Geely EX5 2026 review: Inspire

In early 2026 Geely did something it really needed to. It updated the EX5 electric mid-sized SUV with a bigger battery offering more driving range.

That’s the car we're tested here, the EX5 Extended Range in top-of-the-range Inspire guise.

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The previous EX5 had a smallish 60.22kWh battery which offered 410km of WLTP driving range for the Inspire, according to Geely.

That’s pretty low compared to rivals such as the Leapmotor C10 which offers up to 510km. The updated EX5’s 68.39kWh battery has a range of up to 475km in the entry grade Complete and 450km in the Inspire.

I asked Geely Australia why the difference in range and was told it comes down to the Inspire’s heavier weight (it has a big glass roof) and its larger wheels.

The bigger battery is really the only change made to the model in this update and a cargo cover for the boot has been added plus a mode 2 charging cable.

The Inspire lists for $45,990 before on-road costs, which is $4000 more than the Complete. Those prices are up by about $1000 compared to the previous model.

Standard features are identical to the pre-update model and while the Inspire gets more, it doesn’t get much more. I think the Complete is the better buy for less money and more range with almost the same equipment.

Both grades have LED headlights, proximity unlocking, 15.4-inch touchscreen and 10.2-inch instrument cluster, climate control, sat nav, wireless phone charging, power and heated front seats, vehicle-to-load and vehicle-to-vehicle capability and selectable drive modes.

The Inspire adds 19-inch alloy wheels (the Complete has 18s) 16-speaker Flyme stereo, power tailgate, panoramic sunroof, 256-colour ambient lighting, ventilated front seats with massaging function and front parking sensors.

There’s nothing on the Inspire’s extra features list that seems essential to me. If anything the panoramic sunroof makes the cabin too hot in Aussie summer, power tailgates are too slow, and yes the stereo is good but the six-speaker unit in the entry grade is fine.

Our car wears the new 'Jungle Green' paint which looks stunning when the sun catches and the interior was the 'Cloud White' which is a tone only available on the Inspire.

The other standard interior colour for the Inspire is 'Midnight Black' and that’s the only colour offered on the Complete grade, too. The darker upholstery is probably the smarter choice if you have kids like me or wear fake tan like me, too.

It’s a lovely cabin with comfortable and plush seats, and clean and uncluttered surfaces with a modern minimalist styling throughout. 

The big screen houses almost all controls and that is frustrating when it comes to changing the temperature or fan speed. Even the headlights are controlled through the screen.

Fortunately speed displayed in the driver instrument cluster and in the clear head-up display, which is great for navigation.

Cabin storage is excellent with an area under the floating centre console to store a handbag or small backpack. There are deep door pockets front and rear along with four cupholders. A large centre console bin is also good for stowing items away and under cover.

The boot is sectioned into two layers with a total capacity of 410 litres which falls short of other electric mid-sized SUVs such as the Leapmotor C10 EV (581L).

The EX5 is 4615mm long, making it about the same length as a Toyota RAV4 or Subaru Forester.

The smooth exterior styling gives off a prestigious vibe, and while its not hugely different to other SUVs, I think it looks stylish and modern. 

Both EX5 grades are front-wheel drive with an electric motor which makes 160kW and 320Nm. 

While that’s not a huge power figure, acceleration in the Inspire is still decent with 0-100km/h coming in 7.6 seconds. That makes leaping out into traffic easy, while overtaking can be done with confidence.

Most of the driving was done in the city and suburbs, along with my review test loop. After 301km of driving, the ride is impressively comfortable, but possibly overly cushioned. The dynamics are affected by body roll when pushing the vehicle harder into corners.

A car like this won't often be driven that way though. The reason I do this is to see how stable it will be in an emergency situation that requires a quick lane change. It’s just not super agile and sporty, which isn’t on its to-do list, anyway.

The EX5 is quiet, smooth, comfortable and easy to drive. I love the gear shifter mounted on the steering column stalk, which makes it easy to change from drive to reverse and back again.

Visibility is excellent, the pedal feels good and the steering, while a little light and artificial feeling, is accurate. 

During my time with the EX5, my average energy consumption according to the tripmetre was 15.5kWh/100km. That's less than the 16.9kWh/100km Geely says you should see. I’m impressed with that. I normally exceed consumption claims.

The maximum DC charging rate is 100kW which is fine but not particularly quick these days. This will allow the battery to be charged from 30-80 per cent in 20 minutes. The charging flap is next to the right front wheel guard.