There’s a budget EV battle brewing, and all of the players are from China. The latest, though? It has some serious pedigree.
The Geely EX2 was the best-selling new car in China in 2025. We’re talking 465,775 sales, or more than double what Toyota sold in Australia in a full year across all of its models.
It’s no surprise, then, that the Geely EX2 will have high volume expectations placed upon it when it launches in a few months in Australia, and it will also need a sharp price to attract EV-curious urban car customers.
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In this part of the market there are some headline grabbers like the BYD Atto 1, which kicks off from about $28K drive-away for the small battery version, while the MG 4 EV Urban starts off at $31,990 drive-away with more range and a bigger body, and the GAC Aion UT was initially offered from $30,990 drive-away with 430km of EV range and more space than a Corolla.
Based on what I’ve seen of the Geely EX2 at a preview drive in China, it has a real chance of being a go-to budget EV – if the price is right.
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The brand’s reps wouldn’t confirm the pricing ahead of its launch Down Under, but the smart money is on it costing less than $30,000 drive-away, and there could be two models offered.
The more affordable version may come with a 30.1kWh LFP battery offering up 310km on the lenient CLTC protocol, while a pricier variant is expected to host a 40.2kWh LFP battery with 395km (NEDC) range.
You can expect a maximum AC recharging speed of 6.6kW, and DC charging at 70kW, meaning a 30-80 per cent recharge should take about 21 mins at a public station.
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In China there’s a difference between the grunt numbers, too, as the bigger battery model is about 60kg heavier. The smaller battery version is said to have 58kW/130Nm, while the longer-range model has 85kW/150Nm.
It’s no powerhouse, but it is rear-wheel drive, and that gives it a different dynamic to some of its rivals.
There’s no denying that it has a balanced driveability to its behaviour, as I found out on a gymkhana course in a car park in Hangzhou.
It felt smooth enough in terms of the power-down, steering and ride comfort, and unlike some of the petrol and hybrid city cars it competes with, like a Mazda 2 or Toyota Yaris, this is no buzz box.
It’s relatively quiet despite some tyre roar, and the tyres felt like the main shortcoming from the driving perspective, too.
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What impresses me about the EX2 most, though, is the cabin finish.
It’s available with a Hollywood Smile white interior, with fake leather trimming that feels soft and comfy. The driver’s seat is electrically adjustable, the passenger gets manual adjustment, but there’s a great array of tech.
A wireless phone charger as well as wireless smartphone mirroring tech with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto mean there’s no need for messy cables, and while I had no time to learn the 14.6-inch touchscreen menus, it is the same as we’ve seen in the larger Geely EX5 SUV.
That centre screen includes a surround-view camera system, which is ideal for a city car like this, and there’s an 8.8-inch digital cluster for driver info, not to mention loads of loose item storage in the front cabin area.
The packaging is brilliant, too. It measures 4135mm long, so in between a Yaris and Corolla hatch, with a decent 2650mm wheelbase allowing great interior space. At 1805mm wide it feels planted on the road, and while it’s not boxy, the body height is 1580mm and means there’s loads of interior headroom.
As a rear-seat rider, I had heaps of leg, head and shoulder space despite being 182cm and broad. Better still, there are good storage inclusions like map pockets, bottle holders, and a hidden storage box under the back seat. Handy!
The boot is brilliant, with 375 litres of space and a split-fold rear seat to allow more stowage if needed. There is no sub-floor section, and no spare wheel, but there’s a handy 70-litre front boot under the bonnet.
There’s a lot more to learn about the Geely EX2 in terms of pricing and promises, but you can expect it to mirror the brand’s existing EV ownership plan, which comprises a seven-year/unlimited kilometre warranty for the car, eight years/160,000km for the battery, and service intervals set at 12 months/20,000km for seven years/140,000km. Roadside assist will top up annually if you service with Geely, too.
This one is shaping up as a vital volume player for the brand.
I can’t wait to see what it’s like on Aussie roads.
Geely EX2
PRICE: TBC for Australia, expect sub-$30,000 drive-away
POWERTRAIN: Electric motors, single-speed transmission, RWD
POWER: 58kW/130Nm or 85kW/150Nm
BATTERY: 30.1kWH LFP or 40.2kWh LFP
RANGE: 310km (CLTC) or 395km (NEDC)
BOOT SPACE: 370 litres, plus 70L front trunk
SPARE: None
