Review: Geely Starray
What is it?
Geely is another brand that wants to get in on the new-car action. Following on from brands like Jaecoo and Omoda, Geely is another China-based company that is quickly developing a range of cars designed to strike a chord with UK buyers.
The Starray is its latest model and one which follows on from the EX5 launched late last year. Here at UK Carline, we’ve been up close and behind the wheel of the new Starray to find out what it’s like.
What’s new?
The Starray is a mid-size SUV to rival the likes of the Kia Sportage and the all-conquering Nissan Qashqai. It is also pitched against the popular Jaecoo 7, which is currently experiencing huge success across the UK.
Geely is one of the largest car manufacturers in China and is already putting in a lot of groundwork here in the UK. For instance, it has already created a vast aftersales and parts depot in the Midlands to make sure that repairs and replacement parts are always available.
What’s under the bonnet?
The Starray is only being offered as a plug-in hybrid, but there are some differences between specifications. While all cars get a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine, there’s the choice of either 18.4 or 29.8kWh battery sizes. They bring respective electric-only ranges of either 51 or 84 miles, too.
As we’ve come to expect from plug-in hybrids, CO2 emissions are very low with figures of between 32 and 54g/km. It’ll help to make this model much cheaper for business leasing customers, that’s for sure.
What’s it like to drive?
The Geely Starray has an easy-going driving experience that favours comfort over sportiness. That means it deals well with larger potholes – a must-have here in the UK – though, as a result, it leans more heavily in the bends than a Nissan Qashqai.
Light steering ensures that the Starray is easy to drive around town, too, and because all models offer a good amount of electric range, for most of the time it feels more like a full EV to drive.
How does it look?
The Geely Starray has the rounded, smoothed-off look that is so typical of the latest wave of Chinese-made SUVs. There are some neat touches, though, such as the sharp headlights that integrate the daytime-running lights. Geely is also offering the Starray in a variety of good colours, including a very premium-looking green.
What’s it like inside?
It’s all about space inside the Starray. Up front, there are large side pockets and a handy central cubby, while underneath the middle section of dashboard is a large hideaway storage section. Material quality isn’t bad and though it’s all quite dark, things do feel robust enough here. As with a lot of recent Chinese-made cars, everything is centred around the screen, though there are some quick-access buttons for the ventilation.
In the back, there’s plenty of legroom and headroom while a completely flat floor means that the person sitting in the middle will still have plenty of space to stretch out. There’s a 528-litre boot to use, too, and an underfloor section gives you somewhere to keep the charging cables for the Starray when you’re not using them.
What’s the spec like?
Like the Jaecoo 7, you’ll find plenty of standard equipment on all versions of the Starray. It’s being launched in one of three specificaations – Pro, Max and Ultra – though even that entry trim is jam-packed with features. You’ll find heated front seats, keyless entry and smartphone mirroring services equipped as standard.
Mid-range Max cars upgrade this with a ventilated driver’s seat, head-up display and wireless charging, as well as a panoramic sunroof. Top-spec Ultra cars bring the larger battery option – though all cars come with the same comprehensive eight-year warranty.
Verdict
The Geely Starray shows a lot of intent from this brand. For sure, it has a lot of rivals to go up against, with cars like the Hyundai Tucson and even the Skoda Karoq in this car’s crosshairs.
With good equipment levels, the Starray could be one to watch. Check out our current Geely deals to find out just what this brand has to offer.
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