AWD variant joins Geely Starray EM-i range

GEELY Auto Australia will expand its rapidly growing Starray EM-i plug-in hybrid range with an all-wheel drive flagship this month, adding a second electric motor, more sophisticated rear suspension arrangement, and significantly stronger performance.

Priced from $44,990 plus on-road costs, the new Starray EM-i Inspire AWD will arrive in Australian dealerships from mid-September, sitting $3500 above the front-wheel drive Inspire and $7500 above the entry-level Complete (see pricing table below).

The addition expands the Starray EM-i line-up to three variants little more than 12 months after the Chinese brand’s first PHEV arrived locally and follows a substantial battery and range upgrade introduced earlier this year.

As previously reported by GoAuto, the Starray EM-i launched locally in September 2025 in two front-drive grades priced from $37,490 plus on-road costs for the Complete and $39,990 +ORCs for the Inspire, positioning the model among Australia’s most affordable plug-in hybrid SUVs.

The range was further developed in May this year when Geely introduced a larger 29.8kWh battery for its upper-grade Starray, increasing electric-only range and doubling peak DC charging capability from 30kW to 60kW.

The updated Inspire is now priced at $41,490 +ORCs.

The new AWD flagship retains that 29.8kWh battery but adds an 80kW/150Nm rear electric motor to the existing 160kW/262Nm front motor and 73kW/125Nm 1.5-litre petrol engine.

Combined system output rises to 220kW and 412Nm, reducing the claimed 0-100km/h time to 6.3 seconds, compared with 8.0 seconds for the Complete and 8.2 seconds for the front-drive Inspire.

Importantly, Geely says the additional drivetrain hardware does not substantially compromise efficiency.

The Inspire AWD returns a claimed 1.7 litres per 100km on the WLTP cycle, versus 1.6L/100km for the front-drive Inspire, while electric-only range dips slightly from 136km to 130km.

However, a larger 60-litre fuel tank and drivetrain optimisation lift claimed combined driving range to 1065km WLTP, an increase of 69km over the front-drive Inspire’s 996km figure.

For comparison, the entry-level Complete retains an 18.4kWh battery and 51-litre fuel tank, providing a claimed 83km of electric range and 943km combined range while consuming 2.5L/100km.

Beyond the additional driven axle, the Inspire AWD receives a revised rear suspension layout, moving from the four-link arrangement used by front-drive variants to a five-link set-up that Geely says improves ride comfort, handling, and stability.

Two additional drive modes – Snow and Off-road – are also introduced alongside the existing Pure, Hybrid and Power settings, broadening the Starray’s remit beyond the predominantly urban focus of its front-wheel-drive siblings.

Geely Auto Australia product marketing and planning director Andrew Tuitahi said the new variant follows a strong response to the brand since it entered the Australian market in early 2025.

“The adoption of Geely by the Australian market has encouraged us to broaden our offering,” he 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 AWD model also gives Geely a competitively priced alternative to higher-output all-wheel drive plug-in hybrid SUVs such as the BYD Sealion 6 Premium Extended Range AWD, which is listed at $52,990 + ORC, and GWM’s Haval H6 GT PHEV, positioned in the low-$50,000 range.

The timing is significant for Geely, which has gathered momentum rapidly since launching here with the EX5 electric SUV in March 2025.

The Starray EM-i has become an important contributor to that growth, recording 5391 Australian sales to the end of July 2026, including 1177 units in July alone. It accounted for almost one-third of Geely’s Australian volume over the period covered by the latest VFACTS data.

Geely last month also celebrated its 20,000th Australian vehicle delivery, having doubled its local sales tally in around four months and entered the national top 10 brands in July.

The Starray EM-i Inspire AWD will reach Australian Geely dealerships from mid-September 2026.

2026 Geely Starray EM-i pricing*:

*Pricing excludes on-road costs.