2026 Geely EX5 review

Our verdict

The Geely EX5 is for the buyer who wants a comfortable, properly built electric SUV without handing over Tesla money. Refinement and value are where it shines, and the recent update has sorted the one thing that was holding it back. The catch is that it drives softly rather than sharply and it charges slower than the freshest competition.

What does the Geely EX5 cost in Australia?

When the EX5 first landed, its weak spot was range. Geely has now addressed that head on with a larger 68.39kWh battery, badged Extended Range, and the numbers finally make sense. The Complete Extended Range claims up to 475km WLTP, while the heavier, better equipped Inspire Extended Range manages 450km thanks to its glass roof and larger wheels.

Pricing is where the EX5 makes its strongest argument.

*Price guide, excludes government charges. Expect driveaway pricing to land in the mid to high $40,000s depending on your state.

The choice is refreshingly simple. There are just two grades, both with the same battery and motor, so the only real question is whether the Inspire's extra kit is worth the $4,000 walk up from the Complete. For most buyers it is not, and the Complete Extended Range is the pick.

Against rivals, the maths is flattering. The EX5 comfortably undercuts a Tesla Model Y, lines up neatly with a Leapmotor C10, and reads as better value than most of the Korean and European alternatives once you tally the standard equipment.

Both grades arrive well loaded. Every EX5 gets LED headlights, proximity unlocking, a 15.4-inch touchscreen, a 10.2-inch driver display, climate control, satellite navigation, wireless phone charging, powered and heated front seats, selectable drive modes, and both vehicle-to-load and vehicle-to-vehicle capability. The Inspire piles on 19-inch alloys, a 16-speaker stereo, a power tailgate, a panoramic sunroof, ambient lighting, ventilated and massaging front seats, and front parking sensors.

What does the Geely EX5 look like?

Let us be honest about this bit. The EX5 is not going to turn heads in a car park. At 4615mm long it sits on roughly the same footprint as a Toyota RAV4 or Subaru Forester, and its styling plays it very safe. Slim headlights, a blanked off front where a grille used to live, and flush door handles give it a clean, modern look, but nothing about the shape shouts for attention.

That said, restraint is not the same as ugliness. The proportions are right, the surfacing is tidy, and the new Jungle Green paint looks genuinely rich when the light catches it. The Inspire's 19-inch wheels fill the arches nicely, where the Complete makes do with 18s. This is a car designed to age gracefully rather than make a statement, and plenty of buyers will read that as a feature.

What is the Geely EX5 like inside?

Slide inside and the sense of quality is immediately obvious. The materials feel plush, the surfaces are clean and uncluttered, and the whole space carries a calm, minimalist mood that punches well above the price.

Front and centre is that 15.4-inch touchscreen, backed by a crisp 10.2-inch instrument display and, on the Inspire, a clear head-up display. Response times are good and the layout is easy to learn. The Inspire's 16-speaker Flyme stereo is a proper highlight, though the entry system is far from a hardship.

There is a Geely group family resemblance to the switchgear and trim that speaks to the brand's Volvo, Zeekr and Smart connections, and it shows in the fit and finish. Doors shut with a reassuring weight, and there are no obvious cost cutting corners on show.

The one recurring frustration is the screen dependency. Temperature, fan speed and even the headlights all live in the touchscreen, which is a nuisance on the move. Thankfully speed sits front and centre in both the driver display and the head-up display, and the column mounted gear stalk is a lovely, intuitive touch.

How practical is the Geely EX5?

For families, the EX5 is a strong effort. The completely flat rear floor opens up real space for three across the back, and the second row is roomy enough for adults to sit behind adults without complaint. Storage is a genuine standout, with a floating centre console that hides a large tray beneath it, deep door pockets front and rear, and clever hidden drawers, including one tucked under the rear seat that swallows kids' clutter.

The 410-litre boot is the sticking point. It splits into two useful layers and has a deep underfloor section, but on paper it lands behind roomier rivals like the Leapmotor C10. There is no front boot either, so the rear is your only luggage zone.

There are ISOFIX points in the two outer rear positions and top tethers across all three enabling you to fit three seats across.

What is the Geely EX5 like to drive?

This is a car that prioritises calm over corners, and it does calm very well. The single front motor sends 160kW and 320Nm to the front wheels, good for a 0-100km/h time of 7.4 seconds. That is more than enough to slot into a gap in traffic or overtake with confidence, even if it never threatens to pin you back in your seat.

Around town and on the highway the EX5 is quiet, smooth and easy to live with. Road noise is superbly suppressed, the ride soaks up rough surfaces, and the light steering makes tight car parks a breeze. Push harder into a corner and the soft setup shows its hand with noticeable body roll, but this is not a car built for backroad heroics, and its intended buyer will never notice.

The single biggest change to the driving experience is not mechanical at all. Earlier cars nagged constantly, with speed and lane keeping alerts that demanded switching off before every drive. A software update has added a driver profile shortcut, letting you set your preferred assistance settings and recall them with a single press. It completely transforms daily driving and turns a genuine annoyance into a non-issue. The same update also switched on Android Auto, closing off a longstanding gap.

How efficient is the Geely EX5?

The bigger battery does more than add range on paper.

During testing the EX5 returned around 15kWh/100km, comfortably beating its own 16.9kWh/100km claim, which is a rare and welcome result. That efficiency, paired with the 68.39kWh pack, makes the claimed 450 to 475km figures believable in mixed driving.

Charging is the weaker link. The 100kW DC peak is adequate rather than quick, allowing a 30 to 80% top up in about 20 minutes. It gets the job done, but rivals are already moving faster, and a road tripper will feel the difference. AC charging tops out at 11kW.

Ownership costs look reassuring. Geely covers the EX5 with a 7-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, backed by an 8-year battery warranty and up to seven years of roadside assistance. Servicing runs on capped Assured Service Pricing, and the intervals are a relaxed 12 months or 20,000km, whichever comes first.

The per-visit costs are cheap by any standard, electric or otherwise:

That works out to around $2,052 over seven years, or roughly $293 a year. The fourth service is the only real sting, and even that is modest for an 80,000km visit. Combined with an EV's minimal wear items, the EX5 is genuinely cheap to keep on the road.

Is the Geely EX5 safe?

The EX5 wears a full five-star ANCAP rating that applies across the range, scoring strongly for both adult and child occupant protection. Seven airbags come standard, including a front centre airbag that shields front occupants in a side impact.

The active safety list is comprehensive: autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping and lane departure systems, blind spot monitoring, front and rear cross traffic alert, driver fatigue monitoring, and a 360-degree camera.

The systems were locally calibrated, and while early cars leaned on the intrusive side, the recent driver profile update means you can now dial the nannies back to a sensible level without a fresh fight every time you turn the key.

What are the main competitors to the Geely EX5?

The Leapmotor C10 is the most direct rival on price and positioning, and it counters with a noticeably bigger boot and a range extender option for buyers nervous about pure electric. The EX5 feels the more polished product across all areas.

The Kia EV5 brings a trusted badge, longer range on its bigger battery options, and somewhat sharper styling, but you pay for it as you climb the grades. Buyers who value dealer network confidence and resale certainty should have it on the list.

The BYD Sealion 7 takes a different tack with rear or all-wheel drive and far punchier performance, making it the choice for anyone who wants their electric SUV to feel quick. It costs more and rides firmer, so it is less of a comfort cruiser than the Geely.

The Tesla Model Y remains the segment benchmark for range and its charging network, and its interior packaging is excellent. It is also considerably more expensive, and its stripped back cabin will not suit everyone, which is exactly the gap the EX5 exploits.

Should I buy the Geely EX5?

Yes, with one important caveat.

If you want a comfortable, quiet, well-built electric SUV that feels more expensive than it is, the EX5 is one of the smartest buys in its class right now. The bigger battery has fixed its glaring weakness, the update has neutralised the annoying safety tech, and the value on offer is hard to argue with.

Start with the Complete unless you specifically want the Inspire's plush extras like the massaging seats, panoramic roof and 16-speaker stereo, and you land the sweet spot of range and price.

Just know what you are buying: this is a refined, relaxed cruiser rather than a driver's car, and its charging speed is fine rather than class leading. Accept that, and the EX5 makes a compelling case as the sensible EV pick of the moment.