Geely’s Camry Rival Offers 1,300 Miles For Half The Price

The new Geely Galaxy A7 will soon be available in China with a fuel-efficient plug-in hybrid powertrain

The mid-size sedan may be fading into the background in the West, but in China, it’s still very much in the spotlight. Buyers there haven’t written off the segment just yet, and neither has Geely. The automaker has rolled out the new Galaxy A7, a model aimed at both local competitors and foreign nameplates like the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. It’ll be offered exclusively as a plug-in hybrid.

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This electrified sedan promises a total driving range of more than 2,100 km (1,300 miles), made possible by a new and highly efficient hybrid system. Positioned within Geely’s growing Galaxy lineup, the A7 is aimed at customers who want serious range but aren’t ready to commit to a full EV.

Geely hasn’t shared much beyond that headline range number and a fuel consumption figure of just 2 lt/100 km (117 MPG). Still, a few additional details have already surfaced through filings with China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

Shared Hardware, Familiar Setup

The Galaxy A7 features Geely’s NordThor plug-in hybrid system, pairing a 1.5-liter gasoline engine with a single electric motor. This setup is shared with models like the Galaxy Starship 7 SUV and the larger Galaxy Star 8 sedan. In its most efficient form, the Star 8 can manage up to 130 km (81 miles) of electric-only driving and up to 1,600 km (994 miles) total, giving us a ballpark idea of what the A7 might deliver under real-world conditions.

As for size, the A7 closely mirrors the dimensions of the Toyota Camry, measuring 4,918 mm (193.6 inches) long with a 2,845 mm (112 inches) wheelbase. That puts it about 100 mm (3.9 inches) shorter overall than the Star 8, and its wheelbase is trimmed by 83 mm (3.3 inches), suggesting a more compact footprint while still offering mid-size sedan roominess.

Geely Galaxy / Weibo

Visually, the A7 doesn’t try to reinvent the sedan, though sharp eyes will spot some familiar cues, including a profile not unlike the Passat Pro. It plays it safe with a clean, conventional silhouette, dressed up by chrome window trim and traditional door handles. Up front, a full-width LED light bar sits above mildly aggressive bumper intakes, while out back, intricate taillight graphics evoke more than a little BYD flair.

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Inside, there is a familiar digital cockpit with a large free-standing infotainment display and a smaller digital instrument cluster. Interestingly, Geely has added physical buttons and a rotary dial instead of relying on the touchscreen for every single function. Finally, the light-colored upholstery and the wood-style inserts on the dashboard and the center console give it a slightly more upscale vibe than its budget price tag might suggest.

Pricing That Undercuts the Camry

Geely is expected to launch the Galaxy A7 in China later this year, with a starting price of around ¥100,000 (about $13,900 at current exchange rates). That’s significantly cheaper than the hybrid Toyota Camry, which currently starts at ¥179,800 ($25,000) in the same market. In the States, the locally made Camry hybrid starts from $28,700.