Geely Starray Reviews

Chinese auto giant Geely has revealed that it has extensively tested its new electric EX5 SUV in Australia to develop suspension for local conditions ahead of the vehicle’s launch this year.The revelation is an insight into just how serious the car manufacturer is taking its brand launch in Australia with the EX5 being its first model to come here.Head of Geely Auto Australia Li Lei said the company has an understanding of what Australian consumers want in a vehicle.“Geely is extremely proud of the work the Australian team has done to make the Geely EX5 fit-for-purpose for the local market,” he said. “We now have a great understanding of what Australian car consumers need in a vehicle, how they use it and what features they love,” said Lei. “We wanted to ensure the car offered a great experience for Australians and these adjustments will deliver a smoother ride over rough surfaces, improved stability for long-distance journeys, and the durability to handle variable loads — all while maintaining the comfort, confidence and reliability consumers expect." Car makers such as Ford and Toyota have calibrated suspension for Australian conditions for decades and the use of local engineering teams to ensure vehicles are adapted to our varying roads has been one of the secrets to the success of brands such as Kia and Hyundai. Geely doing the same signals the car maker is gearing up to be competitive against these brands.The EX5 could be the sharpest weapon in Geely’s armoury, too. At 4615mm long the EX5 is the same size as Toyota’s RAV4 and with a similar price tag, expected to be between $49,000-$55,000. The difference is that the EX5 is electric while the RAV4 is a petrol-hybrid.Not only will that allow the EX5 to compete with the RAV4 and other combustion powered mid-sized SUVs such as the Kia Sportage and Subaru Forester, but it will also be able to rival electric SUVs such as the Tesla Model Y and Leapmotor C10.  “The beauty of this car is that it can compete. It’s an SUV, we’re not compartmentalising ourselves into the battery electric vehicle (BEV) space. We’re expecting people from legacy brands to come and look at this vehicle as well,” a Geely spokesperson told CarsGuide recently.The EX5 will offer a front mounted motor producing 160kW and 320Nm, and offer a range of up to 430km.Australia has seen electric vehicles become more mainstream over the past two years. Chinese brands such as BYD, MG, Leapmotor, Deepal, Zeekr, Smart have warmed the local market up to new names and tech and won over many Australians, priming the market for Geely, which is expected to  make a major impact on our automotive landscape.  

Price used to be the biggest hurdle to electric car adoption, but not anymore.Research conducted by the Electric Vehicle Council in 2022 suggested half of new car buyers were considering switching to electric, but the number one concern was the upfront cost.One of the best value offerings at the time was the Tesla Model 3, which started from a whopping $64,300. Consumers were expected to pay $15,000 to $20,000 more for an EV compared to an equivalent petrol model.A lot has changed.The electric car market has expanded significantly and costs, both from existing players and those new-to-market, have come down significantly.The upgraded Tesla Model 3, which now features more driving range and features, starts from $54,900, and you can hop into a fully electric car from as low as $29,990 (for the BYD Dolphin Essential).Not only have costs come down, but the amount of choice has exploded. The just-launched Leapmotor C10 is a mid-size family SUV, which starts from $45,888 before on-roads (or just $47,500 as part of an initial drive-away offer). It’s a price-tag equivalent to a mid-spec Toyota RAV4 — Australia’s most in-demand hybrid SUV — and soon it will have to compete with not only the Xpeng G6 but the Geely EX5.We may have expected electric car price parity to arrive with some fanfare, but it has almost arrived with barely a whimper.Top-selling models, including the Tesla Model Y, still seem to be a price-step above combustion options. There’s a vibrant price-war amongst the increasing number of Chinese automakers available and in an increasing number of segments, but it seems like electric cars have lost their lustre a bit amongst new car buyers.As a result, the latest data from the industry has those considering purchasing an EV dropping significantly.It’s not all over for electric cars as some doom and gloom headlines proclaim, often citing softening (but still growing) sales in Australia. There are also much more dire figures out of Europe causing some of the biggest manufacturers to issue embarrassing about-faces on once-bold all-electric commitments, as customers reject new products in droves.So why is this happening? Do Australian new car buyers even want an EV anymore, and are we set to follow in the footsteps of other places that have seen an EV sales slow-down?The issue has several factors, all of them economic rather than ideological, despite what the comments section would have you believe.Consumer confidence in the new car market has declined significantly with high interest rates. The January 2025 sales data from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) showed a continued decline in EV sales following a soft second half of 2024, but also a rapid increase in registrations at the lowest end of the market. Significant winners so far this year include the Kia Picanto, Chery Tiggo 4, MG3, and outgoing Mitsubishi ASX, all budget petrol-powered offerings, and a far cry from the usual mid- or high-spec SUVs which have dominated sales charts for some time.Another significant factor is the removal of EV incentives from most states.The amount of competition in the Australian market has had a knock-on effect of slaughtering the resale value of existing EVs. Imagine having bought a pre-upgrade Model 3 in 2022, only to have its value halve in three years because the new one is not only better, but it’s nearly $10,000 more affordable, too.Then there’s the consideration of why buy a two- or three-year-old, relatively high kilometre Tesla, when you could have a brand-new BYD Seal with a box-fresh warranty from $46,990. Buyers have begun to question whether now is the right time for a purely electric vehicle, when they could simply wait for prices to stabilise, buying or holding on to a combustion car in the meantime.Fuel prices are hovering around $2 a litre and Australia’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standards (NVES) will begin to have a significant impact on the model mix available. Hybrids appear to be the biggest beneficiaries. Sales are up a whopping 76 per cent year-on-year, driven by the return of the supply of popular Toyota models after a long period of parts shortages, and an explosion of new options available from Hyundai, Kia, GWM, Honda, and Nissan.This slowdown in EV consideration is a natural part of the process and what has to happen to bring the technology to the mainstream as automakers scramble to have the best, most affordable vehicles available.It’s the most keen early-adopters of electric vehicles who will feel the brunt of this. Their vehicles have been hit by the biggest declines in value, and they’ve had to put up with an immature charging network and even some additional expenses, like higher insurance costs.Still, the Australian market continues to evolve. While consumers seem to have turned more to hybrids, EV sales still grew in Australia, up 4.7 per cent over the course of 2024. They accounted for 91,292 units or 7.4 per cent the market and more options particularly at the same price of popular hybrids should continue to convert buyers.Australia has plenty of growth in the EV sector to go. Australia has the highest uptake of household solar in the world, which would, in turn, mean that Australian households with the ability to charge in their garage will have some of the lowest per-km cost to recharge their electric vehicles.The biggest factor in the long-run though will be the NVES. Finally catapulting Australia into the world of 21st century emissions policy, this policy will really start to bite in the second half of the decade. Almost every mainstream automaker who has spoken to CarsGuide on the topic has earmarked serious changes to their line-up, with a high percentage of pure electric vehicles necessary for them to avoid hefty fines from the government.It’s also worth noting that at 7.4 per cent adoption, while Australia has been a little slow on the uptake, it’s hardly hit the saturation point which many European jurisdictions and some Chinese cities have reached, which is a big source of their respective market slow-downs.What’s the take-away? While price-parity EVs have quietly arrived in Australia with minimal fanfare, the path for growth here seems more sustainable than the great swings and misses we’ve seen overseas.Periods of explosive growth and unsustainable subsidies are behind us, and a slowly-but-surely set of policies in place here seems to be adding incrementally to Australia’s electric fleets rather than moving from huge sales to gutting losses for automakers, and in the long term, this should add confidence for EV buyers rather than doubt.

Why Geely's range of hybrids and EVs from its Galaxy range could be what stunts BYD's growth in Australia.

Why Geely wants its EX5 to be thought of as just a family SUV and not an EV.

Geely has confirmed Australian features for its upcoming EX5 mid-size electric SUV.Set to arrive in customer hands in the first half of 2025, the EX5 is set to go head-to-head with Chinese rivals in an increasingly competitive electric mid-size space with pricing pitched at that of mid- to high-spec combustion SUVs from mainstream brands.Arriving in two grades, the EX5 scores the larger of two batteries available internationally. The 60.22kWh lithium-ion unit, using LFP chemistry, grants it up to 430km of WLTP driving range.The two EX5 trim levels include base ‘Complete’ and top-spec ‘Inspire’, both of which are powered by a 160kW/320Nm front-mounted electric motor.The base Complete grade comes equipped with 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, synthetic leather interior trim, six-way power adjust for the driver’s seat and four-way power adjust for the passenger — both heated — a 10.2-inch digital dash cluster and 15.4-inch central multimedia touchscreen, a 15W wireless phone charger, online connectivity and over-the-air updates with built-in navigation, a six-speaker sound system, keyless entry and start with flush doorhandles, dual-zone climate and an N95 cabin filter.The top-spec Inspire adds 19-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic sunroof with powered sunshade, a powered tailgate, front parking sensors, illuminated sunvisor mirrors, RGB interior ambient lighting, six-way power adjust with profile memory options for the front two positions, ventilation for the front seats, a 16-speaker premium audio system, and a 13.4-inch head-up display.Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity is not available presently, although the brand says the car is capable of supporting CarPlay and Android Auto in a wireless capacity. It expects the key connectivity tech to become available via an imminent over-the-air update.There are five exterior colours in the EX5 range, including white, black, grey, silver and green, with either a black interior, or an alternate light grey interior as an option on the top-spec Inspire.The EX5 is capable of supporting vehicle-to-load dispensing power at a rate of 3.3kW from its front driver’s-side mounted charging port, or up to 6.0kW in vehicle-to-vehicle charging mode, however a V2L connector will be sold as a separate accessory and not included.Additionally, the EX5 can charge at a maximum rate of 100kW on DC, or 11kW on a slow AC connector. It has a rated energy efficiency of 15.8kWh/100km in the base Complete.While prices are yet to be locked in, the brand’s representatives tell us they are targeting at late $40,000 to mid-$50,000 range for the EX5, which would pit it against the smaller but more affordable BYD Atto 3 (from $39,990) and roughly equivalent Leapmotor C10 (from $45,888 before on-roads), while seemingly undercutting the entry-level Tesla Model Y (from $55,900 before on-roads).The EX5 is yet to be rated by ANCAP, but both grades score the complete array of active safety equipment as well as seven airbags.Ownership terms are yet to be determined, but Geely will offer the EX5 via a traditional multi-franchise dealer and service model, although it is promising competitive ownership terms, which are expected to be revealed at the EX5’s imminent launch. A pre-order offer has the brand providing three years of free servicing and one year of public charging with the EX5.The brand would not yet be drawn on what was next as part of its Australian arrival plans, although internationally it earmarked a small hatchback (think GWM Ora) and the E8 sedan (think Tesla Model S) as part of its global expansion plans.

There are now more Chinese cars in Australia than ever before, and yet there are more which haven't arrived yet which would almost certainly find an audience.

Ask Toyota — the world’s biggest carmaker — and two brands are enough.Yes, Toyota makes trucks under the Hino brand and also has the minnow Daihatsu in its stable, but it is essentially Toyota and Lexus and that’s it.Part of Toyota’s success in Australia is it sells a vehicle for everyone, and every occasion.Lexus rarely steps on its big brother’s toes, with a clear premium divide separating the two.Now Chinese behemoth, Geely, is gearing up for an assault on the Australian market.It has a strong toehold Down Under with Volvo and Polestar, but after that is where things get murky.It also has Lotus, Smart, Zeekr and its home brand Geely to forge ahead with in 2025.Volvo and Polestar have clearly positioned themselves in the luxury space, but Geely, Smart and Zeekr are chasing the same mainstream buyers.All three are electric only, and are launching with semi-premium compact and mid-size SUVs.They are essentially the same vehicle underneath a slightly different styled skin. But electric cars all have similar looks, honed for aerodynamics, which gives them all a same-same-ness despite a tweaked non-grille or headlight treatment.The brands all share motors, batteries and tech features, which helps amortise costs, but can be a challenge when attempting to stand out from the crowd.Geely recently merged two of its brands, Zeekr and Lynk and Co, to reduce internal competition.According to Reuters, Geely boss Gui Shengyue said the integration would make the company more competitive."If we don't integrate , we must face issues such as internal competition ... and redundant investments in many aspects such as R&D, sales, which is stupid," he said according to Reuters.Geely isn’t alone in crowding its own space.The huge Volkswagen Group has Volkswagen, Skoda and newcomer Cupra all lobbing cars in a similar price bracket.The big difference is only Cupra is new, the VW Group isn’t attempting to launch three new brands in the space of 12 months that sell effectively the same cars.It’ll be a challenge for these three Chinese brands to stand out.They also face a wave of competition following them across the sea. GAC, Aion, Xpeng, Skywell, Leapmotor and Deepal are all planning to launch or have launched into the same market space as their compatriots.Not to mention established brands such as BYD, Chery, GWM and MG already with a group of loyal buyers and brand cache.It is starting to feel like China’s car industry is replacing the building industry responsible for towering ghost towns as its biggest economic driver and they need to find export markets quickly to keep the production lines open and the steel mills firing.Australia is a prime target with its lack of tariffs and relatively close proximity to the Chinese mainland.There are storm clouds brewing on the edge of the Australia new car market, though.Electric cars still only make up about 8.3 per cent of new cars bought through the first 11 months of 2024. More EVs have found homes this year than last, but less than 10 per cent is still relatively niche.Private buyers — generally the ones snapping up EVs — are stepping away from new car purchases at an alarming rate.Double digit drops in private buyers in each of the past four months compared to the year before is a worrying trend according to the head of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, Tony Weber.“This is a disturbing trend which illustrates how cost of living pressures are impacting households,” he said.Only time will tell if these brands can make it work, but it’ll be a tough slog in 2025.

Geely has locked in an Australian launch for the first half of next year. But the brand hasn’t pledged to be all-electric and its new Galaxy Starship 7 plug-in hybrid family SUV could prove a major headache for the BYD Sealion and Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.That’s because the Galaxy Starship 7’s generous 19kWh lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack allows up to 120km of electric-only driving range, which is paired with the 82kW petrol engine, bringing combined driving range to 1420km (CLTC) between a charge and fill.For reference, the electric-only range of the BYD Sealion 6 is 92km, while the updated Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is 86km. These figures are WLTP rated and the CLTC numbers quoted by Geely are typically more generous.The Galaxy L7 is fitted with Geely’s ‘NordThor EM-i Super Hybrid’ set-up, while there are no combined outputs yet, the electric motor will do the heavy lifting at 160kW/262Nm. Geely claims a 0-100km/h sprint of 7.5 seconds and 180km/h top speed. Plug-in hybrid driving range has become the new battleground for Chinese car makers. BYD’s soon-to-launch DM-i set-up claims 2000km in a sleek sedan while XPeng, Chery and others are also getting into the plug-in hybrid game.Dimensions of the Galaxy L7 PHEV put it firmly in the medium SUV segment, with the five-seater measuring 4740mm long, 1905mm wide and 1685mm tall with a 2750mm wheelbase. The drag coefficient is 0.29Cd.Inside there’s a 13.8-inch head-up display, 10.2-inch digital driver’s display, 14.6-inch multimedia touchscreen, 16-speaker sound system, V2L and ‘Marshmallow’ seats with 14-point massaging, heating and ventilation. Chinese car making giant Geely partly or fully owns several marques including Lotus, Volvo, Smart, Polestar, Lynk & Co and Zeekr and will make an entrance in Australia next year with its EX5, expected to be a cut-price alternative to a Tesla Model Y and Hyundai Ioniq 5. Geely has a past in Australia, which quickly came to an end about a decade ago. Come half one 2025 when the EX5 launches, it is looking for more staying power. A plug-in hybrid like the Galaxy L7 could be just the ticket. 

Geely is gearing up to launch its first electric car in Australia. 

Chinese car brands are rolling out new and improved products at an astonishing rate.