Overview

Until fairly recently, most UK drivers probably hadn’t heard of Geely. But this is no small player. The Chinese giant is the parent company behind Volvo, Polestar and Lotus, and the EX2 – sold as the Xingyuan in its home market – has already been a serious hit in China.

Now it’s arrived in the UK as Geely’s third model here, and the headline figure is hard to ignore: £20,990. That’s an electric car with a genuinely decent amount of kit for less than £21,000.

There are three versions to choose from. The Pro starts at £20,990, the Max costs £23,490 and the range-topping Ultra is £25,490. Crucially, the entry-level car doesn’t feel like it’s been stripped back just to hit a headline price.

Even the Pro gets synthetic leather upholstery, electrically adjustable front seats, a 14.6-inch central touchscreen, an 8.8-inch driver’s display, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, keyless entry and start, LED daytime running lights and vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability. So the question is less “what have they left out?” and more “how much more do I actually need?”

Safety kit is generous too. Every EX2 gets seven airbags, adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert and driver monitoring. One caveat, though: at the time of writing, the EX2 is yet to receive a Euro NCAP safety rating.

It joins a crowded and fiercely competitive corner of the market, lining up against the Renault 5, Citroën ë-C3, Fiat Grande Panda Electric, MG4 Urban and Volkswagen ID. Polo.

Driving

The EX2 is rear-wheel drive, which sounds promising on paper. But don’t buy one expecting it to transform into a pint-sized BMW. It isn’t trying to be entertaining; it’s trying to be easy-going and comfortable.

It’s no hot hatch, either. The entry-level Pro uses a 60kW (80bhp) motor and takes 14.2 seconds to reach 62mph, while the Max and Ultra get an 85kW (114bhp) motor that trims that to 11.5 seconds. Every version tops out at 81mph.

Where the EX2 really shines is around town and in the suburbs. The steering is light, the turning circle is brilliantly tight and there’s more than enough performance for everyday driving. For a small EV built mainly for commuting, shopping trips and school runs, you genuinely don’t need any more.

Our biggest gripe is with the driver-assistance systems. They’re intrusive, they chime in far too often and they’re difficult to disable – easily one of the car’s biggest weaknesses. Hopefully Geely can refine them through over-the-air software updates.

Range and running costs

The entry-level Pro makes do with a battery of around 35kWh, good for an official WLTP range of up to 155 miles. That’s poor by today’s standards, but it’ll be plenty for many buyers – according to YouGov, a lot of small hatchback owners cover just 10 to 20 miles a week.

Step up to the Max or Ultra and you get a larger 47kWh battery, which pushes the official range to 214 miles. Motoring journalists who’ve spent longer behind the wheel report around 200 miles in real-world driving, which is a very respectable result.

Charging is reasonably competitive rather than class-leading. The larger-battery cars accept up to 80kW DC rapid charging, which takes around 25 minutes to go from 30 to 80 per cent, while the smaller-battery Pro is limited to a lower peak rate. A 6.6kW onboard AC charger means a full top-up from a home wallbox takes roughly six to seven hours – ideal for charging overnight on a cheap EV tariff.

Design

The EX2 has a cute, bubbly look that’s friendly rather than aggressive. Up front there’s feather-inspired LED lighting and a smile-like bonnet line, while semi-concealed door handles keep the flanks clean and 16-inch cloverleaf-style wheels add a playful touch. Ultra models can be specified with two-tone paint. The Renault 5 arguably still has the edge for kerb appeal, but the Geely has a charm all of its own.

Inside, nobody will mistake the EX2 for a luxury car, and some of the materials feel distinctly budget. Still, the layout is clean and modern, dominated by that enormous 14.6-inch touchscreen with a slim 8.8-inch display ahead of the driver. Synthetic leather comes as standard, the Ultra adds ambient lighting, and if you fancy something brighter you can pay £200 for a white interior.

Comfort and practicality

This is where the EX2 really surprises. Geely calls it a compact hatchback, but it’s like a Tardis inside. Even at almost six feet tall, there’s an abundance of head and legroom in the back – far more than you’d expect from a car with this footprint. The electrically adjustable front seats are comfortable too, and Ultra buyers get heated front seats and a heated steering wheel for chilly mornings.

The boot measures 375 litres with the rear seats up, putting it roughly in Volkswagen Golf territory, and that grows to 1,320 litres with them folded. There’s also a 70-litre frunk under the bonnet, perfect for stashing charging cables. Geely claims there are 36 storage spaces dotted around the cabin, including a 10-litre drawer-style glovebox, and you can add an optional 28-litre storage box under the rear seats.

The 14.6-inch touchscreen is big, bright and responsive enough, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, which is just as well because the native infotainment isn’t the most intuitive. The Ultra adds wireless fast phone charging, a six-speaker Flyme audio system, a powered tailgate and a 360-degree camera with a transparent-chassis view – brilliant when you’re squeezing into a tight parking space.

Verdict

Should you be interested in the Geely EX2? We think the answer is a resounding yes. Not because it’s the most exciting EV we’ve driven – it isn’t – and not because it has class-leading charging, because it doesn’t.

Its appeal is much simpler: it’s a lot of car for the money. The Renault 5 has the edge for style and driving character, but the EX2 fights back with space, equipment and price. The £23,490 Max is the sweet spot, giving you the bigger battery and 214-mile range without stretching to Ultra money.

If you’re after maximum practicality per pound, the EX2 makes a very compelling case. Affordable EVs are about to become a very big deal, and this could be Geely’s most important UK model yet. If you’re shopping for a small electric car in 2026, it absolutely deserves a place on your shortlist.

Key Specs

Geely EX2

Price (RRP OTR): From £20,990 (Pro), £23,490 (Max), £25,490 (Ultra)
Top speed: 81mph
0-62mph: 14.2 seconds (Pro), 11.5 seconds (Max/Ultra)
Power: 60kW (80bhp) Pro, 85kW (114bhp) Max/Ultra
Torque: 96lb-ft (Pro), 111lb-ft (Max/Ultra)
Driving range (combined): 155 miles (Pro), 214 miles (Max/Ultra)
Charging time: approx. 6–7hrs (6.6kW, 0–100%), 25min (80kW, 30–80%, Max/Ultra)
Insurance group: 14–19
Vehicle warranty: 6 years / 93,750 miles
Battery warranty: 8 years / 124,000 miles