Geely EX2

First Impressions

Walking up to the Geely EX2 for the first time, I wasn't expecting much from a compact city EV. But within minutes of poking around, it started winning me over. The fact that it has a front trunk — a proper frunk — in this segment is genuinely remarkable. Pop the hood and there's usable storage space up front, something you typically only see on premium EVs. It's a small thing, but it signals that Geely actually thought about how people use cars.

The overall proportions are tidy. It's a compact hatchback that looks friendly rather than aggressive, with a smiling front fascia and full LED lighting everywhere. No halogen bulbs lurking anywhere — something I can't say about certain competitors that cost significantly more.

Design and Exterior

The design language is clean and contemporary, sitting comfortably alongside its Chinese EV peers. The two-tone roof option on the Max trim adds some visual flair, and the flush door handles give it a modern touch. There are protective side claddings for stone chips, and the overall build quality from the outside looks solid.

One glaring omission though: no rear wiper. This baffles me. In Thailand's heavy rains, water mist kicks up onto the rear glass constantly. The heated rear demister helps with fogging, but it's no substitute for a proper wiper. Geely needs to address this in future updates.

Interior and Tech

Step inside and the cabin feels way bigger than the exterior dimensions suggest. The flat floor from the skateboard EV platform makes ingress easy and maximizes interior volume. I sat in the back seat and was genuinely shocked — headroom and legroom are class-leading, beating both the Ion UT and MG4 convincingly. The side windows are massive too, so it never feels claustrophobic.

The 14.6-inch center screen dominates the dashboard and the ambient lighting with 264 color options adds a premium atmosphere. Wireless charging, dual-zone climate control, an electric driver's seat, and 6 airbags round out a generous feature list. The 360-degree camera on the Max trim is sharp and includes a transparent chassis view for tight parking. There's also camping mode, pet mode, rest mode, and a range extension mode that lets you trade comfort for extra kilometers when the battery runs low.

The downsides? Some hard plastics are evident, particularly on the center console. There's no rear armrest, which is frustrating because the back seat is otherwise so comfortable. The steering wheel only adjusts two ways instead of four. And at the time of my test, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto weren't functional yet, though Geely confirmed they'll work on customer cars.

Driving Experience

Here's where it gets interesting. The suspension is the star of the show. For a small rear-wheel-drive EV, the ride quality is outstanding — smooth, composed, and planted. I pushed it up to its 140 km/h top speed and the chassis never felt unsettled. It's softer and more comfortable than the MG4, which tends to be bouncy with its rear-drive setup. Lane changes at highway speeds revealed minimal body roll. This is genuinely impressive tuning.

The motor's output is modest, but the 0-50 km/h sprint in under 4 seconds means it feels peppy off the line. The 4.9-metre turning circle is absurdly tight and makes threading through narrow Bangkok sois effortless. However, the throttle calibration in Normal mode requires noticeably more pedal pressure than any other EV I've driven. It feels sluggish until you really commit your foot. Sport mode fixes the responsiveness but introduces jerky torque delivery at low speeds — it's not smooth. You kind of have to pick your poison between sluggish and jerky.

The steering is light and family-friendly rather than sporty. If you want driving excitement, the MG4 is still the better choice. But for pure comfort and city usability, the EX2 is hard to beat.

Practicality and Range

Boot space is a respectable 370 litres, expanding to 1,300 litres with the rear seats folded — though they don't fold completely flat, which is annoying. The frunk adds bonus storage that no competitor offers. The battery management is efficient, squeezing solid range from a relatively small battery pack. DC fast charging fills it up quickly given the modest battery size, so even road trips are feasible with brief charging stops.

The cabin storage is thoughtful too — deep center console bin, well-sized cupholders that accommodate tall bottles without them clashing, and a phone shelf near the wireless charger. It's clear the designers actually sat in this car and thought about daily life.

Final Verdict

The Geely EX2 isn't trying to be exciting, and that's fine. What it delivers is a supremely comfortable ride, a shockingly spacious interior for its footprint, and a feature list that embarrasses cars from established Japanese brands. The suspension tuning alone sets it apart from every competitor in this segment.

If you live in the city, need a practical EV that's easy to park and comfortable for passengers, this deserves a serious look. Just know that the throttle calibration takes some getting used to, and you'll want to budget for a good window tint. It's not perfect, but it's impressively competent — and in the city EV space, that counts for a lot.