What’s this new car all about then?
Geely is another new brand for New Zealand. But even if you haven’t heard of it, we’re pretty sure you’ll know its work.
Geely is one of those carmakers from China that seems absurdly young for something so big. It was founded in 1986 but didn’t enter the automotive industry until 2001, as the first private carmaker in China.
It produces a multitude of models for its home market, but it also owns some very familiar brands: it purchased Volvo in 2010 (which in turn took over Polestar in 2015) and Lotus in 2017. It also owns London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC), maker of the UK’s Black Cabs, which it acquired in 2013.
Geely established a joint venture with Mercedes-Benz to produce the new generation of Smart EV models in 2020 and has launched two premium brands of its own: Lynk & Co (2016) and Zeekr (2021), both aimed primarily at markets outside China.
Yes, our brains are full too. But what we’re really here to talk about is the Geely EX5, the first new-gen… um… “Geely” from Geely to be launched in New Zealand. If you don't count some bad old models from the bad old days when the brand was very new, around 15 years ago. Which you wouldn't.
Knowing what we know about the company in a wider context, the EX5 might carry extra gravitas when we tell you that it’s pretty much the newest thing from Geely, only launched in China last August and built upon a brand-new platform called GEA.
It’s a medium-sized SUV with pure-electric power: 60kWh “short blade” LFP battery with single 160kW/320Nm motor. The technical brag-book includes “high integration” of the powertrain with 11 components in one unit, contributing to what the company says is least-in-class size and weight, and cell-to-body battery configuration (so it’s actually part of the car’s construction).
The EX5 offers both vehicle-to-load (V2L) charging for external devices up to 3.3kW, and vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) at 6kW; the latter is pretty nifty if your EV-driving friend is running low, because it’s nearly as fast as a home wallbox (typically 7kW). Cables for all that stuff will be extra-cost accessories.
We’re in pretty early with the EX5, in tandem with Australia; the only other markets outside China to have it are Thailand and Indonesia.
It’s being imported and sold here by Giltrap Group, which also represents a number of other Geely brands including Volvo, Polestar and Lotus - but not Smart, which is handled by Auto Distributors NZ, a division of Armstrong’s Group.
The EX5 is being sold in NZ in two models: Complete and Inspire. Same powertrain for both, although the top Inspire is 0.2sec slower to 100km/h (7.1sec) and 20km down on range (410km WLTP), which we’re guessing is down to larger wheels and tyres: Inspire has 19-inch rims, while the Complete rides on 18in.
How much is it?
That’s a great question. Wish we could answer it.
Pricing for the brace of EX5 models will be announced closer to launch in April, but Giltrap Group is promising it will be “competitive”. With what, you ask? Carry on to the end of the story; that bit comes later.
There will be just one dealership to start with, in Auckland, but coupled with a test-drive and delivery centre in Christchurch. A later phase will roll out representation in Hamilton and Wellington.
What’s it like to drive?
Very slick, in a medium-EV-SUV kind of way. The EX5’s power and torque are bang-on the class average, and the powertrain blends a fairly gentle calibration with sprightly acceleration; the Compete can hit 100km/h in 6.9sec.
The steering, which can be paired with the drive modes or configured individually, has substance and the chassis seems pretty well-sorted; it’s FWD by the way, a layout chosen to ensure maximum luggage space.
There’s 302l bootspace minimum, 410l with the false floor… and another 51l below for smaller items like charge cables.
Oh right, back to the driving. Geely is very proud of a year spent testing and calibrating in Australia, including the suspension and safety assists.
The company is not entirely clear on specific tweaks to the suspension, but the EX5 combines comfort without being too floaty. We don’t want to speak too soon after a one drive-day in Australia, but the time spent on the safety assists seems to have paid off: warnings only seem to come when they might be needed, and the sounds are quite subtle. The sub-30km/h pedestrian warning sounds like an ice cream truck, which is a bonus.
The comprehensive suite of safety stuff is shared across both models, and Geely is keen to share that some advanced stuff like Auto Lane Change Assist (ALC) and Evasive Manoeuvre Assist (EMA) owes a lot to a “sister brand”. Probably one with a Swedish accent.
What’s the pick of the range?
We only drove the Inspire on the launch event and it’s hard to make a value-judgement between the two models without pricing, but the top model does have some very appealing extras: panoramic roof with sunshade, power tailgate, front parking sensors (although both have a 360deg camera system and rear radar), 256-colour ambient lighting options and a head-up display.
Geely makes a lot of its proprietary Flyme Auto infotainment system, which is run by a chip of its own design; but we didn’t get to fully assess that, because these early-build cars still didn’t have full internet connectivity.
And in what seems to be a common thing with Chinese brands, phone projection isn’t coming until later: July for Apple CarPlay and yet-to-be-confirmed timing for Android Auto. Both will be enabled with an over-the-air update, at no cost.
However, part of Flyme Auto in the Inspire is Flyme Sound, a premium audio system with 16 speakers (including the headrests), preset modes and 1000W. So that’s pretty cool.
As is the seating in the top model, with ventilation up front (heating is standard across the range), memory settings for the driver, 6-mode massage on both front chairs and a power legrest for the front passenger, for chilling while you charge.
What other cars should I consider?
The EX5 is aimed at other Chinese-brand medium EV-SUVs, simple as that.
For most, that will mean the BYD Atto 3 ($51,990) and Leapmotor C10 ($54,990). Given all three are roughly equivalent on power and range, that should give you a pretty good idea of what the Geely EX5 will cost.