Geely EX2

First Impressions

Walking up to the Geely EX2 in Aurora Green with its black roof, I immediately thought it looked sharp for a small city EV. The two-tone color scheme is exclusive to the top trim and it genuinely elevates the car's presence. What caught my attention even before driving was the build quality — soft materials lining the wheel arches instead of cheap plastic or bare metal. That's a detail most cars at this level skip entirely.

Design and Exterior

The EX2 is compact on the outside but doesn't look cheap. The 16-inch wheels on the Max trim fill the arches nicely, and the flush door handles with keyless entry give it a modern feel. There's a 70-litre frunk up front, which is a genuine bonus for a car this size.

One notable omission is the rear wiper — it simply doesn't have one. In a tropical climate where sudden downpours are routine, that's a head-scratcher. The headlights can be manually adjusted for height through the screen but lack automatic leveling, so you'll need to remember to dim them yourself when the car is loaded.

Interior and Tech

Inside, the cabin feels surprisingly roomy. The 14.6-inch central screen dominates the dashboard, and the 8-inch driver's display is neatly integrated. Material quality is respectable — door panels are padded with soft-touch material on all four doors, which is genuinely uncommon at this level.

The seats deserve special praise. The foam density and contouring on both front and rear seats support your body well. I drove for a solid session and never felt uncomfortable. However, the rear bench lacks an armrest and the headrests are permanently fixed — you can't remove or adjust them. Apple CarPlay isn't available yet either; you're stuck with a mirror link app for now, though CarPlay is promised for Q2 this year. The six-speaker audio system is mediocre — functional but nothing special.

Driving Experience

This is where the EX2 truly shines. The rear-wheel-drive layout gives it a character that most affordable EVs completely lack. The single motor delivers its torque smoothly, and while it won't pin you to the seat, it feels adequately punchy for city driving and highway merging. I clocked under 10 seconds for the 0-100 km/h run in both Comfort and Sport modes, beating the factory claim.

The suspension is the star of the show. It's firm, composed, and genuinely confidence-inspiring. During aggressive lane changes at 110 km/h, there was minimal body roll and the car tracked straight without any wallowing. Compared to the Dolphin, it feels more stable. Compared to the UT, it's about 5-10% tighter. It's been specifically tuned for Thai roads, and it shows. The steering has a slight artificial feel and minor dead zone around center, but at speed it weights up nicely and becomes quite communicative.

Noise insulation is decent — I'd give it a 7 out of 10. Road noise from the tires is well controlled thanks to those soft wheel arch liners, and wind noise stays manageable up to about 100 km/h.

Driver Assistance Systems

The adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go works smoothly and brakes progressively. The system also alerts you when the car ahead moves off at a red light. Blind spot monitoring is effective and visible even in direct sunlight. The 360-degree camera is clear and activates automatically at low speeds or when indicating.

The lane departure system only warns — it doesn't actively steer you back into your lane. There's no auto-dimming rearview mirror either. These aren't dealbreakers, but they're the kind of features you notice are missing after spending time with the car.

Value for Money

For what you get — multi-link rear suspension, four-wheel disc brakes, six airbags, adaptive cruise control, 360-degree camera, and a rear-wheel-drive platform — the EX2 Max is packed with substance. It out-specs several competitors on chassis hardware while matching them on safety tech. The MG4 drives more aggressively but its interior materials and software feel a generation behind. The Good Cat rides harsher. The Dolphin and UT are close but slightly softer and less engaging to drive.

Final Verdict

The Geely EX2 is a genuinely fun, well-sorted small EV that prioritizes driving enjoyment and chassis composure over raw speed or flashy tech. Its suspension tuning is best-in-class for the segment, and the rear-wheel-drive layout adds a layer of engagement you won't find elsewhere at this level. If you can tolerate the missing Apple CarPlay for now, the fixed rear headrests, and the absent rear wiper, this is one of the most satisfying affordable EVs you can buy. It's perfect as a daily driver, a first EV, or a second car for the household.