Subaru Crosstrek vs Geely Starray Em-I

What's the difference?

Among the many strange new car brands and names we're increasingly confronted with Subaru is an established and trusted beacon along with Honda, Hyundai, Mazda and Toyota. And Subaru’s Crosstrek SUV competes against rivals such as the Honda HR-V, Hyundai Kona, Mazda CX-30 and Toyota Corolla Cross. 

So, what does the Crosstrek give you for your money and what’s different or better about the Crosstrek compared to those rivals? 

We tested the mid-grade Crosstrek 2.0S and rediscovered what this small SUV does so well and what could probably be improved.

Hybrids are yesterday’s news.

If you’re looking for a combination powertrain in 2025 you want a ‘Super Hybrid’. This is the Chinese car industry’s term for what is more commonly known as a plug-in hybrid, but they are all the rage among car brands as they rush to simultaneously cut emissions and keep buyers.

The Geely Starray EM-i is the latest addition to a growing number of Super Hybrids available in Australia, joining the BYD Sealion 6, MG HS, Jaecoo J7, Omoda 9 and the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (which doesn’t have the fancy name but has the same tech).

This is Geely’s second entry into the Australian market, following the similar-sized but all-electric EX5 earlier this year. While it’s a new brand to Australia, Geely is an automotive giant, it’s so big in China it has been able to expand its global reach. Its parent company, also called Geely, has an ownership stake in Volvo, Polestar, Lotus, Zeekr, Proton, Smart, Lynk & Co. and Aston Martin.

But none of that really matters when you’re buying a car. So, how does the Starray stack up on its own merits? Is it a compelling new addition or just another forgettable offering in an increasingly crowded mid-size SUV market?