Geely EX2 2026 review: Australian first drive | BYD Atto 1 rival tested

Price and features – Does it represent good value for the price? What features does it come with?

9 / 10

The Geely EX2 arrives in two grades, the confusingly named base Complete at $26,490, before on-road costs, or the Inspire at $30,990, before on-roads.

Both variants are pretty stacked in terms of features, with even the Complete getting kit like:

• Auto LED headlights and tail-lights
• Powered seat adjustment
• 14.6-inch multimedia touchscreen 
• 8.8-inch driver display
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• USB-A and USB-C ports
• Four-speaker sound system
• Digital radio
• Geely connected services
• Keyless entry and start
• LED interior lighting

The Inspire adds:

• Coloured ambient interior lighting
• Wireless phone charging
• Power tailgate
• Heated front seats and steering wheel
• Decorative metallic trim 
• Contrast black roof
• Rain-sensing wipers

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Design – Is there anything interesting about its design?

9 / 10

The Geely EX2 is very cute, which puts it in a strong position compared to some of its rivals.

Its proportions and silhouette are familiar without being boring, and it doesn’t fall into the trap many small EVs, particularly from China, do by being too generic in the pursuit of aerodynamics.

Its headlights and tail-lights are apparently inspired by the shape of a feather, and the lack of unnecessary design elements means the EX2 has a ‘soft’ and cute look without being a formless blob or an over-the-top mess of shapes.

Inside, the EX2 isn’t as distinct, with a similar overall layout to many EVs in terms of design features.

Practicality – How practical is its space and tech inside?

8 / 10

But the EX2’s interior is a handy place with decent storage, ease-of-use in mind, and good overall ergonomics.

The driver's seat is comfortable and easy to find the right position in thanks to electric adjustment, while the steering wheel feels nice in-hand and has decent button controls for the driver display.

There’s nothing too unusual about the way the EX2 operates, but having all of its major functions in the central touchscreen is a downside - even though some basic air conditioning controls can be found by the cupholders.

The storage spaces are useful, under the centre console, in the doors, the phone holder and even a very deep central bin - plus the glove box slides out rather than folds so the space inside is even bigger.

The rear seats are also pretty spacious for a car that’s technically in the ‘Light’ segment, with my own driving position (I’m 178cm) meaning I have ample leg-, knee- and foot-room without any risk of hitting my head on the roof.

The EX2 has a segment-defying combination of front and rear boot space, with 375L in the boot and a huge 75L up front under the bonnet. 

All up, that’s 450L, though plenty more space becomes available with the rear seats folded.

Under the bonnet – What are the key stats for its engine and transmission?

6 / 10

Both variants of the EX2 are single-motor rear-wheel drive, with the power a very modest 60kW in the base Complete or 80kW in the Inspire we have on test.

Both have a 150Nm torque output and top out at 130km/h thanks to a limiter.

The Complete takes a claimed 14.2 seconds to hit 100km/h, the Inspire a very accurate-feeling 11.5.

The Geely EX2 is not a fast car.

Efficiency – What is its fuel consumption? What is its driving range?

6 / 10

Geely claims the EX2 has a 345km WLTP-rated range in top-spec Inspire, or just 252km in the Complete. 

Power consumption is rated at 15.5kWh per 100km or 15.9kWh respectively, but on test the trip computer showed between 14.2kWh and 14.8kWh without any highway stints.

While the range numbers aren’t very impressive, the small battery goes some way to explaining it - 47kWh in the Inspire and just 35kWh in the Complete.

DC charging tops out at 80kW in the Inspire, and 60kW in the Complete while AC charging is 6.0kW in both.

Driving – What's it like to drive?

8 / 10

Geely’s work on tuning the EX2 was mostly undertaken by its teams in Europe - the ones who have worked on cars from Lotus in the past - but without any local tuning we weren’t sure exactly what to expect from the little EV on the road.

There are some odd first impressions. The motor is sluggish and the body rolls a fair bit through corners, for example. There’s also a massive vague spot in the steering at low speeds which requires some adjusting to.

But it’s comfortable and easy to point around corners, plus it’s light and pulls up quickly. In other words, the Geely EX2 feels perfectly at home in the city or suburbia.

Its 130km/h top speed means it’s going to be a fairly useless highway cruiser, and the driving ranges will limit it for road trips, but the way the car behaves is suited to the launch location of Sydney's north.

If you’re a keen driver, the EX2 is fun, but mostly because it feels like you’re being naughty by throwing it into corners.

Its rear-drive layout helps in terms of balance, but the body-roll and steering don’t lend themselves to a properly spirited drive.

Safety – What safety equipment is fitted? What is its safety rating?

8 / 10

The EX2 doesn’t have an ANCAP rating yet, but it is designed to achieve a high score. It would be odd if it wasn’t but Geely wouldn’t be drawn on specific expectations for the car’s rating.

The car does however have seven airbags with an important front centre airbag, plus all its kit like the surround-view parking camera and its adaptive cruise control is standard.

The list of key safety features in the 2026 EX2 is as follows:

• Seven airbags
• Occupant sensor and reminder
• Surround-view camera 
• Rear parking sensors
• High-beam assist
• Pedestrian alert (low speed)
• Traction and stability control
• Hill-descent control
• Adaptive cruise control
• Front- and rear-cross traffic alert
• Front and rear collision warning
• Blind-spot monitoring 
• Driver monitoring
• Emergency lane-keep
• Lane-change assist
• Traffic sign detection

Ownership – What warranty is offered? What are its service intervals? What are its running costs?

8 / 10

Geely offers a seven-year, unlimited km warranty on the EX2, with eight years coverage for the high-voltage battery.

There’s also seven years of roadside assist, and the option to buy up to seven years of prepaid servicing at $1642, which saves you $410 compared to the $2052 it costs paying per service. Intervals are every 12 months or 20,000km.

Geely currently has around 80 dealerships with around 100 likely by the end of 2026, according to the brand.

Verdict