Geely EX2

First Impressions

Walking up to the Geely EX2 for the first time, I was struck by how much bigger it looks in person than in photos. The proportions are genuinely pleasing — Geely talks about golden ratio design, and honestly, it works. The car is about 4.13 metres long with a wheelbase of 2.65 metres, which is actually longer than a Honda HR-V's. It doesn't look like a tiny city car at all.

The rounded, clean lines with no sharp creases give it a friendly personality. The rear design is particularly attractive to my eyes — there's a subtle SUV vibe with the black plastic cladding along the lower body and a chrome trim strip that adds a touch of sophistication.

Design and Exterior

Full LED headlights and taillights come standard, with auto high beams on the top trim. The front grille is sealed shut with Geely's six-square logo front and centre. I appreciate the shark fin antenna and the integrated rear spoiler, though I do have to flag that there's no rear wiper — something that could be an issue during heavy rainy seasons.

The charging port sits on the rear left. Ground clearance is a respectable 162mm, which is nearly SUV territory. The 16-inch alloys on the top trim fill the wheel arches well, and disc brakes on all four corners are a welcome sight in this segment.

Interior and Tech

Inside, the two-tone cabin feels airier and more premium than I expected. The 14.6-inch central screen dominates the dashboard and runs Geely's Flyme Auto system. Almost everything is controlled through this screen, which is both a blessing and a curse — physical buttons are limited to hazard lights, gear selector, AC on/off, and front defog.

Storage is genuinely impressive. There's a 70-litre frunk up front, 375 litres in the boot expanding to 1,320 litres with seats folded, hidden compartments under the rear seats, and cubbies scattered throughout the cabin. The materials are mostly hard plastics on the upper dash and door panels, with padded sections only where your arms rest. The ambient lighting is a strange cityscape pattern — I'd honestly prefer simple LED strips instead.

One frustration: no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto at launch. Geely says an update is coming mid-2026, but that's a long wait. Side mirrors fold manually only, the steering wheel adjusts for tilt but not reach, and front seatbelts aren't height-adjustable. These are noticeable omissions.

Driving Experience

This is where the EX2 genuinely earns its stripes. The rear-mounted motor with multilink independent rear suspension and MacPherson front creates a driving experience that feels surprisingly polished. The steering is well-weighted — light and easy at parking speeds, firming up convincingly at highway pace. Even at its electronically limited top speed of 140 km/h, the wheel felt reassuringly weighted. For this class of car, the steering calibration is genuinely among the best.

Acceleration is adequate rather than thrilling. I clocked 0-100 km/h in about 10 seconds in Sport mode, which is quicker than the claimed spec. The 80-120 km/h overtaking pull took under 8 seconds — perfectly fine for real-world use. Three driving modes alter throttle response and steering weight, though full-throttle acceleration is identical regardless of mode.

The suspension is firm and composed, not the marshmallow ride some Chinese EVs serve up. On smooth roads it's genuinely comfortable, but over speed bumps and rough patches, rear passengers cop noticeably more harshness than those up front. Crosswind stability at higher speeds also needs work — the car gets a bit twitchy when buffeted from the side.

Regenerative braking offers three levels, but the highest setting still feels a bit jerky in stop-and-go traffic. There's no one-pedal driving mode either, so you always need to use the brake pedal to come to a complete stop.

Efficiency and Range

Energy efficiency is the EX2's party trick. At a steady 80 km/h I saw consumption around 8.8 kWh per 100 km, which is remarkably low. Even at 120 km/h it only consumed about 15 kWh per 100 km. The lightweight 1,300 kg body and Geely's 11-in-1 electric drive unit deserve credit here. Real-world mixed driving should land around 10-11 kWh per 100 km, giving usable range that rivals EVs with significantly larger battery packs.

DC fast charging peaks at 70 kW and held that rate below 50% state of charge, tapering gradually after. A 30-80% charge in 25 minutes is entirely believable based on my testing. V2L output supports up to 3.3 kW for external devices.

Value for Money

For what you get — rear-wheel drive, fully independent suspension on all four wheels across both trims, a 70-litre frunk, 360-degree camera, and class-leading efficiency — the EX2 stacks up very competitively against the likes of the BYD Dolphin and Neta V. The build quality and panel gaps impressed me, and the cabin space defies its compact footprint. The missing conveniences sting a little, but the mechanical fundamentals are strong.

Final Verdict

The Geely EX2 is a thoughtfully engineered small EV that gets the important stuff right. The driving dynamics, space efficiency, and energy consumption are all excellent for the segment. Yes, you'll miss the rear wiper in a downpour, and the lack of CarPlay at launch is annoying. But as an everyday urban runabout with the ability to handle highway trips comfortably, this is a compelling package. If you want an efficient, easy-to-drive electric car that feels bigger than it looks, the EX2 deserves a serious look.