Geely’s New Flagship Electric SUV Has 280 Miles Of Range And Costs Less Than A Base Model Tesla

Geely has quietly added a new range-topping variant to its EX5 electric SUV line-up, and the specification sheet reads like it belongs on a car costing tens of thousands more. The EX5 Ultra arrives in UK dealerships from 5 May 2026 priced at £38,990, bringing a bigger battery, 280 miles of WLTP range, towing capability for the first time in the range, and a level of standard equipment that will make uncomfortable reading for established rivals.

The EX5 range starts at £31,990 for the entry-level SE. Even at that price, it comes with a 15.4-inch central infotainment screen, a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster, surround view camera, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a full suite of advanced driver assistance systems. The Ultra adds a 13.8-inch heads-up display, a 16-speaker FlyMe sound system, panoramic sunroof, power tailgate, and front seats with both ventilation and massage. For context, ventilated and massage seats are typically a premium option on German electric SUVs that start north of £55,000.

The Battery And Range

At the core of the Ultra is a 68.39 kWh battery delivering up to 280 miles on the WLTP cycle. That is a meaningful step up from the standard EX5 variants and places the Ultra comfortably within the range that most UK drivers need for daily use with weekend trips included.

Michael Yang, Managing Director of Geely Auto UK, acknowledged the engineering trade-off involved in fitting a larger battery. “We also recognise that a larger battery brings additional weight and higher energy consumption, so we have carefully struck a balance between battery weight and range enhancement,” he said. “And as with the rest of the Geely EX5 range, both the battery and the vehicle are covered by an 8-year warranty, giving our customers added peace of mind.”

That eight-year warranty on both the battery and the vehicle is worth highlighting. It matches or exceeds the cover offered by most mainstream manufacturers and removes one of the lingering anxieties that still holds some buyers back from committing to an electric car. If the battery degrades beyond acceptable limits within eight years, Geely covers it. That is a straightforward commitment that costs the buyer nothing extra.

The Ultra produces 320 Nm of torque and covers 0 to 62 mph in 7.6 seconds. Those are not performance car figures, but they are more than adequate for a family SUV and broadly in line with what a mid-range petrol crossover delivers. The driving experience is built on Geely’s Global Electric Architecture, which is shared across the brand’s wider electric vehicle range and provides the smooth, linear power delivery that most drivers expect from a modern EV.

Towing For The First Time

The most significant functional upgrade is the addition of a 750 kg braked towing capacity, supported by Trailer Stability Assist. This is the first time any variant in the EX5 range has offered towing capability, and it opens the car up to a range of uses that were previously off the table.

At 750 kg, the Ultra will not tow a large caravan or a heavy boat trailer. But it will comfortably handle a small camping trailer, a flatbed with garden equipment, a lightweight horse trailer for a single pony, or a bike rack trailer loaded with the family’s cycling gear. For buyers whose lifestyle involves occasional light towing, this turns the EX5 from a car they would have to rule out into one that stays on the shortlist.

Trailer Stability Assist monitors the trailer’s behaviour through sensors and automatically applies corrective braking if it detects the onset of snaking or instability. It is the kind of system that works invisibly in the background and that most drivers will never notice, which is exactly the point.

The Home Charger Deal

Geely is continuing its launch partnership with Andersen EV, offering all EX5 buyers a dual-branded Andersen 7 kW smart home charger with professional installation for £499. The charger has a retail value of £1,499, making the saving a genuine £1,000 rather than an inflated discount off a notional price.

A 7 kW home charger on a typical overnight charge will add roughly 30 miles of range per hour, which means the Ultra’s 68.39 kWh battery can be fully replenished from empty in around ten hours. Plug in at ten in the evening and the car is fully charged by breakfast. For the vast majority of drivers who charge at home overnight, this removes the need to visit public chargers for routine daily use entirely.

The Andersen charger is a smart unit, meaning it can be scheduled to charge during off-peak electricity tariff hours, further reducing running costs. Given that home electricity on an overnight tariff typically costs between 7p and 10p per kWh, a full charge of the Ultra’s battery would cost somewhere between £4.79 and £6.84, delivering 280 miles of driving. The equivalent cost in petrol for a comparable crossover covering the same distance would be closer to £45 to £50 at current pump prices.

How It Compares On Price

The value proposition is difficult to argue with. At £38,990 for the Ultra, Geely is undercutting the starting price of a Tesla Model Y, which currently opens at over £42,000 in the UK. The base EX5 SE at £31,990 sits below virtually every comparable electric SUV on the market.

Against the updated Audi Q4 e-tron, which starts at £46,260, or the Volkswagen ID.4, the Geely comes in thousands less while offering standard equipment that those cars charge extra for. A heads-up display, panoramic sunroof, and massage seats are either optional or unavailable on many competitors at this price point. The Geely includes them all as standard on the Ultra.

The obvious question is whether a relatively unfamiliar Chinese brand can match the build quality, ownership experience, and residual values of established European manufacturers. That remains to be seen over time. But the eight-year warranty, the growing UK dealer network, and the backing of Geely’s parent group, which also owns Volvo and Polestar, provide a level of reassurance that purely unknown brands cannot offer.

What Else Is New

The Ultra also introduces a new exterior colour, Rainforest Green, to the EX5 palette. It joins the existing options and gives the range a more distinctive presence on the road. Beyond the colour, the Ultra carries the same exterior design as the rest of the EX5 line-up.

Yang framed the Ultra as a direct response to feedback from customers and dealers. “The launch of the Geely EX5 Ultra marks yet another important step forward for Geely Auto in the UK,” he said. “We’ve listened to customer and retailer feedback and responded with a model that offers greater range, higher specification and increased everyday usability, while remaining true to our commitment to outstanding value.”

The Bottom Line

The Geely EX5 Ultra does not have the fastest charging speeds, the longest range, or the most powerful motor in its class. What it does have is a combination of range, equipment, warranty, and price that no direct competitor currently matches. For a buyer whose priorities are practical daily use, family comfort, and keeping costs down, the Ultra makes a strong case for itself on paper.

Whether Geely can convert that paper advantage into sustained UK sales will depend on the ownership experience, the dealer network, and how well the car holds its value over time. But at £38,990 with this level of standard specification, the Ultra is the kind of car that forces everyone else in the segment to explain why they cost more.

First customer deliveries are expected from May 2026 through Geely’s UK retailer network.

Sources

Geely Auto UK: EX5 Ultra Announcement Geely EX5 Range Overview