Geely EX5 - On Point

THE NEW ZEALAND launch of Geely, in partnership with Giltrap Group, is part of a global expansion which will likely see the world's tenth-biggest carmaker overtake Nissan, Honda, Ford, and General Motors within the next 12 months.

First to arrive is the EX5, a fully electric mid-sized SUV. However, it’s important to note Geely is not 'just' an electric car maker. The company has a full range of cars and powertrains coming to New Zealand, with a plug-in hybrid expected to join the EX5 later in the year. In other words, you can fill up a Geely at the plug, pump, or both.

Ahead of the New Zealand launch, we had the chance to experience the EX5 in Australia, one of the model’s fi rst international launches. During the media event, it was confirmed that the EX5 will come in two versions for the Kiwi market: Complete and higher spec Inspire.

The Geely EX5 starts at $51,990 plus on-road costs for the Complete, while the Inspire – which adds a sunroof, heads-up display, high-powered audio package, powered tailgate, front parking sensors and 19-inch alloys – will retail for $55,990 plus on-road costs.

That razor sharp introductory pricing, which includes a three-year complimentary service plan is a clear indication that Geely sees the BYD Atto is a benchmark for price, even if it's not in the same league when it comes to every other comparison. The EX5 delivers more space, performance and efficiency than both the BYD and Omoda E5 – another key competitor.

At just over 4.6 metres long, the EX5 is line ball with the Toyota RAV4. But thanks to the flexibility of a fully electric platform, the newcomer outstretches New Zealand's top selling passenger vehicle for cabin space, with a 60mm longer wheelbase.

It’s very clear from the first glance, though, that the EX5 hasn’t been designed to out-SUV the RAV4. Its frontal styling resoundingly states “BEV”, thanks to the absence of a radiator grill. It gives the EX5 a soft look and masks the actual size of the car in photographs.

If the dimensions are a surprise, the incredibly high level of fit and finish is astonishing for any volume brand. The panel-gap lines, materials and even the heft and solidity of the doors all feel a level above the segment competition. A case in point is that the rear door panels get the same soft-touch finish as the front doors, something even some premium brands don't deliver.

“Executive Lounge” is how Geely describe the feel inside EX5, and that idea stretches to the ride, which is comfort focused. It’s at its best on motorways and urban streets, where the year the automaker’s engineers spent testing and ironing out quirks of antipodean roads shines through. Geely says they paid special attention to the overabundance of coarse chip surfaces, speedbumps and roundabouts in our cities. And it shows.

Along with the compliant ride is an astonishing level of quiet – just 61.3 decibels at 50km/h. This, combined with the impressive build quality and low wind noise, produces an ethereal experience on the move. The quietness allows you to hear everything, including the slightly surreal pedestrian sound resembling the chimes of an ice cream van. Geely informed us that this might change for cars sold here; I'm in two minds because it's one of the few quirks to the EX5, which, despite being tech-driven, is pleasantly free of weirdness.

Geely has focused on quality over gimmickry with the EX5. There’s more than a touch of the minimalism seen in the other brands, namely Volvo and Polestar. Still, the simplicity hides some functional wizardry, with the volume knob able to be switched to control climate control or the display on the 15.4-inch screen, which runs Geely's own inhouse Flyme operating system.

Flyme (Pronounced “fly-me”) is yet another Geely subsidiary, and thanks to their proprietary Dragon Eagle operating system, the tech is fast and intuitive; eventually, it will also be inclusive, with both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay phone mirroring connectivity which will be coming later this year as Over-The-Air (OTA) updates.

On our Aussie drive, connectivity was limited to a more basic Bluetooth connection – still enough to test the 16-speaker/1000-watt audio system (another Flyme product). The big sound is one of the perks of opting for the Inspire spec, with the Complete making do with a six-speaker system. The bells-and-whistles Inspire comes with real-silk tweeters and headrest-mounted speakers, which only deliver navigation and other commands to the driver.

Both models share the same 160kW/320Nm front-mounted power unit, which weighs a touch under 80kg – that leanness adds to a segment-leading efficiency of 15.8 kilowatts per 100km. Meaning? The official range from fully charged is 430km in the Complete, although the 19-inch wheels on the Inspire version contribute to a slightly reduced 410km range there.

That weight also blunts the performance, with the fully equipped EX5 a couple of tenths slower in the 0-100km/h sprint, which the Complete delivers in 6.9 seconds (yet another segment-topping stat, by the way).

Energy is stored in a 60kWh battery pack using Short-Blade technology. The stack can be charged at up to 100kW, which results in competition-beating charging performance of 30-80% in as little as 20 minutes. In real-world terms, a 10-minute charge would be enough to drive from Auckland to Hamilton.

Along with the Short-Blade battery tech is Vehicle to Load capability, which means your EX5 can double as a power backup for home or camping. In addition, the camping mode can be programmed to leave enough power to complete the drive home. The EX5 is also equipped with Vehicle-to-Vehicle capability – only the second car in the world to have this – meaning it can charge another vehicle at up to 7kW, or about the same speed as a standard Wall Box.

The front-wheel-drive layout gifts EX5 an additional 51-litre storage bin under the rear floor, complimenting the 420-litres above. With the rear seats down, total storage is 1877-litres. There are also drawers under the rear seats, with sizable bag storage available under the floating console.

Geely achieved a successful five-star ANCAP safety rating for the EX5. In testing the vehicle scored 86% for adult occupant protection, 87% for child occupant protection, 83% for vulnerable road user protection, and 85% for its safety assistance systems. It is equipped with seven airbags and a full safety suite, including rear collision and door opening warnings, traffic sign recognition, automatic high and low-beam switching and a function where the car makes extra space when passing large vehicles with cruise control set.

At the launch, special mention was made of Geely's so-called ‘Devil Test’, which the battery has to pass. This includes the battery pack being run over by a steam roller, fully submerged, and even set on fire. After all this torture, the battery still had to function. Less extreme but just as thorough is a commitment to passenger health, with the air-con auto-drying the car after every drive and an antibacterial coating on the steering wheel.

A final Geely detail is a fragrance-free interior, which eliminates any of what can often be an overpowering new-car smell. It's a fitting touch for what is a new but established carmaker in New Zealand.