Geely Starray Review 2026: Prices, specs & verdict

What is the Geely Starray?

The Starray is the second model from Chinese car giant Geely Auto. It is the latest in a new wave of affordable plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUVs to go on sale in the UK, promising low running costs and lots of space.

Geely Auto is probably one of the biggest carmakers you’ve never heard of. It’s already a big player in the UK car market because it owns Volvo, Lotus, Polestar and LEVC (the company which builds the TX London Taxi in Coventry).  

Not content owning some of the most famous car brands in the world, Geely’s decided to launch its own brand name in the UK.

It has set its sights set on affordable PHEVs from MG, BYD, Chery and Kia. And the Starray follows the launch of the all-electric Geely EX5.

On paper, the Starray PHEV is a tempting prospect, thanks to its sub-£30,000 starting price and strong pure-electric range of up to 84 miles.

You also get lots of space and equipment, along with a comprehensive eight-year or 125,000-mile warranty.

Given the mid-sized family SUV market is one of the most competitive in the UK, it’s perhaps unsurprising that Geely Auto has pulled out all the stops to take the fight to the BYD Sealion 5, Kia Sportage, MG HS, Leapmotor C10 and Chery Tiggo 7.

Will the Geely Auto Starray be good enough to cut it against the best family SUVs on sale? Read on to find out.

Verdict: is the Geely Starray a good car?

There is lots to like about the Geely Starray. Easy to drive, efficient and practical, it will appeal to a large demographic of SUV buyers. The quality of the interior is very good, while the high level of standard equipment makes the Starray excellent value when compared to its pricier rivals.

Admittedly, the Kia Sportage is better to drive and the BYD Sealion 5 is more refined, but if you are looking for a family SUV that majors on low cost and high comfort then the Geely Starray is unlikely to disappoint.

Pricing, specs & rivals

The Geely Starray starts at £29,990 (February 2026). At that price point, you’ll get the entry-level Starray model in Pro trim, but you’ll need to pay an extra £800 if you want metallic paint (it’s not included as standard on any models in the line-up).

The Max trim is available from £32,660, while the top-spec Ultra model is available from £34,990.

The BYD Sealion 5 plug-in hybrid starts at a similar price point (£29,995) while the PHEV version of the MG HS costs more - setting you back a minimum of £32,245.

The Kia Sportage range starts at around £31,000 but that will only get you a standard non-hybrid 1.6-litre petrol. The cheapest version of the plug-in hybrid Ford Kuga sets you back over £39,000.

Despite no versions getting metallic paint as standard, the Starray is well-equipped with 19in alloy wheels, adaptive cruise control and keyless entry included in the price. You also get heated front seats and a surround view parking camera on all models.

Max trim adds a ventilated driver’s seat with a memory function, head-up driver’s display, a heated steering wheel, panoramic sunroof, wireless phone charging and a powered tailgate.

The Ultra spec doesn’t get any additional cabin equipment but does feature the larger 29.8kWh battery, with 60kW maximum DC charging.

Pro and Max versions of the Starray are only available with the 18.4kWh battery with 30kW DC charging.

Rivals

If you are in the market for a mid-sized family SUV with hybrid power, you’re spoilt for choice. The Geely Starray rivals the Kia Sportage, Nissan Qashqai, Ford Kuga, BYD Sealion 5 and MG HS.

You may also want to consider the Chery Tiggo 7, Leapmotor C10, Jaecoo 7 and Hyundai Tucson.

Geely Starray interior comfort, quality & technology

The interior of the Geely Starray is very impressive. You get lots of space and a comfortable set of seats that are covered in a smart, leather-like material.  

The elevated driving position provides an excellent view of the road, while the electric and heated driver’s seat makes it easy to get comfortable.

We’d recommend spending extra on Max trim, as this includes a memory function for the driver’s seat - useful if you share your car with a partner or spouse and find yourself adjusting the seat every time you get behind the wheel.

Most of the in-car controls are accessed through the dashboard mounted 15.4in touchscreen. You also get a handful of physical buttons on the centre console, found below the infotainment screen.

The interior is comfortable and functional, although it does look and feel similar to other Chinese-built SUVs, such as the BYD Sealion 5.

In our opinion, interiors of the Citroen C5 Aircross and Kia Sportage have more upmarket character. The in-car tech in the Kia and Citroen is also easier to use.

However, the cabin of the Starray is well-made and Geely’s eight year/125,000 mile warranty provides peace of mind that it’s built to last.

Infotainment, sat-nav, stereo and connectivity

The Geely Starray gets a large and colourful 15.4in touchscreen infotainment system as standard, placed high up at the centre of the dashboard.

The driver also gets a 10.2in screen behind the steering wheel, while Max and Ultra models add a head-up display which shows the vehicle’s speed and route directions on the windscreen.

Most of the in-car controls are accessed through the dashboard-mounted touchscreen and for the most part it’s simple to use, with large icons and prompt screen changes.

Some may get frustrated with the volume of functions that are buried in the touchscreen system. This means you spend a lot of time scrolling through screens to open a sunblind or adjust the regenerative braking.

Fortunately, there are a few physical buttons located below the screen on the centre console. You can also adjust the ventilation or audio volume with a rotary dial.

The steering wheel has physical controls, too, while wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is fitted as standard across the range.

Charging mobile devices is easy, thanks to four USB Ports – two up front and two in the back.

A six-speaker system is fitted to the entry-level Pro model, while the Max and Ultra versions get a powerful 1,000W audio system with 16 speakers - including headrest-mounted speakers in the driver’s seat to allow the driver to take phone calls without disrupting the music for passengers.

How practical is the Geely Starray?

The Geely Starray is large for a mid-size SUV, measuring 4,740mm in length. That’s 315mm longer than the Nissan Qashqai and 200mm more than the Kia Sportage.

Interior space is plentiful, with lots of head and shoulder room for those in the front and back.

The rear seats are particularly impressive, with enough legroom for six footers to stretch out and relax.

The high roofline provides lots of headroom, even with a panoramic roof fitted (something that traditionally restricts head space for tall passengers).

You also get three ISOFIX fixing points, one on the front passenger seat and two on the outer rear seats.

Storage and boot space

The Geely Starray is well suited for family life with a 528-litre boot. You also get an adjustable boot floor, which provides a completely flat load area that is perfect for sliding heavy items in and out.

In comparison, the BYD Sealion 5 offers 463 litres, while the Ford Kuga provides 412 litres. The Nissan Qashqai provides 504 - 455 litres, while the Kia Sportage has 591 – 540 litres (depending on spec).

You do not get any fancy features with the loadspace in the Starray, the seats only split 60:40 when folded and there is no ski hatch.

The cabin does have lots of useable storage, with large door bins that can hold water bottles. You also get four cupholders (two in the front and two in the back via the fold down armrest).

You get a storage tray which features a wireless charging pad for your phone on Max and Ultra trim levels.

Performance & drive: What is the Geely Starray like on the road?

Being a plug-in hybrid, the Geely Starray is designed to deliver ultra-low running costs. It does this by combining a 1.5-litre petrol engine with an electric motor and battery pack to produce 259hp.

The electric motor drives the front-wheels, taking power from the battery pack and/or the engine.

The Starray feels slower than its eight second 0-62mph time suggests, but it has sufficient power for motorway driving and commuting.

You get the choice of two battery sizes. Pro and Max versions use a 18.4kWh battery pack, while the range-topping Ultra spec gets a 29.8kWh battery.

This means the Pro and Max models cover up to 51 miles on pure electricity, while the Ultra has a maximum EV range of 84 miles.

That is impressive when you compare it to the BYD Sealion 5 (53 miles) Ford Kuga (42 miles) and MG HS (75 miles).

Power, 0-62mph times 

Geely Starray 1.5-litre petrol PHEV 18.4kWh 259hp / 8.0 seconds

Geely Starray 1.5-litre petrol PHEV 29.8kWh 259hp / 8.0 seconds

Ride and handling

The Geely Starray drives well enough and provides a decent amount of driver feedback through the steering wheel and pedals.

That said, the Ford Kuga is more involving, while the Kia Sportage is more comfortable over a long journey.

The Starray’s ride quality is quite firm, which means potholes, speed humps and rough roads result in a few noticeable bumps on your journey.

That said, we would not say the Starray is an uncomfortable car. The suspension deals with most things that UK roads can throw at it, while motorway miles are a smooth and calm experience.

Noise and refinement

Road, wind and engine noise are areas where the Starray fails to impress. The four-cylinder 1.5-litre petrol is vocal under heavy acceleration; you get a fair amount of vibration through the vehicle’s floor, too.

Things improve on the motorway, but there is always a faint noise from the door mirrors as the airflow passes over the vehicle’s body.

Euro NCAP: is the Geely Starray a safe car?

The Geely Auto Starray was awarded the maximum five-star Euro NCAP safety rating when it was tested in 2025.

This includes a score of 90% for adult occupant protection, 87% for child occupants and 86% for vulnerable road users.

Standard safety tech includes adaptive cruise control, lane keeping and emergency lane assist, blind spot detection, rear cross traffic alert and a 360-degree parking camera.

Fuel economy and running costs

Geely claims the Starray with the 29.8kWh battery will return up to 201mpg while the Starray 18.4kWh will provide up to 117mpg - both figures are calculated with a fully charged battery.

If you do not have access to a home charger, the real-world fuel economy figures will be significantly lower as the 1.5-litre petrol engine will have to work very hard to move the car’s 1,730 – 1,815kg kerb weight.

Geely Starray: electric range and charging 

With a maximum range of 84 miles, the 29.8kWh version of the Geely Starray PHEV is impressive, beating key plug-in hybrid rivals from BYD, MG and Ford.

You could theoretically drive from Cambridge to the centre of London on electric power alone, with 23 miles of range and a full tank of petrol left in reserve for when you reach your destination.

The 18.4kWh version of the Starray will cover up to 51 miles, which will be sufficient for many PHEV drivers.

Both batteries are compatible with fast DC public chargers. The 30kW DC charger (Pro and Max with the 18.4kWh battery) can charge 30-80% in 20 minutes. The 29.8kWh lowers that time to 16 minutes.

Using a 7kW AC home wallbox, 25-100% takes three hours (18.4kWh battery) and 4.6 hours (29.8kWh battery).

How much does the Geely Starray cost to insure?

Insurance rating details for the Geely Starray haven’t been published, but we expect it to start in Insurance Group 25 or 26, which would be reflective of its key rivals from MG and BYD.