Geely Starray EM-i Five-Star ANCAP Safety Rating: What PHEV Buyers in Brisbane Need to Know

2026-06-05

Vehicle Safety & Technology | Geely

The Geely Starray EM-i has earned a five-star ANCAP safety rating (the highest possible result) under the 2023-2025 assessment criteria. Introduced to Australia in September 2025, the Starray EM-i is a plug-in hybrid electric SUV available in two variants. The rating was published in February 2026 and applies to all variants built from June 2025 onwards.

For buyers at Barton's New Energy Vehicles considering a PHEV as part of their transition to electrified driving, the Starray EM-i's five-star result answers one of the most common questions about plug-in hybrids: does the additional high-voltage battery architecture compromise safety? The ANCAP assessment, conducted under the same 2023-2025 criteria applied to all passenger vehicles, says no. The five-star rating stands across both Complete and Inspire variants.

What is an ANCAP Safety Rating?

ANCAP independently crash-tests and rates new vehicles sold in Australia and New Zealand. Plug-in hybrid vehicles are assessed under the same criteria as petrol and battery-electric vehicles. A five-star rating is the highest result achievable.

ANCAP assesses four key categories: Adult Occupant Protection, Child Occupant Protection, Vulnerable Road User Protection, and Safety Assist.

Geely Starray EM-i ANCAP Safety Rating: The Full Scorecard

The Geely Starray EM-i (built from June 2025 in Australia) achieved the following results:

Category	Score	Rating
Adult Occupant Protection	36.23 / 40	90%
Child Occupant Protection	42.81 / 49	87%
Vulnerable Road User Protection	54.44 / 63	86%
Safety Assist	14.92 / 18	82%

Both variants sold in Australia and New Zealand are covered. The rating expires December 2031.

Variant	Powertrain	Drivetrain
Geely Starray EM-i Complete	Plug-in Hybrid	FWD
Geely Starray EM-i Inspire	Plug-in Hybrid	FWD

Adult Occupant Protection: 90%

The passenger compartment remained stable in the frontal offset test with no deductions applied. Both the driver and front passenger received adequate lower leg protection, with good results across all other body regions. The compatibility penalty was 3.47 points.

In the full-width frontal test, chest protection for both the driver and rear passenger was adequate, with good results elsewhere. The side impact scored the maximum 6.00 out of 6 points, the oblique pole returned near-maximum at 5.93 out of 6, and whiplash protection scored 3.99 out of 4.

The far-side impact score was the full 4.00 out of 4.00, with the centre airbag providing good head protection for both front occupants. Critically for a PHEV, both doors and windows passed submergence testing, remaining functional for the minimum required time period. This is a complete submergence result relevant to any vehicle with a high-voltage battery system.

The rescue and extrication score was 3.00 out of 4, with the rescue sheet, door opening, multi-collision braking, and eCall all contributing.

Child Occupant Protection: 87%

The Starray EM-i returned perfect dynamic child occupant crash test results. Both the frontal offset and side impact tests scored the maximum available points: 16.00 out of 16 and 8.00 out of 8 respectively, with good protection recorded across all critical body regions of both the six-year and ten-year dummies in both tests.

ISOFix lower anchorages are fitted to both rear outboard seats, with top tether anchorages across all rear positions. Most child restraint types can be installed in most rear positions. One booster seat could not be correctly installed in the centre rear position.

A child presence detection (CPD) system is fitted as standard. However, the system did not meet ANCAP's requirements in testing and was not awarded points. The system is present; buyers should note this testing outcome.

Vulnerable Road User Protection: 86%

The VRU score of 86 per cent is the Starray EM-i's strongest category and reflects a combination of solid physical bonnet performance and effective AEB technology.

The bonnet and windscreen provided good to adequate head protection to pedestrians over most of the surface, with marginal to poor results at the stiff windscreen pillars and the front edge. Pelvis protection was good or adequate. Femur and lower leg protection were both good, with maximum knee and tibia points awarded.

The VRU AEB system operates from 10 km/h to 90 km/h in forward scenarios. Forward pedestrian AEB was rated good in most tests including turning, day and night. AEB Backover was rated adequate, providing meaningful reverse pedestrian protection. This is a better result than some comparable vehicles in the segment.

Cyclist AEB was rated good at most test speeds including turning. The Starray EM-i provides an information alert when a cyclist approaches from behind, though no warning or door retention is offered. Motorcyclist AEB earned the full 6.00 out of 6 points, and lane support in car-to-motorcyclist emergency lane keeping scenarios earned 2.50 out of 3.

Safety Assist: 82%

Car-to-car AEB operates from 4 km/h to 150 km/h with good performance across all four standard car-to-car scenarios, scoring 3.68 out of 4. AEB Junction was good. AEB Crossing was adequate, with autonomous braking in some but not all crossing scenarios. AEB Head-On was adequate (0.50 out of 1).

The lane support system operates from 65 to 170 km/h with perfect 3.00 out of 3 points, with good LKA and ELK performance.

iACC is standard across all variants alongside camera and map-based speed sign recognition, an intelligent speed limiter, and a manual speed limiter. For PHEV buyers, iACC is particularly relevant: it can work in conjunction with regenerative braking to improve overall efficiency on longer runs. A direct DMS detecting distraction and fatigue scored 1.25 out of 2. Seat belt reminders with occupancy detection for all positions scored the full 1.00 out of 1.

Safety Features: What Comes Standard on the Geely Starray EM-i

Dual frontal, side chest, side head curtain, and centre airbags
AEB: car-to-car (4-150 km/h), pedestrian forward and reverse, cyclist, and motorcyclist
AEB Junction, Crossing, and Head-On
Lane keep assist and emergency lane keeping (65-170 km/h)
Lane departure warning, forward collision warning, blind spot monitoring
iACC, speed sign recognition (camera and map), intelligent speed limiter, manual speed limiter
Direct driver monitoring system (distraction and fatigue)
Child presence detection (fitted; did not meet ANCAP requirements)
Cyclist dooring information alert (information only; no warning or door retention)
Seat belt reminders with occupancy detection (all positions)
Multi-collision braking
eCall (default awarded)
ISOFix and top tether anchorages

Not available: knee airbags.

Why the Starray EM-i Matters for PHEV Buyers

The Starray EM-i is a plug-in hybrid that can be charged from an external source and driven on electric power alone for shorter trips, combining the efficiency benefits of electric-only driving with the flexibility of a petrol engine for longer journeys. Its five-star ANCAP result confirms that this powertrain flexibility does not come at any cost to independent safety credentials.

For buyers at Barton's New Energy Vehicles comparing PHEV options in the medium SUV segment, the Starray EM-i's combination of a 90 per cent adult occupant score, perfect child occupant dynamic crash test results, and a comprehensive standard safety suite makes it a strong option at its price point.

Speak to Barton's New Energy Vehicles

Our team at Barton's New Energy Vehicles in Wynnum can walk you through the Starray EM-i's full specification, compare the Complete and Inspire variants, and help you understand the charging setup, electric range, and running cost picture relevant to your situation.

Visit BartonsNewEnergyVehicles.com.au to browse current stock or make an enquiry online.

Best Geely Starray EM-i Deals in Brisbane

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All safety scores, test results, and feature listings are drawn directly from the official ANCAP assessment report for the Geely Starray EM-i (September 2025 onwards), published February 2026. Rating applies to all Australian and New Zealand market variants built from June 2025 (AU) and September 2025 (NZ) onwards. Source: ancap.com.au.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ANCAP safety rating for the Geely Starray EM-i?

The Geely Starray EM-i has a five-star ANCAP safety rating, the highest possible result, published in February 2026. It applies to all variants (Complete and Inspire) built from June 2025 (Australia) and September 2025 (New Zealand) onwards. The vehicle scored 90 per cent for Adult Occupant Protection, 87 per cent for Child Occupant Protection, 86 per cent for Vulnerable Road User Protection, and 82 per cent for Safety Assist, all assessed under the 2023-2025 ANCAP criteria.

Is the Geely Starray EM-i a safe plug-in hybrid SUV?

Yes. The Geely Starray EM-i earned a five-star ANCAP rating with strong results across all four categories. Its adult occupant protection score of 90 per cent reflects a clean frontal offset test result and a maximum side impact score. The child occupant protection assessment returned perfect scores in both the frontal offset and side impact crash tests, with good protection recorded for all critical body regions of both child dummies. The VRU score of 86 per cent includes maximum lower leg, femur, and knee and tibia protection points, along with good forward pedestrian and motorcyclist AEB results. Both doors and windows passed submergence testing, confirming the plug-in hybrid battery system does not compromise the vehicle's water ingress safety performance.

What is the difference between the Geely Starray EM-i and the Geely EX5?

The Geely EX5 is a battery-electric vehicle (BEV) with no combustion engine, running entirely on electric power. The Geely Starray EM-i is a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) that combines an electric motor with a petrol engine, allowing electric-only driving for shorter trips while retaining the petrol engine for longer range. Both received five-star ANCAP ratings. The Starray EM-i's ANCAP result is notably cleaner in some areas: the frontal offset test had no structural events or deductions, and the AEB Backover system was rated adequate (compared to poor in the EX5, where it was also not on by default). Both vehicles are available through Barton's Geely Capalaba and Barton's New Energy Vehicles.

What safety features does the Geely Starray EM-i have as standard?

The Geely Starray EM-i comes standard with AEB for cars (4-150 km/h), pedestrians forward and reverse, cyclists, and motorcyclists; AEB Junction, Crossing, and Head-On; lane keep assist and emergency lane keeping (65-170 km/h); lane departure warning; blind spot monitoring; forward collision warning; intelligent adaptive cruise control (iACC); camera and map-based speed sign recognition with an intelligent speed limiter and manual speed limiter; a direct driver monitoring system detecting distraction and fatigue; a child presence detection system (fitted but did not meet ANCAP requirements); a cyclist dooring information alert (information only; no warning or door retention); seat belt reminders with occupancy detection for all positions; and a multi-collision braking system. Knee airbags are not available on any variant.