Geely MK Reviews

Electric vehicle sales are booming in a way they never have before in Australia. Buyer options have increased significantly in 2026, with more affordable choices also appearing more regularly. There were 15839 electric vehicle sales for March in 2026, up from 8385 compared to this time last year, representing a near 89 per cent year-on-year growth. Established SUV players such as the Tesla Model Y lead the way with 2818 sales, along with the BYD Sealion 7 (1970). There are also some new competitors climbing up the sales charts, such as the Zeekr 7X performance SUV, which managed 679 registrations for March, having launched late last year.The Tesla Model 3 sedan (667) continues to be present among the top sellers despite its prolonged downturn.The SUV trend continues as Geely’s EX5 (606) and the Kia EV5 (587) are next on the list, before BYD’s presence resumes with the Atto 2 small SUV (572). Another new EV making an early impression is the Jaecoo J5, which launched at the start of this year and achieved 569 sales last month. The BYD Atto 1 (488) and Atto 2 (466) also make the list along with the Kia EV3 (461). Hatchbacks are proving popular amongst EV buyers as well. The MG4 (451) remains among the strongest selling EVs, as does the BYD Dolphin (373). The Toyota bZ4X is also experiencing an upturn to 447 sales for March and BYD is represented again with its Seal sedan (337) to round out the top 15. Top selling electric cars Australia March 2026

Geely sub-brand Zeekr has unveiled its ultra fast charger in China, which boasts some bonkers charging numbers as it looks to take on BYD.The brand’s official testing data reveals it can charge a vehicle from 10-97 per cent in under nine minutes. Charging from 10-80 per cent takes a little over five minutes, while 10-70 per cent charges are under five minutes.These numbers are better than those of BYD's ‘T’-shaped megawatt flash charger announced earlier this year, which can charge from 10-97 per cent in nine minutes and charge from 10-70 per cent in five minutes.According to Geely, the peak charging power registered at 1100kW, and maintained more than 500kW after reaching 80 per cent charge. It uses the same industry-leading liquid-cooled system as on BYD's unit.Maintaining such a high level of power in the latter stages of charging is a game changer, because most chargers slow down significantly due to the difficulty in locating spare cells.These figures were achieved using the 900-volt platform found on several high-end Zeekr models, such as the 007 GT wagon and the 9X SUV, both of which will be landing on Aussie shores.Geely is the latest brand to get in on the charging game in China, with it becoming the latest battleground for manufacturers in conjunction with expanding charging infrastructure territory.There is no official timeline for a commercial rollout of Geely’s new chargers, but the brand’s broader charging network had more than 2000 charging stations and more than 10,000 charging plugs as of February 2026. Only just over 1000 of these are ultra-fast chargers, which is behind many of Geely’s key rivals.BYD has been rapidly expanding its network in China to chase down the dominant player in Tesla, having already built 5000 of its megawatt charger at the start of this month. It aims to install 20,000 stations by the end of this year.Megawatt fast charging is still an emerging area in Australia, but BYD has already indicated its intention to bring across a version of its megawatt charger Down Under in the next 12-18 months.Charging infrastructure generally in Australia needs to be increased substantially in the next few years according to experts to accommodate greater numbers of EVs on the roads.

Chinese brand GAC has shown official camouflage pictures of a brand new plug-in hybrid off-roader, which will debut a new platform and direction for the Toyota-allied brand.Codenamed T75, the new off-roader will debut at the Beijing Motor Show in late April. The brand confirms it will be a plug-in hybrid as evidenced by two flaps on both sides above the rear wheel arch.The overall appearance confirms the new GAC off-roader will follow in the footsteps of the Denza B5 from BYD’s premium arm, leaning into the traditional boxy off-road appeal, complete with a tailgate-mounted spare wheel and high-profile tyres.The new images also show real door handles (as opposed to the kinds of previously-popular flush door handles currently being targeted by Chinese regulators), and a grille-free face. The brand is yet to reveal the new SUV’s light profile, although unlike some concept vehicles, the images show the T75 with real wing mirrors.It is a stark new design direction for GAC, leaving behind the large-grille design of its hybrid GS8 large SUV. Chinese media is reporting the T75 has been in the works at GAC since at least 2024, and the company has invested over the equivalent of $100 million in the project.This new GAC off-roader could also be our first hint at the brand’s recently confirmed upcoming dual-cab ute.The ute is due in 2027 and the company’s local CEO Kevin Shu said it was likely we’d learn more about it at Beijing in late April.If the new ute does share its underpinnings with this new plug-in hybrid off-roader, it will pit GAC’s dual-pronged off-road offering head-to-head with the BYD Shark 6 and the related Denza B5, which both use a petrol plug-in hybrid set-up.This space is becoming increasingly heated, with many Chinese brands moving into the off-road space, using Australia as a trial-by-fire for their range of new products. Not only is the Denza B5 and Tank 500 already in this plug-in off-road space, but Geely is also set to enter the fray before long with its Galaxy Cruiser 700.

Any 4WD worth its salt used to need a V8.Think the Toyota LandCruiser 200 Series and the soon to be replaced Y62 Nissan Patrol.The LandCruiser’s big beefy 4.5-litre V8 twin-turbo diesel made a hefty 200kW and 650Nm, while the Patrol’s naturally aspirated 5.6-litre V8 petrol engine dished out a meaty 298kW and 560Nm.That’s some hard earned grunt for some big 4WDing, except the new breed of modern 4WDs makes those large capacity engines look breathless and weak.Fast forward to today and the new LandCruiser 300 Series and Y63 Nissan Patrol, with the latter due at the end of the year, both swapping out V8 power plants for more highly strung twin-turbo V6 units.The result? More power, and plenty of it.A Y63 Patrol now delivers 317kW and 700Nm thanks to its potent 3.5-litre twin-turbo petrol V6.Those outputs trump the LandCruiser’s 3.3-litre diesel twin-turbo motor that pumps out 227kW and 700Nm.That's just the start, as it’s the new breed of plug-in hybrid off-roaders out of China that are really flexing their 4WD muscle, though.BYD’s Denza sub-brand just launched its B8 off-roader.It uses a plug-in hybrid set-up that combines a turbo-petrol 2.0-litre engine with twin electric motors for a total 425kW and 760Nm.Put that in your tailpipe and smoke it Toyota and Nissan.Denza claims that is good enough to propel it from a standstill to 100km/h in 4.8 seconds.The B8 also delivers an all electric driving range of about 100km, not bad considering current fuel prices.It is also a proper off-roader with 3500kg braked towing capacity, 890mm wading depth and front and rear diff locks on the top-shelf variant.If petrol power is your thing, the Land Rover Defender Octa Black is the pièce de résistance of 4WDs.It combines a potent 467kW/750Nm 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 and mild-hybrid assistance with muscular off-road performance and primo luxury kit.The air suspension allows for a 323mm ground clearance and approach and departure angles of more than 40 degrees, along with a ramp angle of 29 degrees and a wading depth of 1000mm.Its manic V8 can propel it to 100km/h from a standstill in 4.0 seconds on the way to a top speed of 250km/h.That’ll leave the B8 eating your dust.Now a new type of 4WD is emerging, but its off-road capabilities may not be up to scratch.Geely’s new Battleship 700 is a big blocky off-road monster with 1000kW on tap thanks to its 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine and three electric motors.It can complete the benchmark sprint to 100km/h from a standstill in a red hot 3.1 seconds.Details are scarce, but a report from UK publication AutoExpress said it has a wading depth of 800mm, has big ground clearance and the brand is considering expanding its off-road modes, which won't have the big boys shaking in their all-terrains.Chery will launch a diesel hybrid ute this year in Australia and it could spawn a SUV bodied version in the future.It will pair a 2.5-litre turbo-diesel engine with electric motors to make mega torque numbers. It’ll also have three diff locks and be properly fit for purpose. It could rattle a few cages.

Don’t for a second put up with politicians trying to shift any of the blame for fuel shortages onto panic buying or people filling up a few jerry cans. The government has not only known about the possibility of running out of fuel, but it ensured it happened through a risky practice that it had been warned about for years.As the war in the Middle East escalates and enters its second month the global economy is creaking under the pressure of petrol and diesel shortages, with Iran permitting very few oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz - the crucial shipping lane linking oil producers such as Saudi Arabia, Iraq and the UAE to the world. Iran’s holding 20 per cent of the world’s oil hostage wasn’t unforeseen. Fuel security experts have been well aware of the risk for decades. Six years ago CarsGuide published the story I wrote of the risk of a war with Iran causing a fuel shortage. In the story former Royal Australia Air Force Deputy Chief John Blackburn, now a consultant on defence and national security, said Australia's lack of larger fuel reserves was a huge risk.As of late March, 2026, Australia had 30 days of diesel and 39 days of petrol left. Jet fuel was down to just 30 days, too.“The issue is the government doesn’t mandate that industry has to hold minimum stock levels. Most other developed countries do,” Blackburn said.“My view is the government isn’t keen on doing it because it has a free market approach. Now if there are no risks around, then that makes economic sense. But this idea that during peace time we’ll just let the market run and in war time we’ll do something else is outdated because there is no such thing as peace time any more.”So the government knew the risks and was willing to take them and work it out later if a problem ever arose. And when I say government I’m not referring to Labor or Liberal, I’m mean both, because it has been the same policy of both sides over successive governments.  The problem is now here and you can hear the concern in politician voices - this is an incredibly worrying situation that won’t right itself the day after the Strait of Hormuz is reopened. And there has been no attempt by any successive government over the years to change this practice. As Blackburn said, if we were to take up electric cars, which are powered by the electricity we made ourselves, then the fuel supply would be as secure as it could get."If you want to reduce demand you need to diversify the types of energy cars and trucks use… electricity will be absolutely critical to this. The good thing with electricity and also hydrogen vehicles is that we can generate the electricity and the hydrogen in Australia – 100 per cent of it. We don’t have to be 90 per cent dependent on imported diesel, unleaded and jet fuel as we are today.”And as the Government scrambles to produce modelling that will tell us exactly how long we have left before the Hunger Games start, there still doesn’t appear to be any thought going into how we can decouple from petrol and diesel and transition to electric.Because the cars are here and the infrastructure is now rolling out fast. I’ve been writing car news for 15 years and I’ve watched the big take up of EVs and I’ve also watched the government do nothing to incentivise it as well.Chinese brands such as BYD, Geely, Zeekr, Chery, MG and GWM have such production capability that we’ve been told quietly that vehicle supply is not a problem - name a number and it’ll be here on the next boat.That’s a frightening prospect to the Ford, Honda and even Toyotas of this world that are scrambling to work out what to do and which Chinese brand to join because beating them is no longer an option. Look, I have no doubt everything will be fine, but I can’t stress enough that we shouldn’t be letting it get this close again to realise that electric vehicles are the only way to secure our country better from fuel threats. And hydrogen will work for long haul trucks no problem at all - it’s already being tested by big names you’re familiar with already and is just around the corner.In the meantime don’t accept the blame for the fuel shortage - it’s not you using too much, it’s them not buying enough in the first place.

Cold water has just been poured over the immediate future of solid-state car battery technology.Solid-state batteries have been spoken about as the silver bullet to range anxiety on electric cars, offering more than 1000km of driving on a single charge.It was thought that solid-state technology might be just around the corner, with brands moving closer to commercialisation, but it now looks like it may be further off than first anticipated.Chinese Academy of Sciences Professor at Tsinghua University Ouyang Minggao said solid-state batteries may require up to 10 years to reach one per cent market share.Minggao had previously estimated an earlier adoption time for the technology, but has now cautioned the potential for an imminent arrival.This lines up with comments from some major manufacturers, such as United States based General Motors (GM).“Solid state is still years away,” GM Vice President - Battery, Propulsion, and Sustainability Kurt Kelty said.There are also now questions about the safety of these batteries, with Minggao stating they are not “absolutely safe” as fine tuning continues. Increased safety of solid-state was one of the key advantages over other conventional batteries.Next year is a big year for solid-state, particularly in China, with several manufacturers introducing prototypes.Chery has been making the most noise about solid-state batteries, and has already announced two models to feature the technology.In addition to the Exeed ES8 is scheduled for a 2026 launch, the brand’s Exeed Liefeng will be introduced in 2027. It will come with a Rhino S battery which is targeting an energy density of 600Wh per kilogram, taking driving range to 1500km.BYD will begin small-batch production of its solid-state batteries next year, but it has not confirmed if any cars will be fitted with the battery.Geely is another Chinese brand pursuing solid-state, with its first in-house solid-state battery concept to debut this year.

China is starting to flex its off-road muscles.Geely is the latest Chinese brand to launch a rough and tumble four-wheel drive in the form of the Battleship 700.It follows the classic 4WD design formula, with a big blocky shape, square shoulders, prominent retro roundish headlights, monster wheels and a spare tyre on the tailgate.There are hallmarks of the Defender, 70 Series and some GWM Tank models in its looks.Geely, like all Chinese 4WD brands, is betting big on plug-in hybrid power to usurp diesel’s dominance in the heavy off-roader segment.Geely’s set-up uses three electric motors, but it hasn’t provided full details.We can look at some of its siblings from Geely's other brands, such as the coming Zeekr 9X.It uses a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine and three electric motors to make a whopping 1000kW sent to all four wheels, which enables it to sprint from zero to 100km/h in 3.1 seconds.That’s double the Land Rover Defender Octa Black, which is a beefy off-road monster that pumps out 457kW and 750Nm from its 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 and mild-hybrid assistance.It also dwarfs the Toyota LandCruiser’s 227kW/700Nm 3.3-litre twin-turbo diesel six-cylinder engine and the coming Nissan Patrol’s 317kW/700Nm 3.5-litre twin-turbo petrol V6.With that much electric grunt, you need a big battery.The 9X can be had with either a 55kWh and a 70kWh unit, with electric only driving range of up to 380km via the more lenient China Light-duty Test Cycle (CLTC).The 9X — like the Battleship 700 — is built on Geely’s 'SEA-S' platform, which uses 900V architecture.This means it will be incredibly fast to charge, with the 9X claiming a 20-80 per cent refill in 8.5 minutes. UK outlet Autoexpress has also confirmed the battleship 700 is planned to land there in 2028.This puts it clearly on Australia’s radar as it is another right-hand drive market, is closer to China and has a large 4WD buying pool.The report said it has a wading depth of 800mm, has big ground clearance and the brand is considering expanding its off-road modes.

Geely has unveiled its Galaxy Starshine 7 plug-in hybrid sedan in China, offering a new electrified option in the segment. The model is expected to launch in China in the coming weeks, with no clear plans yet on if or where it will be exported, so there is nothing confirmed about the Galaxy Starshine 7’s potential future in Australia.However, the two current Geely models on sale Down Under also fall under the brand’s Galaxy sub-brand, so it may have a better chance than other cars in the brand's overseas catalogue.A spokesperson for Geely Australia said there is nothing to announce yet, but no model is off the table either.We expect to learn more about whether the Galaxy Starshine 7 is destined for Australia next month at the Beijing Motor Show. It measures 4958mm in length, 1915mm wide and 1505mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2852, seeing it sit on the larger side of the sedan category. It would offer a budget alternative to the plug-in hybrid sedan variant of the Audi A5 and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. The car is similarly sized to the Toyota Camry hybrid in Australia, which is the dominant player of the segment, so it would be a keen rival to the popular Japanese sedan.We are yet to find out more substantial information about the car, but we know it will be powered by a plug-in hybrid set-up with an all-wheel drive system.The 1.5-litre petrol engine produces 82kW, with the bulk of the power expected to come from the electric motors.It will have battery choices of 19kWh and 28kWh, both offering electric-only driving ranges of 115km and 165km, respectively, according to CLTC but expect closer to 100km for the long-range battery in real-world conditions.It also has a fuel economy of 2.0L/100km, which is half that of the Toyota Camry’s, although the Toyota is only a plugless hybrid. The plug-in hybrid C-Class has a fuel economy of 1.5L/100km, for comparison.The only other information available on the car at this stage is that it can complete the 0-100km/h sprint in 5.4 seconds.

Geely sub-brand Farizon has confirmed its new V7E electric van will launch in Australia this year.Few details have been revealed about the van at this stage, but variant specifications and pricing will be announced next month, deliveries beginning in May.It will join an increasingly busy electric van segment, with the likes of the Kia PV5 launching mid-year, along with the Ford E-Transit Custom, LDV eDeliver 7 and Volkswagen ID. Buzz Cargo, which are already in Australia.Pricing for these electric vans sits in the $60K-$70K bracket, so expect Farizon’s latest edition to be in a similar range. It has a lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery made by CATL, the world’s largest battery manufacturer, with a driving range of 330km. This is more driving range than the rivalling E-Transit Custom at 307km. The van will come with a 1300kg payload, which is more than the E-Transit Custom, but similar to the LDV eDeliver 7. It also has a cargo volume of 6.95 cubic metres.It is said to boast a generous internal load length and a low rear loading height.Farizon launched in Australia through distributor Jameel Motors in 2025, with its SuperVan electric van, which comes in short-wheel and long-wheel base variants, starting from $71,490 (before on-roads).It is powered by a single electric motor, producing 170kW and 336Nm, with its 83kWh battery offering 376km of driving range. There have been more electric vans launching in Australia over the past few years as the segment begins to move away from diesel alternatives. Diesel vans remain the popular choice for buyers, with the Toyota HiAce the dominant option, with more than 11,000 sales in 2025. 

Buyers are abandoning their supposed skepticism of Chinese carmakers, with affordability proving a key factor in buying decision-making. According to The Next Gear - Australia in Motion data from Gumtree Group (owner of CarsGuide), which surveyed more than 4000 prospective car buyers, 57 per cent of respondents said the country of origin for a car is an important factor in the purchasing process.Further, 42 per cent of respondents said they were unlikely to consider buying a vehicle from a brand originating in China. Unlikelihood to consider buying car from brand originating in following countries Sales data tells a different story. For February 2026 sales, China became the biggest country of origin for new-car sales in Australia. Gumtree Group's data also shows 11 Chinese-owned brands appear in Australian consideration sets. Brands BYD, GWM and Chery were all in the top 10 best-selling carmakers for February 2026, combining for nearly 15,000 sales for the month. China overtook Japan, which 71 per cent of respondents said they would likely consider buying a vehicle with that country of origin. China’s dominance in Australia is only going to increase from here, with many manufacturers offering budget EV options in a market where EVs are increasing of interest to buyers. Mainstream car makers are also starting to shift production across to China, either re-badging Chinese cars or manufacturing cars there.This offers brands the potential to build for and import cars to Australia cheaper, enabling more competitive prices. For example, the highly-anticipated Mazda 6e launching soon in Australia, is a re-skinned version of the Deepal L07, while many of Tesla’s popular EVs are built in China. This comparative cheapness is driving buyers to abandon their brand origin preference.Chinese-made cars are among some of the cheapest on the market, especially in the EV space, such as BYD’s Atto 1, Atto 2 and Dolphin, which are three cheapest new EVs in Australia. It is a similar story for internal combustion powered cars, with the MG3 currently available for under $20K as one example.