Battery size: 60.2 kWh
Range: 267 miles
Max charge rate: 160kW
E-Rating: B
Introduction and model history
The Geely EX5 is a mid-sized electric SUV aimed squarely at family buyers. It rivals the Ford Explorer, Citroen e-C5 Aircross, Skoda Elroq, our Car of the Year - the Kia EV3 - and fellow Chinese newcomers like the Jaecoo E5 and MG S5. All UK cars use a 60.2 kWh LFP battery and front-wheel drive. There are three trims to choose from; SE, Pro and Max, each generously equipped with physical climate buttons, a large central touchscreen, a 10.2-inch driver display with wireless Apple CarPlay, and the top-spec EX5 Max gets a huge head-up display with clear graphics for poor-visibility conditions.
And who is Geely, I hear you ask? Well, Geely is a Chinese car making giant who is already the powerhouse behind Volvo, Polestar, Smart and Lotus. Now, it's brought the Geely brand to the UK and plans to launch multiple models in the UK over the next 12 months, while the dealer network will soon expand from the 25 showrooms that it's currently functioning with to around 100 by the end of 2026.
It's worth clarifying that the EX5 isn't built on the same platform as the Volvo EX30 and Smart #1, both of which are rivals for the EX5. Instead, the new EX5 is built on its own platform that Geely uses for various models currently sold in China and shared with the wider global Geely group. It has been tuned for the UK, though! Lotus engineers have helped to tailor the EX5's suspension for Britain’s cratered tarmac, and in the cabin you’ll find thoughtful touches like “zero-gravity” front seats and masses of storage, so the EX5 is definitely prioritising comfort and luxury - all for a bargain price.
Range, battery and charging
The EX5 gets a 60.2kWh (usable) LFP pack delivers up to 267 miles of WLTP range. That's competitive in terms of range, if not the most efficient EV that we've seen. Rivals like the Kia EV3, Nissan Leaf and Skoda Elroq offer longer-range models, so they're worth looking at if you want to go further in between charges.
Charging speeds are very good on the EX5, with 160 kW DC rapid charging that allows a 10–80% charge in roughly 30 minutes, or an additional 100 miles of range in about 15 minutes, outpacing many similarly priced rivals. You'll have to look to the top-spec Skoda Elroq, Leapmotor B10 or Citroen e-C5 Aircross to get similar charging speeds.
An 11 kW onboard charger is standard, which will charge the Geely in around seven hours, if you have access to a three-phase charger that you normally find at industrial sites, or public kerbside- and lamppost AC chargers are also often three-phase. Most owners will rely on a standard 7kW home charger (which is the fastest charger that the average UK home can support), which will charge the EX5 in around ten hours. Every EX5 includes Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) charging, so that you can plug in your portable kettle, or power your lawnmower - or any other electrical appliance - from the car's high voltage battery.
Battery preconditioning is fitted across the range to protect the longevity of that LFP battery, and to speed up your winter charging times. There's also a heat pump fitted to every EX5, to help with efficiency and boost real-world range when you're relying heavily on your heater or air-con.
Practicality and boot space
It's a really decent family car, the EX5 - you're unlikely to find it wanting in terms of practicality. The boot is 461-litres with the seats up. and 1,877 litres with them folded, which isn't at all bad even if the Renault Scenic E-Tech or even the Ford Puma Gen-E have bigger boots. Naturally, you get a powered bootlid as standard, and up front there are plentiful cubbies.
Geely claims that there are 33 storage spots in total, although I did run out of time to try and find them all! I found time to recline in the front seats, though, making most of the 'zero gravity' setting that - to you and I - is just the ability to fully recline the seats for a nap when you're charging. Rear passengers have generous leg- and headroom, plus a huge under-seat storage bin that your kids can fill with random rubbish in no time. Overall space is very good, and while some others are a bit more versatile and have some cleverer touches, I was impressed with how spacious and comfortable the Geely is.
Interior, design/styling and technology
The Geely's mix of materials inside feel very fair for the price. There's a bit of a luxury vibe that makes it feel up there with the Kia EV3, and definitely a touch smarter than the MG S5. The infotainment touchscreen is crisp and responsive, with a phone-like user interface that'll take some familiarity but I didn't find it too hard to get the hang of, and I'm a big fan of the straightforward, physical rotary controller that the EX5 gets for volume and climate tweaks. Even the voice control works well! She actually understands what you're asking most of the time. Max trim adds a standout head-up display and a 16-speaker audio upgrade.
Niggles? The panoramic-roof blind re-closes after every park, but by far the biggest irritation is the driver-assistance alerts that are over-intrusive and will beep and bong at you pretty incessantly. Geely has said that it will fine-tune this, and roll out less annoying software via the standard over-the-air updates, but currently the assistance systems would actually stop me buying the EX5. It'll be solved soon, though, we're told.
Motors, performance and handling
A single front motor serves up 215hp and 0–62 mph in 6.9 seconds, making the EX5 one of the punchiest cars in the class for performance - not including the crazy dual motor performance stuff. Instead, the EX5 is only offered with one electric motor and front-wheel drive, for now, but it's smooth and fast enough to feel satisfying in every day use. Steering weight has three adjustable modes but even in Sport it’s on the lighter side, which makes town work feel really easy, but the EX5 isn't especially engaging on a B-road - I reckon that the Kia EV3, Skoda Elroq and Volvo EX30 are all quite a bit more fun, if you're after something that's got a bit of sparkle to the way it drives.
Still, the Lotus-tuned ride comfort is the star on the EX5; this thing feels really supple, quiet and composed even over the UK's broken and patched-up surfaces. There are multiple levels of regenerative braking, but there's no true one-pedal driving mode, and it defaults to a lighter setting every time you restart the car.
Overall, the EX5 is just a comfortable, easygoing car to drive. It's not as fun as some others, but it will be an easy car to live with (once the annoying driver assistance systems have been sorted).
Running costs and pricing
List prices run from £31,990 for the Geely EX5 SE up to £36,990 for the Max. The “Geely Grant” that's being offered at launch (in response to the UK Electric Car Grant that some EVs are eligible for) cuts that by £2,300 (SE), £3,200 (Pro) and £3,750 (Max), with an extra £1,000 off if you part-exchange a petrol or diesel—up to £4,750 total. On monthly deals, however, early quotes suggest the EX5 doesn’t always undercut Chinese rivals: on a typical 3-year/8,000-mile terms with the same deposit, the MG S5 can be around £150 per month cheaper.
Then there's the standard eight-year, 125,000 mile warranty that covers the vehicle and high-voltage battery, which betters the warranty on Kia, Hyundai and MG - even if Toyota will give you 10 years of warranty provided you service your car at an official dealership.
Verdict
The EX5 is exactly what Geely needs to kick off its UK push: calm, comfortable and keenly priced, with charging performance that beats many rivals and everyday practicality nailed. It won’t thrill keen drivers and some of the assistance systems need refinement, but the core product is strong and easy to recommend—especially if you can stack the Geely Grant and part-exchange savings. If you’re shopping this class, put it up against the Kia EV3, Skoda Elroq, MG S5 and Jaecoo E5—and pay close attention to monthly figures as well as list price. If Geely sharpens the software and finance, the EX5 could be a very serious contender in the family EV class.
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