Geely’s rugged Defender rival shapes up: 2027 Geely Galaxy Battleship teased as hardcore 4x4 off-road SUV to go against Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series, Denza B5 and B8

Geely has officially teased its hardcore four-wheel drive rival to the Land Rover Defender ahead of an expected reveal later in 2026.

Photos of the 2027 Geely Galaxy Starship, which has also previously been referred to as the Geely Galaxy Cruiser or Battleship, have been published online showing the four-wheel drive’s production body work.

It has a boxy silhouette that’s reminiscent of BYD’s premium Denza B5 and B8 models, as well as the GWM Tank 300, Mercedes-Benz G-Class and Ford Bronco, among others.

Read More About Geely

• China's AI-based 4WD on the cards for Oz
• Cheap new electric car incoming
• Popular EV scores range anxiety relief: 2026 Geely EX5 gets bigger battery and more driving range in new update to challenge BYD Atto 3, Leapmotor C10 and Kia EV5

Little information about the Starship/Cruiser has been confirmed just yet but it’s understood to be based on a version of the platform that already underpins the Zeekr 9X and Lotus Eletre PHEV.

According to Autocar, power will come from three electric motors which are fed by a hefty 70kWh battery pack, allowing for an electric range of over 350km, according to lenient CLTC testing.

There’s also a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine which acts as a generator to top up the battery pack.

Geely revealed the concept version of this off-roader back in 2025 at the Shanghai Motor Show and earlier this year the UK Marketing Director Tianxiao Yan confirmed the production version will eventually launch in the UK, seemingly confirming right-hand drive production.

Speaking to UK media, the marketing boss said Geely will “definitely launch that car in the UK.” Given the brand’s apparent keenness to increase its presence in Australia, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the model here in the future, too.

“While we cannot confirm the addition of any new models to the Geely Auto Australia line-up at this stage, we continuously assess market trends and consumer behaviours to ensure our product portfolio reflects the preferences and needs of local customers,” said a Geely Auto Australia spokesperson back in January 2026.

Geely’s namesake brand launched in Australia during 2025 and it already offers the EX5 electric SUV and Starray EM-i plug-in hybrid SUV.

In the second half of 2026 Geely will also launch the EX2 small electric hatchback to rival the likes of the BYD Atto 1, GWM Ora and MG4, among others.

It’s worth noting that all the Geely vehicles currently in Australia or soon to launch in Australia are part of the brand’s Galaxy line-up in China.

This further fuels speculation that eventually the Geely Galaxy Battleship will come to Australia as a flagship offering.