2013 Geely MK Reviews

Geely's rapid expansion into Australia continues with its first plug-in hybrid. The memorably-named Starray EM-i will compete head-to-head with the likes of the BYD Sealion 6, Chery Tiggo 7, MG HS Super Hybrid and Jaecoo J7. But does it have what it takes to leave an impression on the crowded mid-size SUV market?

Meet Geely's three-row plug-in hybrid SUV which is over five meters long!

New affordable plug-in hybrid mid-size SUV hits the market.

While it lends itself rather strongly to being mistaken for a Mercedes-AMG GT 4-door at first glance, this is in fact the new Geely Galaxy Starshine 6 EM-i.

Chinese carmakers aren’t just winning over Aussies with affordable electric SUVs, the same manufacturers have quickly established themselves as serious competitors in the popular ute segment that's dominated by the Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger. Just this year we’ve seen a stack of new Chinese utes models arrive in Australia to join some already well-established players. So, here’s the ultimate list of Chinese utes in Australia to help you keep up to date with what’s on the ground now and those expected to arrive soon.BYD has taken Australia by storm with its affordable electric cars, but wading into the treacherous and competitive waters of the ute segment inhabited by the likes of Toyota’s HiLux and Ford’s Ranger was brave. BYD, however, didn’t just wade in, it backstroked in during late last year and stole a sizable chunk of the market with the Shark 6 becoming the fourth best-selling 4x4 ute on the market so far in 2025.The Shark 6 is a plug-in hybrid that uses a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine with two electric motors for a combined output of 321kW and 650Nm. Braked towing capacity is 2500kg.The GWM Cannon is the most established Chinese ute in Australia and is popular for its combination of good looks and good value.The Cannon dual-cab has a 2.4 litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel unit making 135kW and 480Nm. Braked capacity is 3500kg.JAC’s T9 arrived in Australia in late 2024 and there are currently two grades on sale - the Oasis and the Haven. Powering the T9 is a 2.0 litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine making 120kW and 410Nm, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Braked towing capacity is 3200kg.LDV’s Terron 9 is the latest member of the brand’s growing ute family. Larger in every way than the T60 both in dimensions and grunt.Powered by a 2.5-litre turbo-diesel four cylinder making 163kW and 520Nm, the Terron 9 has a braked towing capacity of 3500kg.An eTerron 9 electric version could also be arriving in Australia soon. The LDV T60 is the smaller stablemate of the Terron 9 and is powered by a 160kW/500Nm 2.0-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder, mated to an-eight speed automatic, with a six-speed manual gearbox also available. LDV upgraded the T60 in 2025 and this T60 Max, as it's called now, has a higher braked towing capacity of 3500kg.The new Foton Tunland arrived late in 2025 a very different vehicle to the one we used to know with strikingly handsome exterior and lavish looking cabin.All variants have a 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine with a 48V mild hybrid system, with outputs of 120kW and 450Nm.Chery has confirmed that it will bring a plug-in hybrid ute to Australia to compete against BYD’s Shark 6 in 2026 and the Rely P3X could be it.Rely is one of the many brands owned by Chery, along with Omoda and Jaecoo which are already in Australia. Rely showed off the P3X recently at the Chengdu motor show and it's very likely one or both of these will be vehicles to be picked and arrive wearing a Chery badge.The P3X appears to have all the ingredients to make it a tough rival to the BYD Shark 6 with its ladder frame chassis and 2.5-litre turbo diesel engine with dual electric motors.MG’s U9 arrives right about now and could be a game changer, even if it’s based on a ute that’s already here - the LDV Terron 9.MG’s bosses say that the U9 will come with a choice of diesel, plug-in hybrid and fully electric powertrains, and that variety, along with its good looks and expected affordable price point, will make it a big market disrupter. A 3500kg braked towing capacity is confirmed as well - possibly only on the diesel.Unlike all the other utes here the Geely Riddara doesn’t sit on a ladder frame and is far more car-like and lifestyle focused than a work truck.Still, there’s definitely a market for a small and comfortable little ute like the Riddara RD6, which is likely to come to Australia with a plug-in hybrid powertrain.When it does come isn’t certain, with Geely appearing to concentrate more on growing its passenger car line-up first.

China’s Geely launched the Radar King Kong EM-P plug-in hybrid (PHEV) dual-cab ute earlier this year, but it has now detailed a version that’s even more affordable.

Radical electric BYD Shark 6 alternative goes on sale right next door to Australia.

Apple-loving Geely drivers rejoice! Your Geely EX5 electric SUV now has Apple CarPlay.

Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) are on the up in Australia as evidenced by Chinese brands bringing in models like the BYD Sealion 6, Chery Tiggo 7 and Tiggo Super Hybrid, as well as the MG HS Super Hybrid.This means Mitsubishi’s once-unassailable dominance in this area is being challenged.Now, a new brand (to Australia at least) is bringing its “cutting-edge” PHEV system in the form of the 2026 Geely Starray EM-i.Geely has already launched the electric EX5 mid-size SUV in Australia, but now it has a plug-in hybrid sibling which aims to jump in on the rising popularity of the drivetrain tech.The Starray EM-i is set to show up locally in the fourth quarter of 2025 and will be the debut of Geely’s EM-i (standing for E-Motive Intelligence) PHEV tech.Its engine, a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine (73kW/125Nm) is the product of Horse Powertrain, a joint venture between Geely and Renault. Interestingly, the engine was designed from scratch to be a hybrid-assisted engine.Its thermal efficiency of up to 46.5 per cent is ahead of the standard curve for a car engine (typically below 40 per cent). Its claimed 98.02 per cent electric motor efficiency and 98.8 per cent transmission efficiency are also hard to fault.The 160kW/262Nm electric motor joins the engine for a total system output of 193kW. Power in the Starray EM-i is sent to the front wheels only.The electric motor can drive the wheels independently or with the help of the engine. It’ll also come with vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability to use its battery to power appliances.Geely claims an electric driving range of 83km (under WLTP testing, which is more realistic than often-used NEDC testing) and a total combined range of up to 943km.The Chinese carmaker also says the Starray EM-i’s combined fuel consumption lands at 2.4L/100km under WLTP testing.

Geely has detailed an updated version of its EX5 electric SUV over in China that comes with the option of a larger battery pack.As reported by Car News China, presales of this long-range Geely EX5 are set to start on July 24. In the Chinese domestic market this electric SUV is called the Geely Galaxy E5.Highlighting this update is the availability of a larger 68.4kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack that’s claimed to offer 610km of range according to lenient CLTC testing.This bolsters the existing 49.5kWh and 60.2kWh LFP battery pack options. Only the latter is offered in Australia and it offers up to 440km of range according to WLTP testing.All versions of the EX5 are powered by a single, front-mounted electric motor that produces 160kW of power and 320Nm of torque.Beyond the larger battery pack, there are also two new exterior paint colours. They’re called ‘Dawn Blue’ and ‘Evening Forest Green’.In Australia there are five exterior paint colours offered. They’re called ‘Arctic White’, ‘Shadow Black’, ‘Volcanic Grey’, ‘Moonlit Silver’ and ‘Aquatic Green’.At this stage it’s unclear whether this updated Geely EX5 with the larger battery option will ever be offered outside of China.“While we cannot confirm any additions to the Geely Auto Australia range at this time, we are continuously monitoring market trends and consumer behaviours to ensure our product range aligns with the preferences of local customers,” said a Geely Auto Australia spokesperson.The Geely EX5 launched in Australia earlier this year in two trim levels - Complete and Inspire - as a cut-price rival to the likes of the Tesla Model Y and Kia EV5. It starts at $40,990 before on-road costs.The Chinese carmaker has just opened a register your interest portal on its website for its next vehicle, the Starray EM-i, which is essentially a plug-in hybrid version of the EX5.It’s set to arrive in the fourth quarter of 2025 and be a rival to the likes of the BYD Sealion 6 and Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.