Geely Starray review

It’s the Geely Starray, yet another innocuous looking blob from China promising the complete package for a low price tag. If we had a penny for every time we'd heard that one...

But wait! Far from being a little-known start-up that was founded five minutes ago, Geely is actually a huge megacorp that also owns Lotus, Volvo and Polestar, amongst others. So there's plenty of clout there.

The Starray – a mid-size family SUV – was the second model Geely has brought to the UK, sandwiched between the EX5 crossover and EX2 supermini.

But as you might have guessed from the names, the Starray differs from those two in that instead of being fully electric… it’s a 'super hybrid'.

A super hybrid?

Yes. Geely’s words, not ours, obvs. There’s nothing particularly super about it on paper: the combo of 1.5-litre petrol engine and electric motor makes this a plug-in hybrid in anyone else's book. Combined output stands at 259bhp and 193lb ft, but more noteworthy are the two available battery packs – 18.4kWh and 29.8kWh – giving an electric-only range of up to 51 or 84 miles WLTP. In the PHEV world, those are fairly solid figures.

That’s a good thing, as there’s nothing super about the way it goes down the road either: it lacks the polish and finesse of well-established rivals like the Ford Kuga (best in class to drive), Hyundai Tucson (roomy and smart inside), Toyota RAV4 (very comfortable) and co. Although those’ll cost you more, as we’ll get to...

No, driving dynamics are well down the priority list here, and it won’t appeal to your inner enthusiast. Sorry.

Boo. What about my inner practicality demon?

Is that a thing? Er, it/you shouldn’t be too disappointed here, with the Starray not only spacious enough for five full-size adults, but all their luggage too. Providing they’re only taking cabin bags and not massive suitcases for a six-month trip to New Zealand.

Of course, an all-encompassing touchscreen takes centre stage inside, which’ll also no doubt impress any passengers. Less so you, because it’s come at the expense of usability. But the 256-colour ambient lighting palette will make up for it, right?

We jest, because yes: as is the way with most of the cheap and cheerful Chinese identikit family SUVs arriving here, there are virtually no buttons in here. And the tech is irritating at best, nightmarish at worst.

Speaking of cheap, what does it cost?

It starts from £29,990, or £34,990 for the bigger battery version. If the Starray has a USP, it’s arguably this.

That undercuts the Kuga, Tucson and RAV4 significantly. However, the Starray isn’t the only cheap-ish Chinese PHEV, with the BYD Sealion 5, Chery Tiggo 7 and Jaecoo 7 all similarly priced.

The Starray is yet another yawnfest mid-size family SUV. There’s nothing notable about the way it looks, its driving dynamics are entirely forgettable, and the cabin is a technophobe’s worst nightmare. It’s the car equivalent of Nando’s lemon and herb spice – bland, and unlikely to greatly offend anyone.

But none of that really matters to its target audience. What will get people signing on the dotted line is the impressively spacious cabin and, above all else, the eye-catchingly cheap price tag. Plus the styling feels more Euro-influenced than most of the stuff emerging from China, so family, friends and colleagues are less likely to question your life choices when you're out of earshot.

You can do better than this though. What's a Nando's without a little extra spice?