CHINESE TAKEAWAY (some text hidden) --NONE--

By Jonathan Crouch

Another mid-sized Chinese SUV crossover, but this one, the Geely EX5, is worth a second look. Jonathan Crouch drives it.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 36

Chinese maker Geely's first own brand model, the EX5, aims to redefine value in the over-crowded mid-sized SUV electric segment. There's lots you might be tempted by here but you'll need to know what you're getting.

Backgroundword count: 119

Some Chinese brands are more significant than others. Geely is a name that might ring a bell - and with good reason given that it owns Volvo, Polestar and Lotus - and effectively runs smart as well. Now it's here as a manufacturer in its own right with this car, the Geely EX5. This is an EV, of course. And, almost equally predictably, a mid-sized SUV, like just about every other car that China seems to launch into our market these days. This one is worth a second look though because it's more affordably priced and better equipped than nearly all its rivals. And, says Geely, has been tuned for UK roads by sports car makers Lotus. Sounds promising.

Driving Experienceword count: 405

At the time of our test in Spring 2026, Geely was offering two EX5 drivetrains. Most variants will be sold with the one this car was launched with, using a front-mounted motor with 215bhp energised by a 60.2kWh battery offering up to 267 miles of range. If you engage the most urgent of the three provided drive modes, 'Sport' (the others are 'Eco' and 'Comfort'), 0-62mph can be completed in 6.9s courtesy of 320Nm of torque, en route to 109mph. The alternative drivetrain is that used by the flagship 'Ultra' variant, which uses a larger 68.39kWh battery delivering a WLTP-rated range of up to 280 miles and able to make 62mph in 7.6s. With all EX5 variants, a centre screen 'Steering Assist' feature can match steering feel to your selected driving mode. However you get it though, steering feedback at speed through the turns is minimal - which is a pity because body roll is quite well controlled thanks to the stiff 'Global Intelligent New Energy Architecture' platform. The marketing suggestions of 'Lotus' engineering input don't hold up to much scrutiny. Lotus has been involved with and lent its name to several mainstream brand engineering projects over the years, some of which were memorable (like Vauxhall's Lotus Carlton) and some not (like Proton's Satria GTi). This EX5, it turns out, wasn't the subject of a Lotus engineering project. Geely simply commissioned from Hethel a 'comprehensive evaluation' of the EX5 for British roads, the results of which hadn't yet been implemented at the time of this test. So we're served up here the kind of dynamic set-up the Chinese brand thinks our market ought to have, with a soft suspension set-up. Which is probably appropriate for the kind of person this Geely is aimed at, though not for the kind of customer who might be attracted by the 'Lotus' marketing associations. There are lots of settings to play with of course; 'Comfort' or 'Sport' brake pedal feel modes and a 'comfortable stop' option. Along with four brake regen 'Energy Recovery' settings - 'Automatic', 'Low', 'Medium' and 'High'; even the fiercest of these doesn't deliver the 'one-pedal'-style deceleration feel you get with some rivals though. Driving the car, as with many other Chinese models, one of the main initial things you're going to have to get used to are all the ADAS functions, which can be somewhat intrusive. On the plus side, refinement at speed is excellent.

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