Geely EX5: £32k own-brand car from Chinese giant to hit UK showrooms this October

The conveyor belt of Chinese newcomers to the UK isn’t stopping – and the latest badge heading our way is Geely. The Chinese car giant that owns Volvo, Polestar, Lotus, Lynk & Co, Proton and London’s electric taxi brand LEVC, is finally launching a car under its own badge in Britain - the EX5. 

The mid-size all-electric SUV will go on sale this October, starting at £31,990. The EX5 will be offered in three trim levels – SE, Pro and Max. The entry-level SE, priced from £31,990, comes equipped with 18-inch alloys, adaptive cruise control, heated seats and steering wheel, automatic wipers, keyless entry, LED headlights with high beam assist and a 15.4-inch central screen paired with a 360-degree camera system. The mid-spec Pro starts at £33,990 and adds 19-inch wheels along with an alternative interior colour scheme. At the top of the range sits the Max, costing £36,990, which adds a panoramic glass roof, powered tailgate, ambient lighting, ventilated and massaging front seats, a head-up display and an upgraded audio system.

All models feature a 60.2kWh battery that’s good for up to 267 miles of WLTP range. Charging is on a par with sector rivals: with a maximum DC rate of 100kW. Geely claims a 30–80% top-up can take as little as 20 minutes, but the more usual 10-80% charge will take just over 30 minutes. Performance almost matches the competition, thanks to a front-mounted 215bhp electric motor that gives the EX5 a 0–62mph time of 6.9 seconds.

In developing the EX5 for the European market, Geely worked with Lotus Engineering, another brand under its ownership, to carry out what it describes as a “comprehensive evaluation” of the car for British roads and driving styles.

That said, the first EX5s arriving here will be very similar to the Australian-market model, as both countries share right-hand drive. But Geely has confirmed that the Lotus feedback will feed into “future tuning” to make the EX5 even better suited to UK buyers.

With a starting price just shy of £32,000, the EX5 will line up against some big-name rivals like the Skoda Elroq, Kia EV3 and Ford Puma Gen-E. But Geely also faces competition from fellow Chinese newcomers like the Leapmotor C10 and BYD Atto 2, which are already carving out a reputation for value.

Customers who opt for the EX5 will get an Andersen A3 home wallbox charger included with their purchase, along with an eight-year warranty showing confidence in the brand’s first UK outing.

The EX5 marks the start of a product offensive by Geely, with the brand having previously hinted that more models are on the way for British buyers.