely Auto Australia's director of product planning and marketing, Andrew Tuitahi, said there were no plans at this stage for an Australian-specific ride and handling tuning program, preferring to draw on engineering talent across Geely Holding Group brands such as Volvo and Lotus. CarExpert also reports the brand delivered 5391 Starray EM-i SUVs to the end of July since the model's late-September 2025 Australian launch, with the related EX5 EV at 8790 units year-to-date and Geely overall up 527.6 per cent. ⁸⁴