Geely EX5 Lands in the UK: Specs, Price & Rivervale Preview
When Marketing Manager Ben Freakley slipped through the doors of a hush-hush preview event earlier this year, he became one of the first people in Britain to sit inside the pre-production Geely EX5, weeks before the car appeared on the LEVC stand at Company Car in Action in June – months before its public debut, scheduled for October 2025.
Geely: a “new” badge backed by household names
Despite the fresh script on the tailgate, Geely is anything but a start-up. The Zhejiang-based group owns or co-owns:
- Volvo Cars, Polestar and Lotus – the brands that put it on Europe’s radar when Volvo was purchased from Ford in 2010
- LEVC, builder of the London black cab, produced in Coventry
- Smart (50 % stake, with Mercedes-Benz)
- Farizon, its fast-growing commercial-vehicle arm now preparing the electric Super Van to square up to Maxus and Ford
Add in minority holdings in Mercedes-Benz Group and a sibling roster that includes Zeekr, Lynk & Co and Proton, and it’s clear Geely arrives with serious firepower – plus a UK R&D foothold via Lotus Engineering in Norfolk.
Meet the EX5: the first “pure” Geely in the UK
| Key facts (UK-spec prototype) | Figure / feature |
|---|---|
| Battery (usable) | 60.2 kWh LFP |
| WLTP range (est.) | ≈ 267 miles |
| Motor / drive | 160 kW (215 bhp), FWD |
| 0-62 mph | 6.9 s |
| DC charging | 30–80 % in ~20 min @ 100 kW |
| Launch pricing (indic.) | c. £35,000 |
A spacious, family-friendly cabin
- A flat floor and near-lounge-like rear bench give genuine adult-friendly leg-room – more generous than a Tesla Model Y.
- Kids will love the hidden drawer under the middle rear seat – ideal for stashing sweets or travel games on a long haul.
- Up front, the driver faces a 10.2-inch digital cluster and 15.4-inch central touchscreen, with most functions handled through Geely’s Flyme OS. A head-up display and seat massage appear on the top Inspire trim.
- Materials feel a step above mainstream: padded dash, faux-leather “GeeLuxe” seats and tasteful wood-grain panels, yet the target price sits tens of thousands below premium rivals.
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Engineered for British roads
Before sign-off, Lotus Engineering has been fettling chassis tune and steering feel to match our bumpier B-roads. The result should be a ride-comfort bias (good news for families) without the floatiness some early Chinese EVs displayed.
Where does the EX5 sit in the market?
Think of it as a size-for-size alternative to:
- BMW iX3 (from £63k)
- Skoda Enyaq (from £39k)
- Tesla Model Y (from £45k)
- Peugeot E-3008 (from £37k)
On paper, the Geely matches the segment on range and performance, but undercuts many on price and throws in big-car kit – HUD, V2L, seat massage – that’s costly or absent elsewhere.
Rivervale insider’s first impressions
Ben’s verdict from the secret preview?
“The EX5 feels like it’s been specced by someone who actually does the school run – lots of cubbies, tech the kids will brag about, and a premium vibe without premium-badge anxiety. If Geely can nail the price they hinted at, this could be the sleeper hit of 2025.”
We’ll reserve final judgement until we drive a production UK car later this year – but the early signs are very, very promising.
Stay tuned to the Rivervale blog and socials; as soon as finance rates and delivery slots are confirmed, you’ll read it here first.
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