Chinese Automaker Geely Thinks It Can Out-Hybrid Toyota

Geely claims its new i-HEV hybrid does away with the sluggishness that drivers dislike in Toyotas

written by Tom Baker
edited by Steven Ewing
5/15/2026
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What's new: Geely is launching a new i-HEV hybrid system that it says delivers a better driving experience and better fuel economy than Toyota's hybrid powertrains.
Why it matters: If Geely were to enter the U.S. market, the i-HEV powertrain could be a big part of the company's product strategy.
Edmunds says: It's unlikely that Geely will make its way into the U.S. anytime soon, but at least the company will be ready with efficient, Toyota-rivaling vehicles.

— Hangzhou, China

Geely is attacking Toyota right in its heartland. The Chinese automaker is launching a new plugless hybrid powertrain called i-HEV that it says will provide superior refinement and better acceleration than Toyota's hybrids, all while delivering similar fuel economy numbers. We recently had the chance to sample one of Geely's plug-in hybrids, in our U.S.-exclusive test of the Galaxy M9 SUV.

"i-HEV is different to Toyota because it is more intelligent," Geely vice president Alex Gu told me at the company's headquarters in China. "Normally, customers say [Toyota's system] is good, but acceleration is not that good. The Geely i-HEV will optimize this weak point. One thing is the driving experience; another thing is fuel consumption. We can solve [both]."

In a Guinness-certified highway fuel economy run, a Geely Emgrand midsize sedan (pictured; think Toyota Camry) achieved a consumption figure of 2.22 liters per 100 kilometers, or the equivalent of 105 mpg. For context, the most efficient 2026 Toyota Camry has an EPA rating of 51 mpg combined.

The Geely Monjaro SUV (pictured below), which is about the size of a Toyota RAV4, also uses the i-HEV system, and it has a Chinese-test-cycle fuel economy rating of 4.75 liters per 100 kilometers. That translates to an estimated EPA rating of 43 mpg. A front-wheel-drive RAV4 Hybrid also achieves 43 mpg combined.

Toyota's hybrid powertrain uses a gas engine, two motor-generators, a battery, and a continuously variable transmission. It's reliable and efficient, but the engine is noisy. In our testing, the 2026 RAV4 Hybrid accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in a respectable 7.5 seconds.

Geely's i-HEV system combines a turbocharged 1.5-liter engine, a small motor-generator mounted on the engine and a stronger electric drive motor. Geely says the electric motor — which makes 234 horsepower in the Monjaro SUV — does 80% of the driving, with the gas engine only directly driving the wheels at highway cruising speeds. Otherwise, the engine is simply there to charge the battery.

It's likely that i-HEV would be a big part of Geely's U.S. entry strategy, should the company actually manage to bring cars to our market. A decision about whether or not to enter the U.S. is expected by 2029, and if Geely gets the green light, i-HEV could be used for affordable hybrid sedans and crossovers to rival the Toyota Corolla, Camry, RAV4 and others.

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by Tom Baker

Tom Baker is a Europe-based automotive journalist with more than a decade of experience road testing and analyzing new vehicles. Originally from Australia, he now works as a foreign correspondent covering international first drives, motor shows and executive interviews from the heart of the global car industry. Tom combines a background in rigorous, real-world road testing with a strong interest in the business of the automotive industry, covering everything from platform strategy and electrification to market positioning and profitability.

edited by Steven Ewing

Steven Ewing is Edmunds' director of editorial content. An automotive journalist for more than half of his life, Ewing's been on staff at Winding Road magazine, Autoblog, Motor1.com, CNET, and he was the U.S. correspondent for Top Gear magazine. He's also contributed to publications like Automobile magazine, Car and Driver, The Drive, Jalopnik, Porsche Panorama, and more. Ewing has worked in the automotive industry since 2003. From testing prototype cars in the Arctic Circle to spilling a beer on a Formula 1 driver at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (oops), he's always got an interesting story to tell.

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