The Geely Galaxy Cruiser concept was one of the stars of Auto Shanghai last year, taking over the baton from 2024’s Galaxy Starship. The good news is that the rugged plug-in hybrid SUV is headed to production, if this Autocar report is to be believed.
Clearly inspired by the likes of the Land Rover Defender and Ford Bronco, the boxy Galaxy Cruiser is set to go on sale in China by the end of the year. While no timeline has been set for exports, the company’s UK marketing boss Yan Tianxiao confirmed that “we will definitely launch that car in the UK,” so it will enter global markets eventually.
In a departure from Geely’s other value-oriented models, the production Galaxy Cruiser will shun the Global Intelligent New Energy Architecture (GEA) in favour of a luxury variant of the Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA-R). This will be shared with the Zeekr 9X and the range extender version of the Eletre, amusingly called (in China, anyway) as the For Me.
This is because the platform has impressive off-road capability built into it, according to design studio director Flavien Dachet – meaning that the Galaxy Cruiser will have the go-anywhere chops to back up its outdoorsy look. “When they went testing in Chinese deserts, it was way beyond what they expected to do in terms of capacity,” he said.
Utilising the 9X’s platform means the Galaxy Cruiser should use the same monstrously powerful range extender EV powertrain, with a 2.0 litre turbo four-cylinder engine helping to charge the battery. There are 897 PS/935 Nm dual-motor and 1,400 PS/1,410 Nm triple-motor versions, paired with either a 55 kWh or a 70 kWh LFP battery for up to 380 km of CLTC-rated EV range on the 9X. Total range is quoted at 1,250 km.
Dachet admits that the design borrows from established 4x4s, although the car is aimed more for luxury and family buyers rather than hardcore off-road enthusiasts. “There’s always the same recipes, whether you look at the Defender, the G-Wagen, the [Ford] Bronco; the codes are the same. It’s [about] how we interpret it in a way that’s recognisable.”
The higher-end positioning of the Galaxy Cruiser means it’s unlikely to enter Malaysia as a Proton eMas – not least because the advanced REEV powertrain would make the car too expensive for local tastes. But hey, one can dream right? Would you like to see this car here? Let us know in the comments.
GALLERY: Geely Galaxy Cruiser concept at Auto Shanghai 2025
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