Geely Emgrand PHEV 2026 Review

The 2027 Emgrand i-HEV is not yet officially confirmed for Australia, but Geely is understood to be evaluating it seriously.

An estimated price around $40,000 plus on-roads would place it as an affordable alternative to the Toyota Camry Hybrid, which also starts at $40K and has a similar closed-loop plug-less hybrid system, often called HEV.

Unlike the Camry, the hybrid technology is allegedly V2L (vehicle-to-load, 3.3kW, enabling the use of an air fryer, for example) capable and standard equipment includes a 14.6-inch touch-screen that responds quickly to inputs, wireless phone charging, a sunroof, power windows with one-touch operation front and rear, and physical climate controls.

The Chinese challenger interior uses 85 per cent soft touch materials, according to the brand, while six airbags and a full suite of bleeping and beeping advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) are also included, as is C95-grade air filtration.

It has a rather rectangle-ish steering wheel with useful controls at hand, for the record, and while there are petrol-only variants sold in other markets, Australia would receive only the PHEV version.

First introduced in 2009 and now in its fourth-generation, the Emgrand is Geely's first sedan built on the BMA architecture and measures 4638mm long and 1822mm wide, which is a fair bit shorter (but just as wide) as the Camry’s 4920mm length.

The Geely Emgrand would likely get the same seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty as the current models, including the EX5 and Starray EM-i SUVs.

Seven year’s roadside assistance would almost certainly be complimentary as well.

The Emgrand handles with more composure than its mainstream mission suggests. I was expecting a sloppy, half-baked forgettable sedan during our brief drive in a large carpark in Hangzhou, China.

But body roll is well-controlled through corners, the steering is adequately weighted, and the car sits flat with a level of confidence that belies its practical intent.

It’s no sports sedan but there’s a sense it’ll be more engaging than its rivals. And it had very average tyres too.

The claimed 2.2L/100km combined efficiency figure is genuinely impressive if it translates in real-world Australian conditions. This feat was recognised by the Guinness World Record mob but it was difficult to test these claims on a 150-metre motorkhana course in a carpark.

For what it’s worth, the 2026 Geely Emgrand i-HEV (5th generation) features a small liquid-cooled hybrid-specific battery pack.

This compact, self-charging battery is part of the NordThor AI hybrid system, which enables the vehicle to run in pure-electric mode at speeds up to 66km/h and contributes to a Guinness World Record-setting fuel consumption rate of 2.22 litres per 100 kilometres.

The 2026 Geely Emgrand i-HEV (5th generation) features a battery of undetermined density but uses an AI system to get the best efficiency based on how the driver operates the vehicle.

The sedan can run in pure-electric mode at speeds up to 66km/h – similar to Camry. An extended drive on Aussie terra firma will provide more clarity on its real-world efficiency.

Another positive point is the boot. It is cavernous – feeling like more than 550 litres of usable space than the 500 litre claim.

The interior is also tastefully finished with quality faux leather and supportive seats. It doesn’t feel cheap, which matters at this price point.

The Emgrand feels more like a corporate fleet proposition than something that will motivate buyers emotionally.

For buyers seeking a bold statement, the Emgrand offers little. The manual boot lid, while quick to manipulate, feels like a cost-cutting measure given the otherwise good equipment levels.

Rear headroom feels tighter than the tiny Geely EX2, which is a bit of a concern.

The seat doesn’t offer lumbar adjustment in the version tested, which may prove frustrating on longer runs and EV-only mode is limited to around 66km/h, meaning highway driving defaults quickly to combustion.

The exterior design, while inoffensive, is deliberately conservative, lacking the playful charm of the EX2 or the imposing presence of the M9 family SUV we also tested.

The Geely Emgrand PHEV makes a quiet but convincing argument for itself. Efficient, well-packaged, surprisingly good to drive and potentially very keenly priced, it ticks most of the boxes the Camry crowd and ride share buyers demand.

The missing pieces are confirmation of an Australian launch date and a final specification sheet.

If Geely can deliver it at or under $40,000 with solid warranty and service support, it could find a genuine audience among practical-minded family buyers and fleet operators.

2026 Geely Emgrand PHEV at a glance:
Price: $40,000 approx (plus on-road costs)
Available: TBC
Powertrain: 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol + electric motor
Combined output: 230kW
Transmission: TBC
Fuel: TBC
CO2: TBC
Safety rating: Untested

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