Geely EX5 (2025 - )

You may be thinking Geely is yet another Chinese brand that is joining the raft of newbie manufacturers these days. And yes, Geely is Chinese, but it’s anything but new to this game.

Geely Motor Group is one of the top 10 global automotive brands and is the parent company to the likes of Volvo, Polestar, Lotus and the LEVC. So, it was just a matter of time before Geely launched its own cars here in the UK and it begins with the EX5, a fully electric, family-focused SUV.

With three trims called SE, Pro and Max, the EX5 is powered by a 60.2kWh battery and the vehicle has a driving range of up to 267 miles on a single charge.

All models are very generously equipped as standard and prices range from £31,990 to £36,990. But those costs are reduced considerably as Geely is launching the EX5 with its own electric car grant that takes between £2,300 and £3,750 off the asking price.

We tested the top-of-the-range Geely EX5 Max on a mix of roads, including fast dual carriageways, twisting country lanes and bustling town centres.

The five-door Geely EX5 is front-wheel drive only and all models feature a single motor and 60.2kWh battery with 218PS and 320Nm of torque. The Max version, as tested, can complete the 0-62mph dash in 7.1 seconds, but the SE and Pro versions are both sub-seven seconds. All cars max out at 109mph.
Our test car on the largest wheels could achieve a WLTP-tested 254 miles between charges which is marginally less than the other trims, but should certainly address any range anxiety concerns. However, some rivals do offer superior range which could be an issue for Geely.
But the performance and handling both impressed with sharp acceleration via the single-speed transmission and a quick turn of speed when needed to overtake slower-moving vehicles. It’s a car that can cruise effortlessly at 70mph and is confident on twisting B roads too. There is a little body sway at times, but generally the vehicle is well grounded with a low centre of gravity thanks to the positioning of the battery cells low down in the floor of the car.
In busier towns and villages, the all-round driver visibility is a bonus and the EX5 was agile and easy to manoeuvre through the traffic. It is possible to adjust the levels of regenerative braking and brake feel via touchscreen settings, but it’s a bit of a palaver to be honest. Additionally, drive modes called Eco, Comfort and Sport are also controlled through the screen and these alter the dynamics of the car.   
The fairly soft suspension set-up helps deliver a nicely cushioned ride and occupants are well-protected against outside noise for a refined experience.
 

With modern styling, soft curves and distinctive lighting, the EX5 has plenty of kerb appeal. At the front there are active grille shutters, neat daytime running lights and the Geely logo. Moving to the side, the car features flush door handles, heated and power-folding door mirrors, and rear privacy glass. At the rear, a light bar stretches the full width of the car and the look is completed by 19-inch alloy wheels (18-inch on entry-level SE trim). The EX5 Max also boasts a powered panoramic roof and automatic tailgate.
Moving inside, the interior looks and feels far superior to some of the budget Chinese models that have landed recently. There is smart faux leather upholstery and the seats are powered, heated, ventilated and even offer a massage function. Factor in 256 shades of ambient lighting, a microfibre leather steering wheel that can be heated and lots of stylish detailing and the EX5 is certainly an upmarket newcomer.
On-board technology is plentiful too with a 15.4-inch infotainment touchscreen offering access to the many features, such as sat nav, DAB radio, a 16-speaker FLYME premium sound system, that includes speaker units positioned in the driver’s headrest, and Bluetooth. At present there is Apple CarPlay smartphone connectivity with Android Auto being added soon, probably by the end of the year.
The main driving data such as speed, range and battery charge levels are viewed on a 10.2-inch driver display screen and there is also a head-up display.
The EX5 is a little too touchscreen dependent, but there are quick keys that can be customised and this makes accessing favourite functions that much easier. Additionally, a rotary dial is used to alter the volume of the radio, adjust the temperature and fan speed, or flick through the many ambient lighting shades.
Everything is quite simple to operate on the fly and the touchscreen is really quick to respond, but ideally, we would prefer a few more physical controls.
 

Geely describes its EX5 as a family-focused SUV and we have to agree. Unlike some competitors who barely have enough space in the back for children let alone adults, this car has an interior on a par with the TARDIS. The vehicle is 4,615mm long, 1,901mm wide, 1,670mm tall and has a wheelbase of 2,750mm. Those figures translate into a spacious cabin with bundles of room for a couple of adults up front and two more in the back. Three grown-ups across the rear seats is doable, but would be a squeeze on a longer journey. It is, however, perfect for a trio of youngsters and there is no transmission hump for the middle occupant to straddle either.

The boot on the Max model features a powered tailgate and it can accommodate 461 litres of kit, a limit that increases to 1,877 litres by dropping the 60:40 split-folding rear seats. There is an area beneath the boot floor which is ideal for storing charging cables and the adjustable boot floor is another practical function.

Throughout the cabin there are 33 storage compartments, including a large area beneath the centre console, a glovebox, door bins, front and rear cup holders, a central cubby, a wireless charging pad, seat back pockets, four USB ports, plus a large drawer that pulls out from beneath the rear seats.

When it comes to charging, the EX5 has an 11kW on-board charger and the 62.2kWh battery is capable of fast charging. It takes 20 minutes to boost the battery level from 30 to 80 per cent if using a 160kW charger. But it will be more cost-effective to use a home or work wallbox if possible, whereby a 10 to 100 per cent charge takes 6 hours and 10 minutes via a 7kW port.

The Geely EX5 offers Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capabilities so it can power up external sources, such as e-bikes, camping lights, kettles, computers and sound systems. Additionally, thanks to its Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) capacity, it can even be used to give another EV a bit of a charge if needed.

In order to get noticed, car brands that are unfamiliar to the general public need to offer something special. Geely aims to attract attention by selling generously-equipped vehicles at an attractive price. With that in mind, the EX5 SE costs £31,990, the Pro is £33,990 and the Max, as tested, costs £36,990. And there is more good news for would-be customers as Geely is launching with its own EV grant that introduces discounts of £2,300 (SE), £3,200 (Pro) and £3,750 on the EX5 Max, Additionally, owners will be able to get a heavily discounted wallbox or a £500 Octopus energy charge card.

With all EX5 models priced below the Expensive Car Supplement threshold of £40k, there will be no added costs to factor in. But EV owners do have to pay road tax with a first-year charge of £10 increasing to the standard fee of £195 after 12 months.

And any business owners considering purchasing the EX5 will see an attractive Benefit in Kind tax rating of three per cent.

Although it is far too early to predict how reliable the Geely EX5 will be, it has already secured a maximum five stars when tested for its Euro NCAP safety rating. And, for added peace of mind, it is sold with a comprehensive six-year, 125,000-mile warranty package that is extended to eight years for the battery. Customers also get free roadside assistance for four years and two years of free maintenance.

Keeping on top of the vast number of new EVs arriving mainly from China is almost a full-time job. There seem to be newcomers every week at the moment.

But Geely is slightly different in that it has ties with established brands such as Volvo and Polestar. The EX5 is a really nice entry model and there will be lots more to come over the next 12 months with Geely announcing the launch of a plug-in hybrid C-segment model, followed by an electric B-segment vehicle and that is followed by a large D-segment SUV with PHEV technology.

Customers will also be seeing plenty of Geely in coming months too. At present, there are 25 dealerships in the UK, but that figure will rise to 50 by the end of this year and then onto 100 by the close of 2026. So, exciting times ahead.