Geely Starray EM-i adds AWD power: Australia has a new contender for all-wheel drive PHEV medium SUV price-leader
Geely has added a more powerful all-wheel drive flagship to its Starray EM-i range, with the new $44,990 plus on-road costs Inspire AWD in the fight to become Australia’s cheapest AWD plug-in hybrid medium SUV.
Due in Australian dealerships from mid-September, the new Starray EM-i Inspire AWD costs $3500 more than the front-wheel drive Inspire and $7500 more than the entry-level Complete.
It lines up on adjusted price very closely with its nearest AWD PHEV medium SUV rival, the Jaecoo J7 SHS-P Summit AWD, which is currently advertised at $47,990 drive-away.
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More than simply adding drive to the rear wheels, the new flagship gains a second electric motor, substantially more performance, revised rear suspension and additional drive modes.
The Starray EM-i’s existing 1.5-litre petrol engine and 160kW/262Nm front electric motor are joined by an 80kW/150Nm electric motor driving the rear wheels.
Combined system outputs rise to 220kW and 412Nm and the 0-100km/h time drops substantially from 8.2 seconds for the Inspire FWD to 6.3sec for the AWD.
Geely has also replaced the four-link rear suspension used by the front-wheel drive versions with a five-link arrangement, which it claims improves ride comfort, stability and handling.
Snow and Off-road settings join the existing Pure, Hybrid and Power drive modes.
The mechanical additions give the Starray EM-i a useful point of difference in the increasingly crowded affordable plug-in hybrid medium SUV segment.
While rivals including the Chery Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid and MG HS Super Hybrid are front-wheel drive, the Jaecoo J7 SHS-P has added an AWD version to its range.
The Jaecoo uses a 150kW/310Nm front electric motor and 113kW/210Nm rear motor and is currently advertised at $47,990 drive-away.
That means the Jaecoo’s advertised price includes on-road costs, while the Geely’s $44,990 price does not. Based on a Sydney NSW 2000 postcode, the new Starray is priced at $48,620 on the road, but that price will vary state-by-state.
The long-established Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV also has all-wheel drive but sits significantly further up the price ladder.
The AWD model uses the same 29.8kWh battery introduced to the front-drive Inspire as part of the MY27 update in May, while the entry-level Complete retains its 18.4kWh pack.
Adding the rear motor takes a small toll on electric efficiency. WLTP electric range falls from 136km in the front-drive Inspire to 130km in the AWD, while claimed fuel consumption increases slightly from 1.6L/100km to 1.7L/100km.
However, Geely claims the AWD has the longest overall range of any Starray EM-i.
Its 60-litre fuel tank combines with the battery to deliver a claimed 1065km WLTP range, compared with 996km for the FWD Inspire and 943km for the Complete.
That also means the new AWD model becomes the first Starray EM-i variant with a claimed combined range beyond 1000km.
The cheaper Complete makes do with a 51-litre fuel tank and has an 83km WLTP electric range.
“The adoption of Geely by the Australian market has encouraged us to broaden our offering,” Geely Auto Australia product marketing and planning director Andrew Tuitahi said.
“At Geely, we are committed to constantly innovating. The new Starray EM-i Inspire AWD complements our existing Starray EM-i range by providing an option for those seeking enhanced performance and adventurous driving.”
The Starray EM-i has become an important contributor to Geely’s rapid Australian sales growth. According to VFACTS figures, 1177 Starray EM-is were sold in July, taking its 2026 tally to 5391 and to 6457 since its local launch in September 2025.
Geely has now passed 20,000 cumulative Australian deliveries across its range, reaching the milestone on August 21 – just four months after celebrating its 10,000th sale in April. The Chinese brand also cracked the VFACTS top 10 for the first time in July with 3685 sales, led by the EX5 EV with 2034 deliveries and the Starray EM-i with 1177.
The 2026 Geely Starray EM-i Inspire AWD arrives in Australian dealerships from mid-September.
