Geely EX5, for the life that drives you free.
The Geely EX5 has landed in Australia, adding yet another name to the ever-growing wave of Chinese car brands. But Geely isn’t just another unknown newcomer. It owns some respected automotive names, including Volvo, Polestar, Lotus and Zeekr. That impressive portfolio raises the question: is the EX5 just another budget SUV, or does it bring some premium DNA to the table?
Positioned as Geely's entry-level offering, the EX5 aims to shake up the mid-size SUV segment with sharp pricing, solid tech, and a surprising focus on safety. It has a 60kWh LFP battery good for 430km.
It’s built on the brand’s expertise and leveraging its Volvo connection, it’s equipped with plenty of safety systems. It’s got over-the-air updates and a slick digital cockpit powered by Geely's own Dragon Eagle chip. It certainly doesn’t scream “cheap and nasty” on paper, but how does it stack up on the road?
In this review, we put the Geely EX5 through its paces to find out if it’s a true contender or just another pretender. Can it hold its own against established rivals like the BYD Atto3 and many others? Spoiler alert: it might just surprise you.
IMFO
The 2025 Geely EX5 is yet another new fully electric mid-size SUV from yet another new Chinese car brand in Australia, following in the tyre tracks of the Deepal S07, XPeng G6 and Leapmotor C10. As such, it finds itself going up against the best-selling and recently updated Tesla Model Y, as well as the recently launched and highly anticipated BYD Sealion 7. Needless to say the EX5 has to make quite the first impression if it's to establish Geely as a high-volume player in the Aussie market. It's launching with a 160kW/320Nm front-mounted electric motor and a WLTP-rated driving range of up to 430km that's enabled by a cutting-edge LFP battery pack. In this expert review, CarsGuide Deputy News Editor John Law gets behind the wheel of the new EX5 at its national media launch to see if it has what it takes to be its segment's benchmark, let alone its next best-seller.
The highly-anticipated 2025 Geely EX5 is set to hit the Australian market with a starting price below $50,000, making it one of the most competitively priced mid-sized electric SUVs yet. Geely is gunning for big names like Toyota, Mazda, Kia, and Hyundai, in addition to EV giants Tesla and BYD.
The EX5 aims to break away from the usual EV labels, positioning itself as a versatile SUV for everyday buyers, not just early adopters. Available in two trims, Complete and Inspire, the entry-level Complete kicks off at around $49,000 before on-road costs. It comes well-equipped with 18-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats, a 360-degree camera, wireless phone charging, and a massive 15.4-inch infotainment screen. Meanwhile, the Inspire trim - expected to be the top seller - adds premium features like a panoramic sunroof, ventilated and massaging seats, ambient lighting, and a 16-speaker sound system for approximately $55,000.
Both variants share a 160kW front-drive motor powered by a 60.22kWh LFP battery, offering up to 430km of range in the Complete model. On the tech front, the EX5 includes over-the-air updates, vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality, and even vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) charging for emergencies. Charging is flexible, with 11kW home charging available or a quick 20-minute top-up from 30% to 80% using a 100kW DC fast charger. With first deliveries expected in late April, Geely's return to Australia promises to make waves in the EV space.
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- I've had my eye on an Xpeng G6 for the past month or so but with the pricing on this car officially released ($40,990 for the Complete and $44,990 for the Inspire) I'm giving this car some serious consideration. Going to be interesting when I go test drive them to see if the G6 can deliver $10k-$15k more value than the EX5
- Hi. Really appreciate your review, thank you. Could you possibly look at using a high pass filter on your audio? The constant low-end rumble is uncomfortable and distracting. Cheers. (PS, if you don't believe me, I'll post a readout of your you frequency plot to see where the problems are).
- That indicated price is a miss it needs to be $40-$45 b4 orc for this package. Otherwise pple are better off looking at MG4 starting at $33 DA which has dealer network in place and can dc fast charge at 140kwh for long range. Look at how poorly BYD Dolphin, Atto 3, Cupra Born, Captur, even the Kia EV5 have fared when they were priced close to M3 and even MY.
- The Geely brand cars aren't the Geely Group cars. Disparate brands like Volvo, Lotus or Polestar and Zeekr to a degree aren't Chinese created or managed but partly are Chinese funded and some construction may be in China. This Geely branded car is a Chinese car so as with VW, you have to look at whether the brand is of Chinese Geely origin or an acquired brand with a different heritage and home base. This car is not on the level of Zeekr, Volvo, Polestar or Lotus but is more a mainstream budget car.
- I can’t believe Australian car review sites are still including BEV. The dangers from battery explosions and thermal runaway are well documented. Resale value, repair costs, cost of ownership; charging required, safety requirements…nothing mentioned.
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