Overview

It was my eight-year-old son who probably summed up the Geely EX5 best. He said it's "too safe to drive".

What he meant was that it bings and bongs at you if it thinks you're doing anything remotely risky – like yawning, or doing 28mph in a 12mph limit. There are, of course, no 12mph limits in the UK, but the EX5 was convinced there were during the week I had it, and it felt the need to tell me. On repeat.

If the name doesn't ring a bell, the company behind it should. Geely owns a vast portfolio of car brands including Volvo, Polestar, Lotus and Smart. The EX5 is Geely Auto's first model for the UK, offered in SE, Pro and Max trims and priced from £31,990, with the top-spec Max we tested only £5,000 more.

That's strong value for an electric family SUV of this size, and the EX5 has plenty going for it. But with that pedigree behind it, I was hoping for a better first impression.

Driving

First things first: before you set off, you'll want to turn everything off. The EX5 will regularly slam on the brakes if there's a car parked on your side of the road and you don't leave half a mile to get round it. Its warnings for speed limits, attention and the like are so frequent that they become a distraction in themselves. Yes, you can switch most of them off – but they're all back on again the next time you start the car.

Once you've silenced it, the EX5 is a pleasant thing to drive. Geely's '11-in-1' drive unit combines the front-mounted motor with the transmission, inverter, battery management, on-board charger and thermal management in one compact module weighing just 79.8kg – one of the lightest in its class.

In Max trim it produces 215bhp and 236lb-ft of torque, enough for 0-62mph in 6.9 seconds. That's not quick, not slow, and there are three driving modes to choose from: Eco, Normal and Sport.

Geely claims its traction control system is fast-acting and can cut wheel slip by as much as 50 per cent compared with rivals' systems. That surprised me, because traction is one of the car's biggest downfalls. Accelerate hard – particularly in the damp or when driving with some enthusiasm – and the EX5 torque steers while the front tyres struggle for grip.

The ride is much better. Geely turned to Lotus to tune the springs, dampers and anti-roll bars of the MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension for UK roads. For the most part it feels composed, predictable and comfortable, whether you're on a potholed B-road or cruising the motorway, and there's little wind or road noise.

It isn't the sportiest or most dynamic family SUV, though. Attack a B-road with any gusto and the kids get thrown from side to side by the pronounced body roll, while the steering lacks feedback and engagement. As an everyday car, however, it's quiet and very easy to drive.

Range and running costs

The EX5 uses a 60kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, which Geely says is good for up to 267 miles on the WLTP combined cycle. Over our week with the car we saw between 220 and 235 miles – more than enough for most families.

It can charge at up to 160kW, which means a 30-80 per cent top-up takes around 20 minutes on a suitably rapid charger. An 11kW on-board AC charger comes as standard, so owners with an 11kW wallbox can charge faster than with the more common 7kW unit; a full charge at 11kW takes roughly six and a half hours. A heat pump is standard too, which helps protect range in cold weather.

The EX5 also has vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability: 3.3kW from a socket inside the car, so you could run a camping stove, and 6kW from the charging port, enough to give a fellow Geely owner a top-up on the campsite.

Running costs are sweetened by the ownership package. You get four years' roadside assistance and a service at two years, plus a choice of a reduced-cost home wallbox through Andersen EV or £1,000 of public charging credit via Octopus Electroverse. The vehicle and battery are both covered by an eight-year, 125,000-mile warranty.

Design

The styling is, frankly, a bit forgettable. Short overhangs, an SUV stance, a gently sloping roofline, flush door handles, a full-width rear LED light bar and a grille-less front – we've seen it all before. Geely says the design is inspired by Song-dynasty porcelain, but I'm not seeing it. It's fine if you like safe and generic, and design is a personal thing, but the EX5 fails to stand out among its rivals. There are five colours to choose from, including a green on our test car that reminded me of a Peugeot 406 estate my dad once rented in Scotland – the one that ran on fumes for 50-odd miles while we hunted for a petrol station.

Inside, it's bright, airy and impressively well finished for the price, with plenty of soft-touch surfaces and sustainable materials that feel good quality. A 256-colour ambient lighting system adds some theatre, and the Max gets a panoramic sunroof. You can choose between white and blue upholstery; personally, I'd never go for white – kids or no kids, it's a bit too eighties – which leaves me with blue.

Comfort and practicality

The EX5 sits on Geely's GEA platform, which pushes the wheels out to the corners and frees up room for the battery under the floor. The result is that, despite its compact SUV footprint, it offers as much occupant space as a midsize SUV, with ample leg and headroom for five adults.

Seat comfort is a highlight. SE and Pro trims get fully flat-folding front seats for both driver and passenger; in the Max only the driver's seat does this, so only one of you gets to go car camping. In return, Max buyers get memory foam seats with six massage functions, plus heating and ventilation – you could save on your annual masseur bill.

As a family car it's very practical, with 33 storage compartments and a 461-litre, three-layer boot that includes a 14-litre drawer under the rear seats. The powered tailgate has five height settings to suit parents of all sizes, and the 1.1-metre-wide opening swallows the family suitcase with ease – or a giant forest hog. I've transported pigs in the past, so believe me, that's useful.

The 15.5-inch infotainment touchscreen is easy to use, super-responsive and intuitive, with graphics so crisp they're almost a distraction at night. Key driving information appears on a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster, and the Max adds a head-up display. An AI voice assistant understands more than 200 commands, controlling the climate, navigation, media and even the sunroof.

Online navigation is standard, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were promised via an over-the-air update. There's a 15W wireless phone charger that reminds you if you've left your phone behind – I wonder if it does the same for the kids – and apps including Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music and TuneIn. Max models also get a 1,000W Flyme Sound system with 16 speakers, including headrest-mounted drivers for private listening, and sound modes from Opera Hall to Studio.

Safety is comprehensive, with seven airbags, a full suite of (noisy) driver assistance systems and a five-star Euro NCAP rating.

Verdict

The launch of Geely Auto UK is a landmark moment for the brand, and the EX5 does enough for what it is. It's compact yet spacious, packed with tech and offers everyday practicality at a reasonable price.

Add the generous ownership package and eight-year warranty, and the EX5 could make the switch to electric genuinely attainable for families who don't know or care what a 'dynamic' car is – or who have something fruitier on the drive for weekends.

Just as long as they don't mind a car that's the automotive equivalent of a child shouting "Mummy, mummy, mummy" on repeat, or my 19-year-old cat that won't stop meowing. Come to think of it, the EX5 would fit right into my family life. Which may be why my son's follow-up verdict was that it's "too musical".

Key Specs

Geely EX5

Price (RRP OTR): From £31,990 (SE), £36,990 (Max)
Top speed: 109mph
0-62mph: 6.9 seconds
Power: 160kW (215bhp)
Torque: 236lb-ft
Driving range (combined): Up to 267 miles
Charging time: Approx 6.5 hrs (11kW, 0-100%), 20 min (160kW, 30-80%)
Insurance group: 35–36
Vehicle warranty: 8 years / 125,000 miles
Battery warranty: 8 years / 125,000 miles