Geely EX2 Review: Is This £21k EV Good Enough to Beat the Competition?

Small EVs are becoming increasingly popular in the UK market, and Geely has joined the party with the EX2. John Marcar has spent a day with the new model to see how it compares with the competition.

When EVs first arrived en masse in the UK market, they shared a common theme. They were huge, heavy, and almost exclusively all SUVs. Since then, we've seen the trends change, with more and more manufacturers producing smaller compact EVs that resemble the familiar and popular hatchback form that's been a popular choice for car buyers for generations.

Who is Geely?

Chances are, you'll be familiar with the Geely brand in at least one capacity. As a company, Geely has been making cars in China since 1998. Beyond cars, the Geely brand and its parent company, Geely Holdings, have been involved in everything from microchips to light aircraft and even satellites. The Geely name shot to fame in the UK automotive industry when Geely Holdings took on Volvo and Lotus, adding the brands to its international ownership portfolio alongside Polestar, Smart, Proton, Farizon, and LEVC. Under its subbrand Geely Automotive, it makes its own cars as Geely Auto, Lynk&Co, and Zeekr.

Geely's Small EV

Geely has joined the small EV party with the EX2. The EX2 has been a popular car in China since October 2024, with impressive sales figures. The model has achieved 460,000 sales in China alone, and the European specification has now arrived in UK showrooms, with hopes that its popularity will continue here.

Hot Competition

Geely's big challenge is competition. Renault has the 4 and 5, Fiat has the Panda, Mini has the Cooper and VW is about to launch the ID POLO. All of these cars have a huge advantage over Geely: brand heritage. They're electric versions of hatchbacks that have been popular for many years, making the 'sell' to customers a far easier proposition.

But other relative newbies on the market also offer a similar package to Geely with arguably greater appeal. Kia has just launched the EV2, Hyundai has the Inster, BYD has the Dolphin Surf, and CUPRA has the achingly cool Raval.

With competition this vast, the Geely EX2 needs to be especially impressive.

EX2 Size and Space

The EX2 is the epitome of a B-segment hatchback. It's 1.8 metres wide and 4.1 metres long, but the Geely designers and engineers have been very clever with the interior space. In both the front and back seats, the space is generous enough to comfortably accommodate taller drivers and passengers, while also offering an impressive 375 litres of boot space that expands to 1,320 litres with the rear seats folded flat.

Prices and Specifications

The EX2 is clearly trying to get in the fold with the B-segment electric competition and has priced itself accordingly. The model is available in three trim levels: Pro (35kWh battery) £20,990, Max (47kWh battery) £23,490 and Ultra (47kWh battery + more spec) £25,490.

In the ULTRA spec, the EX2 undercuts most of the competition, including the Renault 5 by a few hundred pounds, and is likely to prove especially popular with pay-monthly customers. With a £2000 deposit, buyers can take an EX2 out of the showroom for as little as £299 per month on a 49-month contract.

WLTP Range and Charging times

The two batteries on offer reward either 156 miles or 214 miles of range, respectively and both models can charge at up to 160kW, delivering a 10-80% charge in as little as 25 minutes.

What's it like to Drive?

The EX2 feels fairly typical compared to other Chinese EVs. Seat comfort and adjustability clearly aren't yet high on the list of priorities for Chinese car makers. While it wouldn't be fair to call the EX2's front seats bad, they're absolutely not the best in the segment either. The seat base angle isn't adjustable, and the passenger seat sits unusually high with no way to lower it. If, like me, you're over 6 feet tall, you'll feel like you're looking down on the dashboard whilst being alarmingly close to the roof.

Elsewhere, the interior feels fine for the money; the materials used are of good quality; the 14-inch touchscreen infotainment system is very good; and the 8-inch instrument cluster ahead of the steering wheel looks smart and offers more information than most people will need.

Ride comfort and steering

The EX2 drives and steers like many of its Chinese competitors. It's fine, not award-winning, but fine. The suspension can feel a little oversprung and bouncy on bumpy roads, and the steering is extremely light in comfort mode, which can lead to an occasional lack of feel. The EX2 isn't for the hot-hatch buyer, so for many, the ride will be fine. The brand's concern, though, should be the competition, as the ride quality in competitors like the Renault 5 is notably better.

Cabin Experience and Noise

The EX2's cabin insulation is excellent, with minimal wind noise or road rumble. This is an area where Geely beats much of the competition, and buyers who test-drive lots of similar cars will likely notice the same. The rear seats are also worth a compliment, not only for the space they offer but also for being noticeably more comfortable than most back seats in the segment.

Driver aids and Tech

Some technological elements of the EX2 feel unnecessary in places and a little behind the competition. The intelligent cruise control can be a little overcautious, causing the car to brake unnecessarily when passing stationary vehicles in an adjacent lane, and the lane assist system can feel vague if the driving lane is particularly wide. It does, however, work very well in stop-and-go traffic.

The instrument cluster ahead of the steering wheel is trying to do a little too much, with a Tesla-style vehicle radar display taking priority in screen space over the speedometer. The radar display system in any car is unnecessary, in my opinion, but when it's as clunky and easily confused as it is in the Geely, it feels especially pointless.

The ADAS system can be a little invasive and, at the time of launch, doesn't quite do as it's told concerning warnings and alerts. I went to the effort of turning off speed alert warnings only to find that the alerts continued. I'm sure this will be resolved with time and software updates.

Sensible Power

Elsewhere, in terms of driving experience, there is very little to moan about considering the car's design brief and use case. The power produced by both battery variants is best described as sensible, with many of the competition offering unnecessary levels of power and 0-62mph sprint times. The EX2 in Pro trim offers 82hp and in Ultra the number jumps up to 116. Both models have equal torque at 150Nm, with 0-62mph times of 14.2 and 11.5 seconds, respectively.

While some might moan that the EX2 is underpowered, I'd say it's perfect power for a small EV, and I didn't feel the car was underpowered in any environment.

Conclusion: Should you buy one?

The EX2 is a good little car offered at an enticing price point and for most, it will be all the car anyone needs. Where it's likely to lose out, though, is against the increasingly great competition on offer.

If the Geely EX2 was £1000 cheaper, I'd go so far as to say it's worth a shot, but it's not. Most people considering the EX2 will also be looking at models from Renault, Kia, VW, Skoda and Nissan, and the truth is, all of the aforementioned equivalents are marginally all-round better options in terms of true value for money. That said, there is plenty to like about the EX2. It’s by no means leagues below the competitors, and for many, it will tick all the right boxes. But will it be as popular here in the UK as it has been in China? Only time will tell.

words by John Marcar
photography by Geely Auto