Geely arrived in the UK with one car, and the Geely EX5 has now been driven by most of the major motoring titles. The latest verdict comes from Mat Watson at Carwow, who ran one for a week in August and finished by telling viewers to put it on their shortlist. Here is what he, along with Auto Express, Top Gear, What Car? and Autocar, made of it.
Who makes the Geely EX5?
The badge is new to British buyers. The company behind it has been here for years. Geely Holding Group owns or holds controlling stakes in Volvo, Polestar, Lotus and Smart, and it builds the London taxi through LEVC. It is also one of the largest producers of electric vehicles in the world, so the engineering behind the EX5 has a long history even though the name on the bonnet does not.
Mat Watson reckons that shows in the way it drives, and suspects Lotus and Volvo engineers had a hand in how the car is set up.
Geely EX5 price and what you get for it
The EX5 starts at £31,990 on the road for the SE. Auto Express singled out the standard equipment list at that price. Every EX5 comes with:
- A 360-degree camera
- Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel
- Adaptive cruise control
- A 15.4-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- A heat pump, which helps protect range in cold weather
- Wireless phone charging and keyless entry
Auto Express summed up the value by saying that whichever EX5 you choose "you'll get incredible value for money". Mat Watson made a similar point by comparison, noting that matching the kit on a top-spec EX5 means moving to the range-topping version of a Kia EV5 and spending several thousand pounds more.
Inside the Geely EX5 interior
Mat Watson called the interior design simple and classy, and rated the material quality well above the price bracket. Soft-touch leatherette runs across the dashboard, door tops and centre console, the switchgear feels solid, and nothing squeaked or rattled during his week with the car. He reckons it feels nicer inside than some considerably more expensive cars.
Carwow's written review, which scores the EX5 eight out of ten, describes it in similar terms. Deputy web reviews editor Tom Wiltshire sums it up as "Space and equipment to rival cars that are much more expensive". Autocar judged the materials at or above the class average, and singled out the flowing door cards and rising centre console as more interesting than the average new arrival.
Geely has also kept some physical controls. A knob on the centre console handles temperature and fan speed, and a button on the steering wheel switches off the driver aids in two presses. The touchscreen drew praise from Watson for being bright and quick to respond, with menus that are logically arranged. He rates the white interior trim, a £300 option, as worth having.
Geely EX5 boot space and dimensions
The EX5 measures 4,615mm long and 1,901mm wide, which puts it among larger electric SUVs, and the space inside reflects that. Rear legroom is the standout. The floor is completely flat, there is room to slide your feet under the seat in front, and it is wide enough to carry three adults across the back in reasonable comfort. Watson found it easy to fit a child seat because the rear ISOFIX anchors are simple to reach and the doors open wide.
The boot holds 461 litres with the rear seats up, which he described as about average for the class. In his suitcase test he fitted eight carry-on cases, one more than he managed in a Kia EV5 with a larger quoted capacity, helped by an underfloor compartment deep enough to swallow a case of its own. Fold the rear seats and the load floor is completely flat.
Storage around the cabin was another highlight, with a large area under the centre console, door bins that take a big bottle, and a hidden drawer beneath the rear seat.
Geely EX5 range and charging
The SE covers up to 267 miles on the WLTP test. What matters more day to day is how close a car gets to its claimed figure. Here the EX5 did well. Watson averaged 3.7 miles per kWh across his week, working out at around 223 real-world miles, which he calculated as 87 per cent of the claimed range. Carwow's written review reached a similar conclusion, describing the official figure as realistic.
On a 120kW rapid charger the battery goes from 30 to 80 per cent in around 20 minutes. A full charge on a 7kW home wallbox takes about six hours, which suits overnight charging. Every EX5 also supports vehicle-to-load power sharing, and Watson used it to run a household fan straight from the car.
What the Geely EX5 is like to drive
Watson was more impressed here than he expected to be. In town he rated the visibility from the high seating position and low dashboard, along with light steering and brakes that are smooth and predictable rather than grabby. The 10.8-metre turning circle is tight for a car this size, and the surround-view camera rotates to whichever side you have indicated.
On faster roads the suspension stays comfortable and the car glides rather than fidgets. It grips hard through corners and the steering is accurate, so the car goes where you point it. He recorded 0-62mph in seven seconds, matching Geely's quoted figure, and stopped from 60mph in 33 metres, which he called surprisingly good.
Auto Express reached the same conclusion on comfort, and Top Gear summed the car up as "Loads of space for the cash".
Which Geely EX5 should you choose?
The range runs SE, Pro and Max, with an Ultra above them. The SE covers the essentials and is the trim What Car? recommends, with 18-inch alloy wheels, the full safety kit and the same touchscreen as the rest of the range. Pro adds 19-inch diamond-cut alloys, which every model above the entry car wears.
Max is where the luxury kit arrives. It brings a panoramic sunroof, a powered tailgate, a head-up display, front seats that heat, ventilate and massage, and a 16-speaker sound system with speakers built into the driver's headrest, useful for taking calls without broadcasting them to your passengers. The Ultra sits at the top of the range with a larger battery.
For mostly local miles, the SE makes the value case on its own. Buyers who came to the EX5 for the equipment will want the Max.
Safety and warranty
Euro NCAP tested the EX5 in 2025 and awarded five stars, with 86 per cent for adult occupant protection and 87 per cent for child occupant protection. Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and lane-keeping assist are standard across the range.
Geely covers the EX5 with an eight-year, 125,000-mile warranty that applies to the vehicle and the battery, which is among the longest offered on any new car in the UK. Four years of 24/7 roadside assistance is included, and you can find our Geely servicing options here.
See the Geely EX5 at Geely Portsmouth
Geely Portsmouth is your local Geely retailer, based at Newgate Lane in Fareham and serving drivers across Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex. The EX5 is a car that makes more sense once you have sat in it and driven it.
Book a test drive online or call the team to arrange a time that suits you. Ask about the latest EX5 offers and finance while you are there and about Motability if that applies to you.