2025 Geely EX5 review

You may not have heard of Chinese brand Geely before, but it’s likely you’re about to with the launch of its maiden model in Australia: the EX5 electric mid-size SUV. Parent company of more recognisable brands such as Volvo, Polestar and Lotus, Geely is looking to make an impact in Australia with sharp pricing and a strong tech offering. But entering an already-crowded segment, does its EX5 do enough to stand out from the crowd?

How much does the 2025 Geely EX5 cost?   

The 2025 Geely EX5 begins from just $40,990 for entry-level Complete trim, climbing to $44,990 for top-grade Inspire.

This puts the EX5 in direct contention with rivals including the Leapmotor C10 (from $45,888) and the BYD Atto 3 (from $39,990), and considerably undercuts the Hyundai Kona Electric (from $54,000) and the Kia EV5 ($56,770 drive-away). All prices exclude on-roads unless otherwise stated. Looking to make a statement on its commitment to Australian buyers, Geely has given the EX5 extensive factory backing. This comes by way of a seven-year/unlimited-kilometre vehicle warranty, eight-year/unlimited-kilometre high voltage battery warranty, and up to seven years of roadside assist.  Buyers who get in before the end of April 2025 also receive complimentary premium paint, a home charger, a one-year of public charging subscription and three years of servicing.

What is the 2025 Geely EX5 like inside?

Interior fit-out and build quality feel exceptional for a car at this price point. While some of the soft-touch materials used don’t have the most premium of feels, they are laid in abundance and the overall appointment of the cabin is impressive.

Minimalism with touch points, typical of the segment, means most functions are carried out on the responsive and crisp 15.4-inch centre touchscreen. Owners can create shortcuts via a few programmable buttons on the steering wheel, which is a good thing, because the standard interface is not the most intuitive and smartphone pairing is not available at launch (though Geely tells us it will come as an update).

Front seats provide great support, and drivers will comfortably and naturally locate the large, knurled rotary dial without having to take eyes off the road.

Space and storage have been clear focuses for interior design and, while not benchmark for the segment, 1877L of total cargo space (with rear seats down) is a respectable figure.

An assortment of interior bins and stowage areas also contribute to how easy the EX5 would be the live with day-to-day. 

What equipment does the 2025 Geely EX5 come with?

Complementing strong interior design is an impressive list of standard equipment.  

Entry-level Complete trim notably receives heated front seats (with electric six-way adjustability for drivers and four-way for passengers), a 15.4-inch centre touchscreen and 10.2-inch driver display, LED headlights, 18-inch alloys, roof rails, rear privacy glass, auto wipers, and heated and folding side mirrors. 

Moving to Inspire adds ventilation and an impressively firm massage feature to front seats, a powered tailgate, ambient interior lighting, front parking sensors, 19-inch alloys and an upgraded sound system.

Both variants get vehicle-to-load (V2L) capabilities, able to draw up to 3.3kW to power external accessories such as coffee machines or fridges on a campsite. 
  

How safe is the 2025 Geely EX5?

Perks of being parent company to Volvo, Geely has been able to leverage research and development of the brand’s famed safety history for its own models. 

Safety equipment includes seven airbags, autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane-keep assist, cross-traffic alerts for front and rear, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, surround-view monitoring, blind-spot warning, driver fatigue monitoring and a door-open warning. As mentioned above, Inspire also gets front parking sensors. 

At the time of writing, the Geely EX5 is unrated by ANCAP, however testing is due to begin in April 2025.  

What powers the 2025 Geely EX5?

Complete and Inspire trims both use the same architecture featuring a 60.22kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, outputting 160kW and 320Nm to the front wheels. 

Charging can be done at 100kW DC and 11kW AC, with a claimed driving range of 410-430km depending on trim.  

Geely told us it has managed to fit all major components into the one drive module, decreasing size and weight, with the brand claiming the system only weighs 79.8kg (without oil) and is the lightest in its class.  

What is the 2025 Geely EX5 like to drive?

Although the EX5 may be Geely’s first car in Australia, it makes clear that this is not Geely’s first car-building rodeo.  

First and foremost: the EX5 gets the basics right. Energy regeneration has been very well integrated, with a seamless transition between the hydraulic and electric systems providing a good pedal feel and driver confidence. Steering weight and feedback are adequate and, despite only being a modest 160kW, power is delivered smoothly. 

Thanks to a surprisingly low kerb weight of just 1715-1765kg, the EX5’s turn-in is also a surprisingly nimble and mid-corner balance is composed.  

Geely has locally-tuned the model’s suspension, and it shows over most road surfaces, however the ride remains a little too soft, with dampers a little too slow to react. 

Bumps are well absorbed at speed, but the EX5 is often still dealing with them further down the road, making it feel heavier and more cumbersome than its kerb weight would suggest. 

During our test, we averaged an impressive consumption figure of just 13.5kWh/100km, meaning the EX5 should meet or even exceed Geely’s claimed driving ranges.   

The Open Road’s take on the 2025 Geely EX5

Price ultimately determines value, and when we drove the EX5 its cost had not been announced but was slated to land within the $49,000-55,000 range.  

There, its chances of fading into obscurity in what is becoming a saturated market segment would’ve been markedly higher. However, following subsequent and substantial price cuts prior to launch, the EX5 has become a compelling case. 

The EX5 is arguably be worth the cost of admission on merits of battery (and V2L) tech and standard equipment alone, but add in a genuinely well-appointed cabin and decent driving dynamics and it becomes an impressively comprehensive package.  

Pros: strong value; standard equipment list; cabin fit-out 

Cons: ride is too soft; no smartphone pairing (for now); forgettable exterior styling