A New Camry Rival Is Coming
Geely has officially confirmed that its Emgrand EM-i sedan will land in Australia in early 2027, taking direct aim at the Toyota Camry. It’ll be the brand’s second passenger car in the country after the electric EX2 hatchback, and it marks a fairly bold move at a time when sedan sales in Australia have been shrinking. Geely clearly reckons there’s still life left in the segment, just not enough genuinely modern options to choose from.
Why Geely Thinks Sedans Still Matter
Geely Australia’s managing director, Alex Gu, made the case that Australians haven’t necessarily fallen out of love with sedans, they’ve just been stuck with a shrinking pool of high-tech choices. His view is that once buyers see a properly modern, well-equipped sedan, the segment could see a bit of a revival. It’s a similar bet BYD already made with its Seal 6, and Geely wants a slice of that same opportunity.
What Sits Under the Bonnet
The Emgrand will launch exclusively as a plug-in hybrid using Geely’s EM-i system, borrowed from the closely related Starray EM-i SUV. It pairs a 1.5-litre non-turbo four-cylinder petrol engine (82kW/136Nm) with an electric motor producing 120kW/210Nm, driving the front wheels. That’s a slight detune compared to the Starray’s setup, but the Emgrand is around 200kg lighter, so it doesn’t need the extra shove. Expect a 0-100km/h time in the region of eight seconds when there’s charge in the battery.
Battery and Range
Two battery options exist for the platform, an 8.5kWh pack good for around 60km of electric range, or a larger 17kWh pack stretching to roughly 125km, both figures on the generous CLTC cycle so real-world numbers will be lower. It’s widely expected that only the bigger battery version will make it to Australia. Even with the battery depleted, Geely claims fuel consumption of as little as 2.9L/100km, helped along by a 52-litre tank that still fits around the battery pack tucked under the cabin floor.
Size, Space and Cabin Tech
At 4806mm long, 1886mm wide and 1490mm tall, the Emgrand slots into that gap between a compact sedan like the Kia K4 and a full-size Camry. Because the battery sits under the floor rather than in the boot, cargo space isn’t compromised, with 609 litres of boot room on offer. Inside, buyers get a 14.6-inch touchscreen running Geely’s Flyme Auto software, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a steering-column-mounted gear shifter, and a 50W wireless phone charger.
Where It Sits on Price
Pricing in China works out to roughly $24,600 in Australian dollars, though local pricing will land higher once it’s specced for our market. Industry estimates put a realistic Australian starting price at around $30,000 or under. That would place it below the Kia K4 Hybrid ($32,090), well under the BYD Seal 6 PHEV ($34,990), and comfortably cheaper than the segment-leading Toyota Camry ($39,990).
The Bigger Picture for Geely
The Emgrand is just one piece of a much larger push. Geely plans to more than double its Australian lineup by the end of 2027, adding three new plug-in hybrid SUVs alongside this sedan. It follows a solid start for the brand locally, with the EX5 and Starray EM-i together delivering over 5,000 vehicles in 2025. If the Emgrand can undercut its rivals on price while still delivering modern tech, it has a real shot at shaking up a segment that’s long been dominated by one car.
2027 Geely Emgrand EM-i: Key Details
| Detail | Specification |
|---|---|
| On-sale date | Early 2027 |
| Powertrain | 1.5L petrol + electric motor (EM-i PHEV) |
| Engine output | 82kW / 136Nm |
| Motor output | 120kW / 210Nm |
| Battery options | 8.5kWh or 17kWh |
| EV range (CLTC) | ~60km or ~125km |
| Dimensions (L/W/H) | 4806mm / 1886mm / 1490mm |
| Boot space | 609 litres |
| Estimated starting price | ~A$30,000 |
FAQs
1. When exactly will the Geely Emgrand EM-i arrive in Australia?
Geely has pencilled it in for early 2027, as part of a bigger wave of new plug-in hybrid models the brand is bringing to the country that year.
2. Will it only be available as a plug-in hybrid?
At launch, yes, only the EM-i plug-in hybrid version is confirmed. Geely’s local boss has hinted a non-plug-in hybrid variant could follow later, but nothing’s locked in yet.
3. How much will the Emgrand cost in Australia?
Nothing official yet, but based on Chinese pricing and where it needs to sit against rivals, expect a starting price somewhere around $30,000, positioning it below the Kia K4 Hybrid and BYD Seal 6.
4. What will the Emgrand compete against?
Its main target is the Toyota Camry, though it’ll also line up against the Kia K4 Hybrid, Hyundai i30 Sedan Hybrid, and the incoming BYD Seal 6 PHEV.
5. Is the Emgrand related to any other Geely model sold in Australia?
Yes, it shares its EM-i hybrid powertrain with the Geely Starray EM-i SUV, though the sedan is lighter, uses a simpler torsion-beam rear suspension, and has slightly detuned outputs as a result.
