The all-electric Geely EX5 has secured five-star safety ratings from ANCAP, confirming its credentials not just as a new entrant in the New Zealand market, but as a serious player in the mainstream electric vehicle (EV) space.
The ratings apply across all EX5 variants offered in Australasia, covering both the Complete and Inspire trims.
Strong safety performance
In ANCAP’s physical crash testing, the EX5 earned full marks in the side impact, whiplash and far-side protection tests.
However, in the frontal offset (MPDB) test, several welds at the base of the A-pillar detached. Geely later demonstrated that the vehicle structure performed consistently under more severe test conditions, but a scoring penalty still applied.
Adult Occupant Protection was rated at 86%, while Child Occupant Protection came in slightly higher at 87%.
Neck protection for the 10-year-old dummy in the frontal offset test was marked as “Adequate”, but overall protection for both 6- and 10-year-old dummies was rated “Good”.
ADAS tech standard across the range
The EX5’s Level 2 advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) is standard across both models.
ANCAP noted “Good” performance in active safety assessments, including full points for car-to-motorcycle crash avoidance and lane support systems.
The suite includes 16 functions such as autonomous emergency braking (AEB), adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist and auto lane change assist - features Geely says were tuned during a year-long calibration programme in Australia.
Geely also credits its proprietary “Cloverleaf” energy dispersion structure and high-strength body for the strong passive safety result, designed to redirect and absorb crash forces away from occupants.
Built on Geely’s latest EV platform
The EX5 is built on the GEA architecture - an all-new EV-specific platform debuting with this model. It runs a 160kW/320Nm front-mounted motor, powered by a 60kWh LFP “short blade” battery.
The configuration allows for flat-floor packaging and additional crash structure around the pack, integrated into the vehicle body.
Starting at $51,990 in New Zealand, the EX5 enters a crowded segment populated by models like the BYD Atto 3 and Leapmotor C10.
With its five-star result, it positions itself as one of the safest offerings in the emerging midsize EV-SUV category.
“Geely has made a confident entrance into the Australian and New Zealand markets with the Geely EX5, landing a five-star result right out of the gate,” said ANCAP Chief Executive Carla Hoorweg.
