TEST: Geely Starray EM-i MAX: Stone on stone is a palace

Building bridges is not easy – in fact, it is a major technical challenge. It becomes even more complex when we build a bridge between gasoline and electricity. But did Geely succeed in the first one?

Base price: €38.990
Price of the test vehicle: €39.710

So it happened – the first “Chinese” was brought to the test! And what can we say about it? It turns out that it is quite a lot. Let's start with the exterior. The Starray EM-i, which has practically nothing in common with the petrol Starray except for the name, is a 4,74-meter-long, 1,9-meter-wide and 1,69-meter-high SUV that competes with C-SUV segment SUVs such as the Volkswagen Tiguan, Hyundai Tucson, Jaecoo 7, MG HS and the like in its size. If Chinese cars are often known for their rather extravagant exteriors, the Starray EM-i is the opposite of that – with its rather restrained design, it will please lovers of minimalism, but at the same time, this does not mean that it will not go unnoticed on the road. Geely also received four design awards for the design of the new Starray EM-i, one of which is the prestigious Red Dot award – another proof that sometimes less is more. Another observation from the test – I couldn’t shake the feeling that the rear end reminded me a lot of the Porsche Cayenne. Coincidence? I don’t think so. Still, I’d say the Starray EM-i is a pretty handsome car – especially in the Jungle Green color that our test car was also dressed in.

If the exterior is a bit atypical for Chinese automotive cuisine, the interior is a real contrast. Of course, this is not necessarily a bad thing, as comfort is at an extremely high level, the selected materials are pleasant to the touch, and the build quality is good enough that nothing will creak anywhere. The seats are worth praising, which not only impress with their comfort, but also with the heating and cooling function - the latter is a real rarity at this price. We also quickly fell in love with the steering wheel-mounted direction selector, which is well positioned and easy to use. Believe it or not, these days this is no longer taken for granted. We also like the few physical switches on the center console, through which the basic functions of the air conditioning and volume can be controlled. Geely has therefore put a lot of effort into making the interior of the Starray EM-i a very pleasant environment to spend time in. The one thing I would change is the steering wheel, which is truncated at the top and bottom, which is simply too big and therefore a bit uncomfortable.

Oh, and let's not forget – screens! The main element of the dashboard is, of course, the large 15,4-inch central screen, through which almost all the car's functions are controlled. The screen itself is bright enough and well-responsive, but the interface, due to the (too) many menus and submenus, requires too much attention, which the driver simply does not have while driving. For example – to set up recuperation and turn off annoying assistance systems, approximately 15 (!) presses on the screen are required before each drive, which is absolutely too much. The smaller driver's screen is well-visible with a diagonal of 10,2 inches, although not adjustable, and the projection screen, which is part of the MAX equipment package, is large, bright enough and clear, so it also deserves a plus.

The Starray EM-i has a very special place in Geely's offer, as it is actually the brand's first plug-in hybrid. We have already mentioned that it has practically nothing in common with the regular Starray, but why? The reason is very simple - because it is based on a completely different 5th generation GEA platform, which is designed exclusively for electric and plug-in hybrid drives - it is therefore a platform on which the electric EX5 is also based, with which the Starray EM-i has significantly more in common. The 1.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine, which produces 73 kW (99 hp) of power, is also designed exclusively for the most efficient and smooth cooperation with the electric motor. The latter only plays the role of a generator, while the main role is played by the 160 kW (218 hp) electric motor, which sucks electrons from a battery with a net capacity of 18,4 kWh. Both engines work together via a single-speed 1DHT automatic transmission, and what will impress anyone who has ever dealt with the efficiency of powertrains is the fact that the total thermal efficiency is an almost incredible 46,5%. For comparison - a typical gasoline internal combustion engine has an efficiency of somewhere between 20 and 25%, and a diesel engine has an efficiency of up to 35%.

This is of course just theory, but what about practice? It depends a lot on how diligent you are with charging the battery. When the battery is sufficiently full, you will practically forget that you are carrying a petrol engine with you at all times. It only comes on when you step on the gas pedal all the way in Hybrid or Power mode, but otherwise the experience is identical to an electric car. It is actually better because you drive without that range anxiety that is subconsciously always present with an electric car. In our test, we drove about 60 kilometers on a single battery charge, but here it is necessary to take into account the fact that the battery never completely discharges, which ensures constant performance that does not depend on the battery charge level. And this is precisely why the Starray EM-i is completely useful even for those who are less diligent when charging the battery. The car then behaves very much like a self-charging hybrid – in the city you will drive mostly on electricity, and the petrol engine only comes on occasionally when the system detects that it is necessary. When driving on motorways and highways, the story is very similar, except that the petrol engine plays a more important role. It is worth praising the fact that the petrol engine (mostly) maintains relatively low revs, because there is no physical connection between the petrol engine and the wheels, and its switching is very smooth. There is only one thing that is wrong - regardless of the battery charge level and the driving program, the drive is quite unresponsive when starting off, which can be even dangerous when merging into traffic, for example.

Consumption depends even more on your preference for cables - with diligent charging of the battery, consumption can be less than two liters, but if you are less diligent, consumption is around six liters, and in the city even a liter less. Charging is fast enough, thanks to the 30 kW DC charger, that those of you who are less diligent have almost no excuse. From 20 to 80 percent, the battery charges in a good 20 minutes, and on a domestic (AC) charger with 6,6 kW of power in a good three hours, which is less impressive, but sufficient. Geely promises that the Starray EM-i can travel 983 kilometers of combined range, and in our test we achieved a good 800 km. If you are smart about keeping the electric battery in the battery, which the Starray EM-i also allows, you can already flirt with the number 900.

On the road, it quickly becomes clear that the Starray EM-i does not rely on several features that would be implemented only averagely, but only on one where it shines - comfort. In fact, the ride is so comfortable that it will not encourage even dynamic drivers to be dynamic, but will take you from point A to point B in a relaxed manner, and for most drivers this is what counts the most. Yes, the car is quite prone to understeer and yes, the steering mechanism does not provide any feedback, but this does not pose any problem, because the Starray EM-i is not a sportsman, nor does it try to be in any way, which is even commendable for such a car. The only sour consequence of the soft suspension settings and the high "sport-off-road" design is the fact that there is often too much lean in corners, and the steering mechanism also seems too inaccurate for a car without a dynamic streak.

The Starray EM-i is therefore a very comfortable and economical machine. To be loved by families, it only needs one more trump card – usability. And look at it, it has that too! Let's start with the back seat, where even the aces of the basketball team will sit comfortably, and children will feel like directors due to the generous space. For the first time during the test, it happened to me that passengers fought among themselves who would sit in the back instead of the opposite, which usually happens. This is not only because of the space but also because the back seat is extremely soft and comfortable, and the panoramic sunroof, which is part of the MAX package, gives a feeling of airiness. If the second row of seats were also movable, it would almost be sweet. When there is plenty of space in the second row of seats, this often means that the trunk is less spacious, but in this case, this is not the case – with 528 liters of capacity, the trunk is more than large enough for everyday tasks, and for sea trips, only a minimum of Tetris will be needed. Despite the relatively large battery, Geely still found room for a double floor, where you can also store the charging cable.

Geely put a lot of emphasis on the assistance systems at the presentation, but they are one of the biggest flaws of the Starray EM. It will be best to explain the matter using an everyday example: like any normal driver, I admit that I sometimes drive a kilometer, two or even three over the speed limit. This is where the first three beeps appear. Since a visual warning is also displayed on the driver's display, I direct my gaze to it, and I also check the speed - before I even look all the way, another three beeps sound, which, believe it or not, are even more annoying than the first three. At this point, I usually admit defeat and head deep into the central display, where I turn off all the distractions. Since this task requires much more pressure than it should, I accidentally approach the edge of the lane, and at that moment a third beep and a vibration of the steering wheel play with my nerves, and soon after a fourth one, telling me to look at the road. I hope this helps you understand where the problem is – most assistance systems are too sensitive and annoying, and turning them off requires far too much pressure. The smart radar cruise control works best of all, but it also has its flaws – when cornering on motorways, the steering wheel "saws" too much.

Under the hood, the Starray EM-i leaves a pretty clear impression. It's not a car that tries to be everything at once – and that's its biggest advantage. It focuses on comfort, spaciousness and an efficient powertrain that, when charged regularly, offers very low consumption and a driving feel that is more like an electric car than a classic hybrid most of the time. Add to that a spacious interior, good equipment and a competitive price, and it quickly becomes clear that it has some pretty strong assets in its segment. If you've never had contact with Chinese cars and your prejudices about them are still based on that Top Gear article about Chinese cars from 2012, I have news for you: you're in for a big surprise.

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