Geely EX2 review: Affordable EV supermini wins the space race

We get behind the wheel of the supermini that’s set to shake up the small EV market

The Geely EX2 may be the biggest-selling car in China, but can it repeat its success in the UK?

One thing’s for sure, with its low starting price of just £20,990, this dinky, all-electric hatchback deserves some serious consideration.

Because let’s face it, the higher upfront cost of an EV compared to an ICE (internal combustion engine) car is one of the main reasons electric vehicle sales have struggled to compete with petrol and diesels.

A little larger than a Vauxhall Corsa or Volkswagen Polo, the generously equipped five-seat EX2 looks cute, and yet it’s surprisingly spacious inside.

Offered with two battery options, there’s an entry-level 35kWh battery paired with a 80bhp electric motor, delivering a claimed range of 155 miles. Or a larger 47kWh battery (113bhp e-motor) which is good for 214 miles.

Inside, there’s impressive space for six-foot-plus occupants up front and behind, while luggage capacity is a healthy 375 litres, expanding to 1,320 litres by lowering the 60:40 split-folding rear seats.

Additionally, beneath the bonnet is a 70-litre ‘frunk’, while Geely says there are a further 36 storage compartments available throughout the cabin, including a 10-litre capacity pull-out drawer in place of a traditional glovebox.

Overall, the EX2 feels solid and build quality is good. And while the interior is not endowed with many soft surfaces, it doesn’t feel cheap and nasty either.

As well as a generous standard list of equipment, it also comes with a full suite of safety tech and driver assistance aids.

The large 14.6-inch central touchscreen offers access to most of the car’s essentials, and even though you can set shortcuts to turn off some of the irritating driver assistance features such as distraction alerts, there is a fair amount of prodding and swiping involved.

Thankfully there are a few physical buttons below for climate control.

A smaller 8.8-inch digital screen ahead of the driver displays important driving data, such as range and speed, but the font is small and the background too light.

The seats are comfortable enough, though it seemed a bit mean that the passenger seat doesn’t adjust for height. Then there’s my usual EV whinge that I would prefer the option to have a lower setting on the driver’s seat.

On the road, first impressions are good. The Geely EX2 is refined and nippy, rather than fast.

The smaller 35kWh battery model takes 14.2 seconds to reach 62mph, while the 47kWh battery with the bigger e-motor (the spec I tested) is a little quicker (11.5secs).

So, Geely has sacrificed performance for efficiency, but when you consider the car’s natural urban environment, it makes absolute sense.

With its good all-round visibility, a rear-view camera, sensors and tight turning circle, the EX2 is a doddle to drive in the city.

For the most part, the ride is comfortable, and it’s only on really poor roads that the suspension feels less sophisticated.

Unusually for a small EV, it’s rear-wheel drive, and though I only tested the car in the dry, grips seemed good on loose surfaces.

Push it in faster corners and there’s some body roll, but it’s well controlled and the brakes are responsive.

Ultimately, it feels composed on the road and it manages to hold its own on the motorway too.

The Geely EX2 features four drive modes: Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Snow. Sport livens up the throttle response a little, but as ever, Comfort will do just fine.

To help with efficiency, there are three levels of regenerative braking and an auto mode, though no setting for ‘one-pedal’ driving or paddles behind on the steering wheel to make adjustments.

With either battery, a 30-80% charge from a suitably powerful DC public charger can take as little as 25 minutes, while the 47kWh battery has a higher 80kW charging speed.

Otherwise, a 0-100% home charge will take around seven hours.

During my road test, I managed close on 4 miles/kWh, which is pretty good. I’d estimate the real-world range is a little short of the claimed 215 miles and closer to 180. That said, if driven in the city mostly, 200-plus miles could be achievable.

The EX2’s increasing number of rivals includes the Kia EV2, Renault 5, Honda Super N, Hyundai Inster and, shortly, various Volkswagen Group models, such as the VW ID.Polo.

Verdict: There’s a lot to like about the cute Geely EX2. Not only is it affordable, surprisingly spacious, safe, generously equipped, nimble and easy to drive, but it also offers peace of mind with a superb eight-year/125,000-mile warranty.

Review in association with AutomotiveBlog