Volvo’s Chinese Parent Built A $14K Sedan Americans Can’t Touch

Over in China, Volvo’s parent company Geely isn’t just selling a slew of innovative and affordable hybrid and electric SUVs, but it’s also helping to keep the three-box sedan alive. One of its most appealing and cheapest models is the Galaxy A7, which has just been updated and is available in plug-in hybrid and all-electric guises.

There’s nothing particularly remarkable about the design of the sedan, but it’s hard to argue with the fact that it looks quite nice. The PHEV and EV models have the same classy headlights and light bar, but are distinguished by different grilles and intakes. The EV features a small lower grille finished in black and a pair of black trim accents, whereas the hybrid version sports additional air intakes and silver accents.

Read: Geely Claims Its New AI-Driven Hybrid Tech Hits 106 MPG, Beating Toyota’s Best

Around the back, it borrows cues from other Geely models like the Starray EM-I and the global market EX5. There’s a familiar LED light signature stretching across the tail, paired with minor differences in the lower bumper sections depending on whether you pick the EV or the hybrid.

Cheap And Efficient

Of course, it’s not the design of the Galaxy A7 that’s worthy of attention, but rather the price and the specs. The all-electric version opens at 112,800 yuan, roughly $16,500, for the A7 EV 550 Premium. It runs a 58 kWh battery and a front-mounted motor producing 215 hp. On paper, that modest battery still delivers up to 342 miles or 550 km of range, with energy consumption quoted at just 11.4 kWh per 100 km.

Shoppers wanting a few more luxuries can opt for the Galaxy A7 EM 550 Excellence. It has the same powertrain but is priced from 119,800 yuan ($17,500).

Hybrid Options

Then comes the part that feels almost provocative. The plug-in hybrid starts even lower, from a measly 97,800 yuan, or about $14,300, for the A7 EM 150 Enjoy. From there, trims stretch up to 131,800 yuan, around $19,300, for the A7 EM 235 Starship.

At the entry point, a 1.5-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder producing 110 hp works alongside an electric motor and single-speed transmission, delivering a combined 235 hp. An 18.4 kWh battery allows up to 93 miles or 150 km of electric-only driving. Opt for the larger 28.3 kWh pack and that figure rises to 146 miles or 235 km.

It is not the most glamorous sedan on sale, but when something this usable lands at this price, the usual arguments about why sedans are fading start to look a little thin.

Geely Galaxy A7 PHEV