Geely Starray EM-i Extended Range: 136km Electric Boost
geely starray em i 5
Geely has quietly made the Starray EM-i a lot more interesting. The flagship Inspire grade now gets a much larger 29.8kWh battery, up from 18.4kWh, which stretches the electric-only WLTP range from 83km to 136km and lifts the total combined range to 996km. That is not a typo. Fuel use on the combined cycle drops to an eye-catching 1.4 L/100km, and DC fast charging for the new pack now tops out at 60kW for a 30 to 80 percent charge in about 16 minutes.
What Changed
The headline is simple: bigger battery, more electric driving, less time filling up. The Inspire Extended Range swaps the 18.4kWh pack for a 29.8kWh unit, adding roughly 53km of pure electric range. The entry Complete model keeps the smaller battery and its 83km electric range, so don’t assume every Starray now has the larger pack.
Charging performance has been improved too. DC fast charging for the 29.8kWh battery rises from 30kW to 60kW, which trims the 30 to 80 percent window to about 16 minutes. That is not exactly Tesla territory, but it makes mid-distance trips less of a chore. Geely has also added practical bits for MY27 across the range – a 5 metre Mode 2 charging cable, towing preparation and trailer stability assist. The Inspire grade gets a massage function for the front seats because apparently you will need to be soothed after reading how far this thing goes.
Price And Practicality
The Inspire Extended Range arrives with an MSRP of $41,490, which is $1,500 more than the outgoing Inspire variant. The range-starting Complete remains at $37,490. In real terms you are paying a small premium for significantly more electric range, lower fuel consumption and faster DC charging. If you spend a lot of time on mixed routes and want to maximise electric kilometres while keeping a long total range, the math will probably work in Geely’s favour.
Geely notes the 29.8kWh pack has already seen action in a recent efficiency run that helped the Starray EM-i set a Guinness World Record for lowest fuel consumption on a Sydney to Melbourne coastal drive. The updated MY27 Starray EM-i will be rolling into Australian dealerships in late May 2026.
Zachary Skinner is the editor of TechDrivePlay.com, where tech, cars and adventure share the fast lane.
A former snowboarding pro and programmer, he brings both creative flair and technical know-how to his reviews. From high-performance cars to clever gadgets, he explores how innovation shapes the way we move, connect and live.
