Geely EX2 Ultra (2026 - )

The EX2 is Geely’s third model to be launched here in the UK following hot on the wheels of the EX5 and Starray EM-i. While the EX2, a five-door compact hatchback, is the smallest of the trio, it certainly doesn’t lack interior space. 

The vehicle is available with either a 35kWh battery that can deliver up to 156 miles, or a larger 47kWh battery which sees the range between charges increase to 214 miles.

Additionally, customers can choose between three trims called Pro, Max and Ultra, with the entry-level EX2 Pro available only with the smaller battery, while the other grades gain the higher capacity unit.

Prices start from £20,990, and just in case you thought this was just another Chinese-built model, we should mention the EX2 (badged as the Geome Xinguan) was the biggest-selling car in China last year, clocking up more than 465,000 sales.

With that in mind, we took the EX2 in high-end Ultra guise, costing £25,490, for a test drive round the glorious Cotswold countryside.

The Geely EX2 features quite a simple design, and that’s not a bad thing. There’s nothing flashy about the vehicle, but it does have plenty of kerb appeal thanks to its classic compact car proportions. 

The front end has a smiley face appearance and there are inductive headlights in a feather-inspired design, plus semi-concealed door handles.

Factor in the rear spoiler, privacy glass, black contrast roof which is standard on the Ultra version, 16-inch alloys, plus the option to personalise the vehicle with a new range of bonnet stripes, and this little car has plenty of appeal and character. These stripes are offered in black or white and in three designs, costing £185 which also includes the fitment.

Moving inside, the passenger space cannot fail to impress. When viewed from the outside you would never imagine the interior would be so roomy. 

Apparently, the instrument panel is waterfall-inspired, which adds to the calming nature of the cabin and there is certainly a minimalist layout with physical controls few and far between. 

The 14.6-inch touchscreen offers access to the many on-board functions, including the sat nav, wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, a four or six-speaker sound system (dependent on trim), a reversing camera, ambient lighting and a 360-degree camera system with transparent chassis view, which is really handing when squeezing in close to a high kerb.

Elsewhere, the important driving data, such as range and speed, is shown on an 8.8-inch driver display screen, but the numbers and writing are very small making them difficult to read on the move. And there is an AI-powered intelligent voice assistant to help with navigation, climate settings and other functions without taking your hands from the wheel.

The seats on our EX2 Ultra were powered and, along with the steering wheel, could be heated against the winter chill. Comfort levels impress as does the all-round quality of the cabin which is anything but bargain basement.

We tested the EX2 Ultra with the larger 47kWh battery and an electric motor on the back axle for rear-wheel drive. With a power output of 116PS and 150Nm of torque, the hatchback could complete the 0-62mph dash in 11.5 seconds and maxed out at 81mph with a combined range of 214 miles. So, not the fastest option out there then, and the EX2 Pro with the smaller 35kWh battery offers just 82PS which slows the 0-62mph time to 14.2 seconds and sees the range drop to 156 miles.

However, city dwellers will find the driving range between charges absolutely fine and the acceleration feels far quicker than the numbers suggest. Additionally, for those looking to travel further afield, the range from the larger battery unit is ideal unless you pile on thousands of motorway miles every month. 

When put to the test, just like its appearance, the EX2 is not flashy, but just goes about its duties in a confident and capable manner. The driver visibility is excellent making the car perfect for the chaotic school run and its very capable sitting at 70mph on dual carriageways too – although road and wind noise become more noticeable.

When faced with twisting country lanes, the grip is confident enough to encourage you to attack tighter curves and there is ample power on tap for overtaking slower-moving vehicles. 

For added driver engagement, there are drive modes called Eco, Comfort, Sport and Snow along with numerous regenerative braking settings although there is no single-pedal driving function, a feature that is always appreciated in busy congested traffic. Rather annoyingly, any adjustments need to be made via the touchscreen which is a bit of a faff. I would imagine owners will find their favourite driving mode and regen setting and simply stick with it.

We were impressed with the ride quality though and the steering is well weighted, although a little on the light side.

The Geely EX2 is a compact five-door hatchback that offers a surprising amount of space for passengers and luggage.

It stretches 4,135mm in length, is 1,805mm wide (excluding door mirrors), is 1,580mm tall and has a wheelbase of 2,645mm.

Up front, a couple of six-foot-plus occupants will find the space most generous, and unlike many of the car’s closest rivals, rear passengers can also travel without too many complaints. The flat floor will be appreciated by the passenger relegated to the rear middle seat, and there is room to plant feet beneath the front seats too.

Accessing the boot is made simpler thanks to the powered tailgate (manually operated on Pro and Max trim levels), and it can hold 375 litres of luggage, which is ample for a monthly supermarket run. The capacity can be increased further to 1,320 litres by lowering the 60:40 split-folding rear seats. Additionally, beneath the bonnet is a 70-litre frunk and a further 36 storage compartments are available throughout the cabin.

There is a 10-litre capacity pull-out drawer in place of a traditional glovebox, a vast space beneath the console, door bins, seat back pockets, a central cubby, front cup holders, a wireless charging pad, some trays and three USB-C ports to stay connected on the move.

The EX2 features an 11kW on-board charger and the larger 47kWh can gain a 10 to 100 per cent boost in 7 hours, 10 minutes via a 7kW wallbox or a 30 to 80 per cent charge in 25 minutes via a faster 160kW DC outlet.

For added convenience away from home, the car offers Vehicle-to-Load capabilities so can power up external devices, such as BBQs, laptops and even e-bikes. But customers will need to purchase the adaptor cable, which costs £114.10.

In a day and age where people are watching their pennies, pricing is key for any newcomer and Geely has delivered the goods with its EX2 line-up which costs from £20,990 for the entry-level Pro specification. Move up to mid-trim EX2 Max and the price increases to £23,490, while high-end Ultra grade, as tested, is priced at £25,490.

Our test car featured lovely Blush Pink metallic paint, costing £600 and the Pearl White interior upholstery added a further £200 to the price.

Sadly, the EX2, which is built in Xiangtan, China, does not qualify for any government-led Electric Car Grant, although it is competitively priced. 

Taxing the EX2 is simple enough with a first-year charge of just £10, increasing to the standard fee of £200 after 12 months. And as the model falls well below the government’s £50k Expensive Car Supplement threshold, there will be no other penalty charges to worry about.

Business owners will see an attractive Benefit in Kind rating of four per cent and the insurance ranges from group 14 for Pro, 18 for Max to 19 for Ultra.

It’s difficult to assess the reliability of a fairly new brand, but for added peace of mind, the Geely EX2 will be sold with a comprehensive eight-year, 125,000-mile warranty package. Additionally, owners get free roadside assistance for four years.

We were lucky at Regit to have the opportunity to briefly drive the Geely EX2 back in April out in China, but it was great to give the vehicle a thorough test drive this time round. And we were really pleased to see the car is being offered in some lovely vibrant colours rather than boring old grey, black or white.

And what a great hatchback it is – small on the outside and big on the inside. Also bursting with character. Yes, we would prefer more physical controls so simple functions are not so touchscreen dependent, but I’m finding myself saying that quite often with the newer electric models. Only time will tell if customer feedback agrees or not.

However, we liked the EX2. It looks quirky without being garish, it drives well and has lots of tech – all for a very reasonable asking price.

And finally, although Geely may sound like the new kid on the block for some readers, parent company Geely Holdings is actually the umbrella company of established carmakers such as Volvo, Polestar, Lotus, smart and the LEVC.