The Geely EX5 electric medium SUV is incredible value for money, but that bargain price does come with important compromises.
Likes
- Stupendously well specced for the money
- It's the cheapest electric mid-sized SUV on the market
- Soft suspension gives a decent ride quality
Dislikes
- Dynamically stunted and flawed
- Laggy infotainment system can frustrate, and has no smartphone mirroring
- Relatively small boot, no frunk or spare wheel
Key Specs
Boot space:302L seats up
Warranty:7 years
Battery capacity:60.2 kw/H
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Like a cat amongst the pigeons, the Geely EX5 is smashing the reset button on Australian expectations on the price of an electric vehicle. In a nutshell, this car is impressively cheap. With two model grades that sail in below the $50,000 threshold, it's impressively low-cost for something fully electric.
We've been conditioned somewhat to expect EVs to carry a price premium over internal combustion vehicles thanks to development costs and the expensive battery packs. But that is changing, and the Geely EX5 is leading the charge. Pun not intended, by the way.
Firstly, who is Geely?
It's yet another Chinese corporate behemoth, with a footprint so big it's hard to understand. Especially considering the company only dates back to 1986 and made a start in refrigerator parts. It stepped up to motorcycles in 1994, producing China's first home-made moped.
And then in 1997, reportedly saying “Isn’t a car just two sofas on four wheels?", Geely's founder Eric Li made the next leap into the automotive industry. Geely became the first privately owned Chinese carmaker in 2001 with the Haoqing hatchback.
Powered by either a 1.0-litre or 1.3-litre aluminium four-cylinder engine (which looks to have Toyota design heritage), the Geely Haoqing looked disturbingly similar to a Mercedes W201 C-Class from the front, but with a back that reminds me of an old Honda Civic.
Fast-forward to the present day – not even 30 years since stepping into the land of four wheels – and Geely is so big it bought a majority stake in Volvo (and Polestar), and also owns Zeekr, Lynk & Co, Radar Auto, is in a 50/50 joint venture with Mercedes-Benz for Smart, and has a 51 per cent share of Lotus Cars.
The company had $32 billion of revenue in 2022, and produced more than 3.3 million vehicles in 2024. That's more than Nissan did at the same time, and almost half of what Holden produced... between 1948 and 2017.
Not some small-fry start-up, then.
Although there was the Geely MK hatch that appeared briefly in Western Australia (in 2010), the modern-day Geely operation kicks off with a fully electric medium SUV.
There are two trim levels available, kicking off with the Complete trim level for $40,990 plus on-road costs. We've got the more expensive Inspire trim level, which is priced from a still-low $44,990 plus on-road costs.
This makes the EX5 the most affordable electric mid-sized SUV by some margin in Australia, and competitive with many internal combustion cars at a level-pegging nature.
2025 Geely EX5
There are still cheaper options out there (if you're powertrain agnostic), but nothing can hold a candle to the amount of spec you get for your dollar in the case of the EX5 Inspire.
The EX5 Complete has LED lighting front and rear, automatic headlights and wipers, a 15.4-inch infotainment display, 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless phone charger, head-up display, privacy glass and 360-degree camera system.
Its 18-inch wheels go up to 19s for the EX5 Inspire, and electric heated front seats pick up ventilation and massaging in this spec. There's also a powered tailgate, interior ambient lighting, front parking sensors, and an upgraded (but still unimpressive) 16-speaker sound system.
Putting aside the typically more expensive electric powertrain, this level of kit and metal for the asking price is quite impressive.
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Key details | 2025 Geely EX5 Inspire |
Price | $44,990 plus on-road costs |
Colour of test car | Arctic White |
Options | Mode 2 charging cable: $385 Key cover/case: $44.88 |
Price as tested | $45,419 plus on-road costs |
Drive-away price | $48,500 (approx, Sydney) |
Rivals | BYD Sealion 6 | Deepal S07 | Leapmotor C10 |
For reference's sake, the Geely EX5 is around the same size as a Toyota RAV4 or Leapmotor C10, and is larger than the likes of an MG S5 or Chery E5.
The interior is one that feels very typical and similar for many other Chinese vehicles in terms of the design and layout. That's not a bad thing, by the way, but they all seem to be reading each other's homework in this regard.
Up front, the otherwise uncluttered dashboard is dominated by a big infotainment display (more on that later), with only a few buttons lower down on the centre console for physical controls. There's a large volume dial – which takes a comical number of turns to effect change – and a lidded compartment that hides your cupholders.
The floating console hides storage lower down, which would accommodate a large handbag, and also has USB-A, USB-C and 12V power.
Build quality seems good, and the seats (aside from having all of the tricks) are quite comfortable. Ventilation and massaging in a vehicle at this price is quite insane, and the passenger seat also gets a fold-out ottoman-style extension for some extra comfort.
The second row – typical of electric SUVs – is impressively spacious with loads of leg room, and the low seating position provides ample head room as well (despite having a panoramic sunroof). It works for adults, but it would also be good for rearward-facing child seats, helped even more by the outboard ISOFIX points and three top-tether points.
Second-row seats are flat and squishy, comfortable enough, and occupants here have air vents and USB power for their devices. In terms of width, the EX5 is a bit squishy for fitting three across the third row. And for those who want to put three kids seats in, it could be quite a squeeze.
The boot – which has 302 litres of space – is relatively small overall for a medium-sized SUV. But it does have a couple of tricks up its sleeve. The floor of the boot can be dropped down to a lower position, and there's a large well in the back that increases the total space to a more usable 410L.
However, that lower space is limited to only 35kg, so perhaps don't go lugging two massive suitcases in there on your way to the airport.
Otherwise, the EX5 has no frunk, nor does it have a spare wheel. Instead, there is a small tyre repair kit (including some goop and a compressor) in a bag in the boot.
2025 Geely EX5 Inspire | |
Seats | Five |
Boot volume | 302–410L seats up 1877L seats folded |
Length | 4615mm |
Width | 1901mm |
Height | 1670mm |
Wheelbase | 2750mm |
Does the Geely EX5 have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto?
No, it does not. The 15.4-inch infotainment display in the Geely EX5 is impressive for size, but is otherwise lacking in some features. There's no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, nor is there any AM radio reception.
There is a third-party mirroring app available, which I'll admit that I did not try on my own Android phone. However, previous experiences with such setups suggest it's nowhere near as good as what you get with a proper smartphone mirroring setup.
There is native navigation here, and only a few physical buttons included means most of your controls go through the infotainment display. This is typically flawed in some ways, and isn't helped by a system that sometimes feels laggy and slow to respond.
There is a large volume dial included, which helps. However, it takes a hilariously long time to effect change, requiring multiple spirited spins to bring the volume up or down.
There is a companion app available for the EX5, which gives you access to things like location, charge level, locking and unlocking remotely from your smartphone.
Special mention must go to the sound system as well. Despite being a branded 16-speaker unit, I reckon the unbranded four-speaker system in an otherwise archaic Toyota LandCruiser 76 Series outperforms this system.
Is the Geely EX5 a safe car?
The Geely EX5 gets a five-star ANCAP rating, from the most recent (and onerous) 2025 testing criteria no less.
This includes an 86 per cent rating for adult occupant protection, and 87 per cent for child occupant protection. Vulnerable road users (pedestrians) get an 83 per cent rating, while the onboard safety and assistance systems on the EX5 get an 85 per cent score.
What safety technology does the Geely EX5 have?
The Geely EX5 is well stacked with safety equipment, proffering a comprehensive suite of acronyms and related tricks.
One feature that's thankful is the driver monitoring system, which is less aggressive and reactive than others out there. This means it's less annoying, and less likely to be turned off by an irritated driver.
Traffic sign recognition – and the associated speed warning that comes with it – is a bit frustrating, however. The beeps and bings of exceeding the speed can be helpful for less observant drivers, but incorrect reading of some signs can be frustrating. Off-ramps, signs on buses and speed zones are all the usual culprits in this regard.
Otherwise, the systems seem to be well tuned for everyday usage. The 360-degree camera system, along with a head-up display in front of the driver, underpins the huge value-for-money quotient that the EX5 brings.
At a glance | 2025 Geely EX5 Inspire | |
Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) | Yes | Includes cyclist, pedestrian detection |
Adaptive Cruise Control | Yes | Includes intelligent speed limit assist |
Blind Spot Alert | Yes | Alert functions only |
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert | Yes | Alert and assist functions, including autonomous braking front and rear |
Lane Assistance | Yes | Lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, evasive manoeuvre assist |
Road Sign Recognition | Yes | Includes speed limit assist |
Driver Attention Warning | Yes | Includes fatigue and attention monitor |
Cameras & Sensors | Yes | Front and rear sensors, 360-degree camera |
How much does the Geely EX5 cost to service?
Typical of many EVs, service costs for the Geely EX5 are kept cheap. This is an important consideration for buyers looking at the total cost of operation, where savings can be had compared to the servicing costs of an internal combustion vehicle.
At $645 over three years or 60,000km is an average of $215 per year, while five years goes up a bit to $297.40 per year. The capped-price servicing program runs to seven years or 140,000km, which is $2052 (or $293 per year on average).
An insurance premium of $1894.03 is a comparative quote for a 35-year-old male living in Chatswood, NSW. Insurance estimates may vary based on your location, driving history, and personal circumstances.
At a glance | 2025 Geely EX5 Inspire |
Warranty | Seven years, unlimited km |
Battery warranty | Eight years, unlimited km |
Service intervals | 12 months or 20,000km |
Servicing costs | $645 (3 years) $1487 (5 years) $2052 (7 years) |
What is the driving range of the Geely EX5?
A claim of 16.6kWh per 100 kilometres for the EX5 Inspire isn't as good as others in the segment, falling behind the likes of a Tesla Model Y or XPeng G6 in terms of efficiency. But in saying that, it's not too bad overall, and we got quite close to the claim during our time with the vehicle.
This means the claim of 410km from a single recharge is close to being achievable, even if running the battery right down to the dregs might not be a good idea. Although, having a lithium ferrophosphate (LFP) battery chemistry compared to nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) is better suited to this kind of thing.
Peak charging speed on a DC fast charger is set at 100kW, and we were able to better that with an indicated 119.5kW charge speed. This means a solid fast charge can be done in around 30 mins; a 25-minute charge for us got 42kWh (more than two-thirds) back into the battery.
Although, it's worth noting this was done at a BP charger, after we had no luck getting an Evie charger to work with the EX5. As always, your mileage may vary dramatically still when it comes to public EV charging.
Fuel efficiency | 2025 Geely EX5 Inspire |
Energy cons. (claimed) | 16.6kWh/100km |
Energy cons. (on test) | 17.0kWh/100km |
Battery size | 60.22kWh |
Driving range claim (WLTP) | 410km |
Charge time (11kW) | 5h 45min (approx) |
Charge time (50kW) | 1h 15min (approx) |
Charge time (100kW max rate) | 20min (claim, 30–80%) |
What is the Geely EX5 like to drive?
There are good and bad things about the driving experience of the EX5. Around town, the soft suspension feel of this particular Geely means there is good absorption available for some bumps and potholes.
But the bad side to this is when the road gets extra rough or consistently bumpy, the softer suspension starts to throw the body around with some jiggling and porpoising.
And while the steering feels fast to respond, the lack of body control – and less sophisticated torsion beam rear suspension – means the rest of the car cannot really keep up. The steering starts to feel uneven and twitchy, and the whole driving experience at higher speeds through corners doesn't feel particularly great.
Now, this isn't a sports car and it doesn't necessarily need to impress in this regard. But for big steering inputs, or emergency actions like a swerve-and-recover, this feels loose and floppy, and could certainly be better.
Mid-corner bumps with a degree of dynamism from the driver can get a noticeable rattle come through the steering wheel as well.
The 160kW/320Nm electric motor, which spins the front wheels, provides ample motivation for everyday driving. Geely has intentionally decided to tune a tapering response to accelerator inputs, where a full-blooded press will see engine outputs slowly ramp up to meet demand. It's done to keep things smooth and reduce wheelspin, which is still achievable in the dry.
Taking off from a standing start can elicit a long squeal from one of your front wheels, before an unsophisticated traction-control system kicks in. It's not untenable, but certainly gets worse in the wet. It's also not as good as others in the segment. Particularly considering many of the competitors (albeit, at a higher asking price) use a rear-wheel-drive architecture.
Key details | 2025 Geely EX5 Inspire |
Engine | Single electric motor |
Power | 160kW |
Torque | 320Nm |
Drive type | Front-wheel drive |
Transmission | Single-speed, reduction gear |
Weight | 1765kg (tare) |
Spare tyre type | Tyre repair kit |
Tow rating | Unspecified |
Turning circle | 10.8m |
The Geely EX5 is one of the few vehicles on the market at the moment that lacks any official towing capacity. There is no braked or unbraked towing capacity listed by Geely for the EX5, and the associated towing hardware is currently something that is under evaluation for the Australian market.
Should I buy a Geely EX5?
The value of the EX5 is impressive, and no doubt appealing to many who are looking for a low-cost EV with potential savings to be had in the running and servicing costs.
Considering the size of the EX5 – which is big enough to accommodate a family well – along with the safety credentials, you can see why many will be considering the Geely SUV.
However, that low asking price does come with compromises. It's less the things you can touch and feel, but other elements that come through in the interface, technology and driving experience. The soft ride can turn a little sour on some roads, and makes things less than enjoyable through the corners. And while the infotainment screen is big, it's outperformed in a few senses by smaller systems.
For those who are more particular and discerning, the EX5 might be a bridge too far in terms of polish and finesse. But for others, the value means it's worth having a closer look at.
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Ratings Breakdown
2025 Geely EX5 Inspire Wagon
7.3/ 10
Infotainment & Connectivity
Interior Comfort & Packaging
Sam Purcell has been writing about cars, four-wheel driving and camping since 2013, and obsessed with anything that goes brum-brum longer than he can remember. Sam joined the team at CarAdvice/Drive as the off-road Editor in 2018, after cutting his teeth at Unsealed 4X4 and Pat Callinan’s 4X4 Adventures. Off-road writer of the Year, Winner - Sam Purcell