2025 Geely EX5 Inspire Review

The 2025 Geely EX5 marks a bold new entry into Australia’s growing field of mid-sized electric SUVs. Positioned as a value-packed offering from Geely's core brand, the EX5 Inspire impresses with unique inclusions like massaging seats, a premium 16-speaker sound system, and a quirky pedestrian warning tone reminiscent of an ice cream truck. 

With pricing that significantly undercuts many rivals, the EX5 manages to deliver a lot of premium features for a fraction of the cost. While there are some areas - such as smartphone integration and handling - that could be more refined, the EX5 still makes a strong case as a tech-forward and family-friendly EV.

How much does the Geely EX5 cost?

When the Geely EX5 first launched in Australia, pricing details were notably absent - a move that frustrated both consumers and media alike. Initial reviews, including our own, were forced to evaluate the vehicle without knowing what it would cost, which is an unfair position to be put in when price plays such a critical role in the car’s perceived value. It was a misstep in launch strategy, especially in a market as price-sensitive as Australia.

However, a few weeks later, Geely revealed the official pricing - and it was a game-changer. Starting at just $40,990 for the Complete and $44,990 for the top-spec Inspire, the EX5 entered the market as one of the best value-for-money electric vehicles available today. It's a price point that significantly undercuts key competitors like the BYD Sealion 7 and Kia EV5, while offering genuinely premium equipment.

This aggressive pricing strategy suggests Geely is willing to sacrifice margin to build brand awareness and trust in Australia - despite being a global powerhouse that owns Polestar, Volvo, Zeekr and Lotus. It's a smart, ambitious move that gives the EX5 immediate appeal in the eyes of price-conscious buyers and makes it one of the most compelling EV propositions under $50K.

2025 Geely EX5 Pricing:

• EX5 Complete - $40,990
• EX5 Inspire - $44,990

Note: Prices exclude on-road costs.

Unmistakably Familiar

‍The EX5 is a clean and conventionally handsome SUV that presents itself with a modern silhouette and neatly executed detailing. The front fascia features a sleek, mostly enclosed grille design with integrated LED headlights that provide a sharp, confident look.

Flush-fitting door handles and a continuous rear light bar elevate the visual appeal, lending a premium edge to the design.

However, despite these touches, the overall styling leans heavily on familiar cues seen in other Chinese EVs such as the Leapmotor C10 and even elements reminiscent of European brands like Porsche. This makes the EX5 feel somewhat derivative rather than distinctive. 

While it’s certainly inoffensive and will appeal to a wide market, buyers seeking something visually unique may find it lacks boldness or innovation. Colour options are also limited to fairly muted tones, which doesn't help it stand out on the road. That said, the build quality of the panels and finish appears solid and well-executed.

High-Tech but Flawed

‍The front cabin of the Geely EX5 Inspire is a curious blend of quality and quirks. It immediately feels solid and well-constructed, with soft-touch materials applied to the dash and doors, and a cabin ambience that feels more premium than its price suggests. The midnight blue trim on our test car adds a welcome splash of colour, though lighter interior options are available for those wanting a brighter feel.

The centerpiece is a 15.4-inch infotainment screen that is impressively quick and visually crisp. It controls nearly everything - from air conditioning to drive modes - and supports over-the-air updates. However, the lack of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto at launch remains a glaring omission, especially at a time when even far cheaper models from Chery and MG offer both. Geely promises Apple CarPlay via OTA update by July, but no timeframe exists for Android Auto. Buyers should be wary of relying on future promises.

Another major talking point is the seating. Heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats are standard on the Inspire trim, and the massage function in particular is class-leading - better than offerings in vehicles twice the price. Oddly, the passenger seat gets more adjustable leg support than the driver’s seat, and the lack of seat tilt adjustment for the driver means taller occupants may slide forward during braking.

Storage is well catered for, with a large centre console, open front shelf with USB-A, USB-C, and 12V sockets, and big door bins. However, some of the controls - such as climate toggles - are either buried in menus or duplicated with half-functional touch buttons, making for a frustrating user experience. The oddly shaped steering wheel also houses unlabelled buttons, which impacts ease of use.

Still, for this price bracket, the cabin strikes a compelling balance between quality, innovation, and practicality - even if its tech-first interface comes with a learning curve.

Spacious and Relaxed

‍Back seats in the EX5 are generously proportioned and reclined, creating a lounge-like atmosphere. Despite the sloping roofline, headroom is excellent, and legroom is more than sufficient for adult passengers. The seat comfort remains impressive for longer journeys, even though the upholstery is synthetic.

Rear occupants also benefit from air vents, USB-A and USB-C ports, a centre armrest with cupholders, and large door bins. The panoramic sunroof helps open up the cabin space and adds to the airy, relaxed feeling. While it doesn’t break new ground in rear seat design, the EX5 provides a quiet, well-appointed environment that’s above average for this segment.

Surprising Boot Space

‍Boot space is deceptive. 

While the quoted 302 litres appears underwhelming, removing the false floor reveals an extra 108 litres, making for 410 litres total. 

Drop the second row and you get a class-leading 1877 litres - excellent for its size.

A Little Bit Boring

‍The Geely EX5 is powered by a single electric motor producing 160kW of power and 320Nm of torque, with all drive sent to the front wheels. 

This configuration places it in line with other front-wheel-drive EVs in the segment, although some competitors are now shifting towards rear- or all-wheel-drive setups. The battery is a 60.22kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) unit, supporting both 100kW DC fast charging and 11kW AC charging capability.

Geely claims a 0–100km/h time of 6.9 seconds for the EX5 Complete and 7.1 seconds for the EX5 Inspire, with the latter slightly slower due to added weight from features like the panoramic sunroof and larger wheels. These figures are competitive for a single-motor front-wheel drive EV in this price bracket.

Efficient But Limited

‍The 60.22kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery in the Geely EX5 supports both 100kW DC fast charging and 11kW AC charging, enabling a 30 to 80 percent top-up in around 20 minutes with the right infrastructure. While its size isn't class-leading, Geely has made efforts to keep the EX5's energy consumption competitive.

According to WLTP testing, the EX5 Complete is rated at 15.8kWh/100km, while the heavier Inspire trim comes in slightly higher at 16.6kWh/100km. In real-world testing, we observed approximately 14.5kWh/100km in urban conditions and up to 19kWh/100km on the highway, putting real-world range closer to 350km for the Inspire and marginally higher for the Complete trim.

Claimed WLTP range is 430km for the EX5 Complete and 410km for the EX5 Inspire. These figures are optimistic, but not unrealistic for mixed driving conditions. For most urban buyers, range should be more than adequate for day-to-day use.

Comfortable, Not Engaging

‍On urban roads, the EX5 delivers a largely comfortable ride thanks to Geely’s local suspension tuning - though if I'm being honest, I'm not quite sure how deep that local tuning actually extends. It soaks up bumps and uneven surfaces well, with a compliant damping setup that prioritises everyday comfort. 

However, that same tuning results in a floaty and disconnected feeling when cornering or at higher speeds. Body control is soft, and while that benefits ride quality around town, it undermines composure on twistier roads or when driving with more intent.

Steering is light and precise enough for suburban manoeuvring but lacks meaningful feedback, and under heavy acceleration from a standstill or out of corners, the front-wheel drive layout struggles for grip - particularly on the Complete variant with lower-spec tyres. Torque steer and traction cut-in are evident, making spirited driving less enjoyable.

Geely has made a point of localising the driving experience for Australian roads, and to some extent, that shows. But overall dynamics still fall behind the benchmarks set by rivals like the BYD Sealion 7 and even the MG4, which offer more responsive, engaging steering and better body control.

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) are present but feel unrefined. The lane centring system is overly sensitive, often aggressively adjusting the steering with little warning, and the adaptive cruise control slows down far too early for corners - sometimes alarmingly so. Speed limit recognition and alerts are hit-or-miss, with incorrect warnings cropping up more often than not.

In summary, the EX5 is competent and well-suited to commuting and urban use, but lacks polish and confidence on more demanding roads. Improvements to the calibration of its driver assist tech and drivetrain response could make a meaningful difference to its appeal.

Strong Crash Ratings with Room for Refinement

‍The Geely EX5 has now been officially awarded a five-star ANCAP safety rating following its assessment in March 2025 for Australia and April 2025 for New Zealand. It received high marks in key areas, scoring 86 percent for Adult Occupant Protection and 87 percent for Child Occupant Protection. It also earned full points in side impact and far-side impact testing.

However, it wasn’t flawless. A structural penalty was applied due to a weld detachment around the A-pillar during the frontal offset crash test. Additionally, while the EX5 is fitted with a child presence detection system, it did not meet ANCAP’s criteria for points in that category.

‍

In terms of active safety, the EX5 performed well in crash avoidance, achieving 85 percent in Safety Assist and 83 percent for Vulnerable Road User Protection. Lane support and motorcycle detection were particular strengths.

Standard features include autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, a 360-degree camera, and adaptive cruise control. However, during our testing, we found the adaptive cruise system to be overly cautious and at times inconsistent, particularly around corners. While the rating is strong, refinement in calibration would elevate the safety tech even further.

Good Warranty, Cheap Servicing

‍The EX5 is backed by a confirmed seven-year, unlimited-kilometre vehicle warranty and an eight-year, unlimited-kilometre battery warranty - matching or exceeding industry standards and helping build buyer confidence in the relatively unknown Geely brand.

Geely also offers Assured Service Pricing, ensuring fixed servicing costs for each calendar year. Here is the current scheduled pricing:

• 12 Months / 20,000km - $171.00
• 24 Months / 40,000km - $303.00
• 36 Months / 60,000km - $171.00
• 48 Months / 80,000km - $671.00
• 60 Months / 100,000km - $171.00
• 72 Months / 120,000km - $303.00
• 84 Months / 140,000km - $262.00

Prepaid service plans are also available:

• 3 Years - $517.00 (save $128.00)
• 5 Years - $1,190.00 (save $297.00)
• 7 Years - $1,642.00 (save $410.00)

These prices are among the lowest in the EV segment and reinforce the EX5’s affordability over the ownership lifecycle. However, ongoing concerns remain around the timing and rollout of promised software updates like Android Auto, which buyers should factor into longer-term expectations.

What do you get with the Geely EX5?

EX5 Complete:

• Single electric motor (160kW/320Nm)
• Front-wheel drive configuration
• 60.22kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery
• Claimed range: 430km (WLTP)
• 100kW DC fast charging (30-80% in ~20 minutes)
• 11kW AC charging
• Drive modes: Eco, Normal, Sport
• 18-inch alloy wheels with 225/55 Giti tyres
• Tyre pressure monitoring
• Tyre repair kit
• Automatic LED headlights with active high-beam
• Active front grille shutter
• Roof rails
• Pop-out flush door handles
• Rear privacy glass
• Heated, power-folding exterior mirrors
• Automatic rain-sensing wipers
• Heat pump for efficient climate control
• Vehicle-to-load (V2L) power outlet support
• Keyless entry and push-button start
• 10.2-inch digital instrument display
• 15.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system with satellite navigation and digital radio
• 6-speaker sound system
• Over-the-air (OTA) updates and Geely App Store
• Online streaming and remote vehicle access
• Voice assistant and 4G network capability
• 6-way power driver's seat (fully reclining)
• 4-way power front passenger seat (fully reclining)
• Heated front seats with memory for driver
• Tilt and telescopic steering wheel
• Flat-folding, reclining second row seats
• Second-row under-seat storage drawer
• Customisable drive modes
• Safety: 7 airbags, surround-view monitor, rear parking sensors, AEB, front/rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise, lane-keep assist, blind-spot detection, traffic sign info, door-open warning, driver fatigue monitor, hill descent control

EX5 Inspire adds:

• 19-inch alloy wheels with 235/50 Goodyear tyres
• Power tailgate with hands-free access
• Front parking sensors
• 13.4-inch colour head-up display (HUD)
• Panoramic sunroof with powered sunshade
• Ventilated and massaging front seats (6 modes)
• Power leg rest for front passenger
• Driver’s seat and mirror memory system
• 16-speaker 1000W premium sound system
• Full-cabin 256-colour ambient lighting

Final thoughts on the Geely EX5

‍The Geely EX5 manages to strike a compelling balance between affordability and premium features, offering a package that feels ambitious for its price point. With inclusions like massaging front seats, a panoramic sunroof, and an outstanding 16-speaker audio system, it delivers a genuinely high-end experience in areas that matter most to everyday users.

Its cabin is well-built and packed with technology, even if some of that tech requires refinement or is still pending software updates. The rear seat comfort and boot space also make it a practical family option, while servicing costs and warranty coverage are among the best in the EV space.

There are weaknesses, namely in its front-wheel drive dynamics and reliance on a screen-heavy interface, but for buyers prioritising value, comfort, and tech over outright performance or badge prestige, the EX5 Inspire stands out as one of the most complete EV propositions under $50K in Australia. Provided Geely can follow through on its promised updates, this is a very strong debut.