Geely EX5 Reviews

With fuel prices surging to around two dollars a litre nationally, and more that three dollars a litre in some regional areas, now is one of the best times to consider switching to a fully electric vehicle.Price was once one of the biggest deterrents for buyers wanting to make the switch, but now that gap has well and truly closed.To highlight this we’ve pulled together the most popular cars from last year in each mainstream car category, and the fully electric alternatives you can now buy for the same money.Seeking a practical small SUV? Top of the charts last year was the Hyundai Kona, and one of its most popular variants is the entry-level Kona Hybrid which starts from $36,950.To be fair here, the Kona Hybrid is a great choice anyway, as one of the most fuel-efficient small SUVs you can buy, but if you’re looking to wean yourself off fuel altogether, a great alternative is the Jaecoo J5.Surprisingly spacious and swish-looking, the J5 starts from just $35,990 before on-roads and offers a 402km (WLTP) range with a 155kW/288Nm electric motor driving the front wheels. It can even charge relatively quickly with its 130kW DC peak speed taking it from 20 - 80 per cent in just over half an hour.Read our Jaecoo J5 review hereYou actually can’t buy the popular GXL hybrid front-wheel-drive version of the Toyota RAV4 anymore, because production ended in the lead up to the launch of the new-gen version. The bad news is, the new one will cost even more than the outgoing car, which started from $45,810 before on-road costs.The RAV4 has earned its place as Australia’s most popular mid-size SUV through its family-friendly design, practical size and interior, and its no-nonsense approach to pretty much everything. The brand’s 2.5-litre 160kW hybrid system remains one of the most user-friendly hybrid systems on the market, too.What can you get as an EV for the same money? Quite a few options these days, as it turns out, and one of the most appealing is the just-updated Geely EX5 Extended Range, which is priced from $45,990 before on-roads.This relatively straightforward EV also provides a spacious interior and practical dimensions, but even combines it with more modern luxuries than the RAV4 offers in equivalent guise. It features synthetic leather interior trim, bigger screens with more connected technology, and its most recent upgrade brought with it a boost in driving range to 450km (WLTP). No wonder this one is storming up the sales charts.Read our Geely EX5 review hereFord’s big Everest off-roader is the most popular option in the large SUV space, and buyers tend to splash a bit more, reaching for the upper mid-grade Sport variant, which wields a 3.0-litre diesel V6 paired to a full-time 4WD system.This car wears a before-on-roads price-tag of $75,990, so what can you get as an EV instead?How about the just-released Tesla Model Y L? Starting from $74,900, sporting six-seats, and expanding in every dimension, this new take on the best-selling electric car in Australia offers more than you might expect.Sure, it’s not a big off-road oriented 4x4, but if it’s a fuel-free family hauler you’re looking for, you could do worse. With 378kW/580Nm it’s rapid, too, and with a huge battery offering up to 681km of range, it’s one of the furthest-travelling EVs on sale in Australia.Plus, it’s much more affordable than truly large electric SUVs, like the Kia EV9, which starts much higher at $97,000 before on-roads.Read more about the Tesla Model Y L hereThe Toyota Corolla continues as a perennial favourite among Australian buyers, and with the popular Ascent Sport hybrid starting from $32,110, why wouldn’t it?The swish little hatch offers Toyota’s perennial 1.8-litre four-cylinder hybrid drivetrain in a front-wheel-drive layout, sporting a modest combined 103kW. There’s no denying that as far as cars with combustion engines go, it’s pretty fuel efficient, officially consuming 4.0L/100km, but what if you could forgo fuel altogether?The obvious answer for some time has been BYD’s Dolphin Premium. Starting from $36,990 before on-roads it carries a slight price premium over the most popular Corolla variant, however, the Dolphin also brings with it a long electric driving range of 490km (WLTP), and a punchier 150kW/310Nm electric motor.It also scores a much more contemporary and screen-laden interior, with bonus luxuries like synthetic leather seats, plus it undercuts the nearest equivalent MG4 by a decent margin.Read our BYD Dolphin review hereKia’s Picanto soldiers on as a hold-out in an embattled city car segment, which, despite ever-rising fuel prices, Australians have turned their back on. It’s still a great option, offering both manual and automatic transmissions, although its 1.2-litre four-cylinder engine feels its age.Starting from $20,790 before on-road costs in automatic form, the Picanto is solid value, and while its wheezy engine produces just 62kW/122Nm it’s hardly the fuel sipping hero you might need, still managing to consume 6.0L/100km.This is where BYD’s Atto 1 comes into play. Now Australia’s most affordable electric car, the sharply-styled city hatch is slightly more expensive than the Picanto, as it starts from $23,990 in base Essential form.This entry-level Atto 1 is about even with the Kia on power, producing just 65kW, but it gets a boost in the torque department, with 175Nm. It also scores a middling 220km of range from its small 30kWh battery, but in a city runabout, do you need more?The smallest BYD also scores spec bonuses over its combustion Kia rival, with synthetic leather interior trim, a more contemporary interior design, and even a vehicle-to-load power distribution system.Read more about the BYD Atto 1 here

Japan has lost its crown as the number one source of new cars for Australia - and it could be for good.

New data collated from across the world illustrates just how quickly BYD has become the world leader in new electric car sales.Nikkei Asia has used data between 2020 and 2025 to highlight countries that have gone from EV markets dominated by Tesla to those BYD has the better grasp on.The data from S&P Global Mobility shows only a handful of nations where BYD was the bigger new EV brand of the two in 2020, including parts of South America, West Asia (mainly Egypt and Saudi Arabia) and of course China.But by 2025, BYD was the dominant force compared to Tesla, with much of the ‘Western’ world including Australia embracing BYD more than Tesla.The USA (Tesla’s home market), Canada, and parts of Europe are the biggest Tesla holdouts.The report comes as BYD’s global sales slow overall, with factors at play including the Chinese government reacting to BYD’s alleged ‘sales pricing war’ where cars are sold below cost to boost numbers.Geely has become China’s biggest car brand, overtaking BYD, with total sales including its subsidiary brands like Zeekr too.But BYD’s ability to overtake Tesla is also helped by Tesla’s decline due to its limited model line-up and the company’s increasingly controversial CEO making ownership of a Tesla seem like acceptance of a political stance.The path BYD has taken to maintain success is has been decidedly risky, but much of it has paid off due to the brand’s ability to work quickly.BYD’s founder and Chairman, Wang Chuanfu, said in 2021 that rapid development will be the biggest ingredient in challenging the slower legacy brands."Toyota Motor and Volkswagen are a little slow in electrifying their vehicles, but once they make a leap, the impact will be huge," he said at the time. "BYD absolutely has to be faster."In Australia, BYD has sold 10,324 new vehicles so far in 2026, while Tesla lags behind with 3775 in the year so far. Both brands have increased over the same January-February period last year, Tesla being up 61.9 per cent and BYD up a whopping 161.0 per cent.

Geely has officially teased its hardcore four-wheel drive rival to the Land Rover Defender ahead of an expected reveal later in 2026.Photos of the 2027 Geely Galaxy Starship, which has also previously been referred to as the Geely Galaxy Cruiser or Battleship, have been published online showing the four-wheel drive’s production body work.It has a boxy silhouette that’s reminiscent of BYD’s premium Denza B5 and B8 models, as well as the GWM Tank 300, Mercedes-Benz G-Class and Ford Bronco, among others.Little information about the Starship/Cruiser has been confirmed just yet but it’s understood to be based on a version of the platform that already underpins the Zeekr 9X and Lotus Eletre PHEV.According to Autocar, power will come from three electric motors which are fed by a hefty 70kWh battery pack, allowing for an electric range of over 350km, according to lenient CLTC testing.There’s also a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine which acts as a generator to top up the battery pack.Geely revealed the concept version of this off-roader back in 2025 at the Shanghai Motor Show and earlier this year the UK Marketing Director Tianxiao Yan confirmed the production version will eventually launch in the UK, seemingly confirming right-hand drive production.Speaking to UK media, the marketing boss said Geely will “definitely launch that car in the UK.” Given the brand’s apparent keenness to increase its presence in Australia, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the model here in the future, too.“While we cannot confirm the addition of any new models to the Geely Auto Australia line-up at this stage, we continuously assess market trends and consumer behaviours to ensure our product portfolio reflects the preferences and needs of local customers,” said a Geely Auto Australia spokesperson back in January 2026.Geely’s namesake brand launched in Australia during 2025 and it already offers the EX5 electric SUV and Starray EM-i plug-in hybrid SUV.In the second half of 2026 Geely will also launch the EX2 small electric hatchback to rival the likes of the BYD Atto 1, GWM Ora and MG4, among others.It’s worth noting that all the Geely vehicles currently in Australia or soon to launch in Australia are part of the brand’s Galaxy line-up in China.This further fuels speculation that eventually the Geely Galaxy Battleship will come to Australia as a flagship offering.

BYD's global sales numbers are in trouble as Geely makes up ground in a changing Chinese market, making export locations like Australia more important.

Geely has updated its EX5 small SUV, with it now featuring a bigger battery and more driving range. It will start from $1000 more than the previous model at $41,990, before on-road costs. The up-spec grade of the car has also increased by $1000, starting from $45,990. The EX5 is significantly cheaper than one of its key rivals in the Hyundai Elexio, which starts from $58,990, before on-road costs. The Elexio features a more high-end level of trim than the EX5, but Hyundai will launch a new entry-level Elexio landing in Australia in Q2 2026, with a sharper price point.The EX5 remains more expensive than the BYD Atto 3, which has a starting price of $39,990, before on-road costs. The EX5 offers a more affordable price point, and its newly-upgraded 68.39kWh battery and 475km (WLTP) driving range adds to the package.It continues to offer more driving range than the base Atto 3's 50kWh battery and 345km (WLTP), while the Elexio bests it with a 88kWh battery offering 546km. On the power front, the EX5 is about on par with the Atto 3 and the Elexio, producing 160kW and 320Nm from a single front-mounted electric motor. Other changes to the latest EX5 include a faster charging cable and a cargo blind as standard, while the popular jungle green colour is now available as a premium paint option.The EX5 had a strong first year in the Aussie market, as one of the best-selling EVs for 2025, beating that of the Atto 3. It will look to chase down the Kia EV5 in 2026, which was the best-selling small EV SUV last year, with a starting price of $56,770, before on-road costs.  2026 Geely EX5 pricing Australia 2026 Geely EX5 electric motor and efficiency 2026 Geely EX5 standard features Other standard features includeHeated front seatsPowered front seatsKeyless entry and startRain-sensing wipersSatellite navigationInspire grade adds19-inch alloy wheels16-speaker premium audio system13.4-inch head-up displayPower tailgateAmbient lightingVentilated front seatsMassaging front seatsMemory driver seat  2026 Geely EX5 safetyThe Geely EX5 has a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating.  Standard safety features: Rear parking sensorsAuto emergency brakingAdaptive cruise controlFront cross-traffic alertRear cross-traffic alertLane keep assistTraffic sign recognitionLane change assistBlind-spot assistEvasive manoeuvre assist  2026 Geely EX5 dimensions2026 Geely EX5 warrantyThe Geely EX5 comes with a seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty and eight-year/unlimited-kilometre battery warranty. There is also up to seven years of roadside assistance available. 

BYD is one of three Chinese brands which have broken into the world’s top 10 best-selling automakers, according to end-of-year financial figures.The brand finished up in sixth place on the list, selling more than 4.6 million units in 2025. BYD was not the only brand to make serious sales progress last year, with SAIC and Geely also pushing into the top 10 for global sales.Chinese brands’ successes globally have come at the expense of established players, such as Ford, with the Blue Oval dropping to eighth overall, and Honda just holding onto 10th position.BYD has had other success, including surpassing Tesla at the top of the electric car sales charts for the world at more than 2.2 million in 2025.The Chinese giant has experienced a similar sales increase in Australia, being the eighth best-selling brand in 2025, with more than 52,000 vehicles sold.The brand narrowly trailed rival Chinese carmaker GWM last year, which has been in Australia for much longer, while having around 10,000 units more sold than MG.It lines up with BYD’s ambitions to be "around top-three" in Australia by the end of this year, according to Chief Operating Officer Stephen Collins.Among the best sellers for the brand Down Under are its all-electric Sealion 7 SUV and plug-in hybrid Shark 6 ute.BYD will strengthen its position further in the Australian market over the coming years thanks to its strong New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) position, compared to fellow big sellers such as Mazda.It will bring across several new models in 2026, such as the soon-approaching B5 and B8 off-roaders under its luxury arm Denza, as well as what appears to be the Seal 05 plug-in hybrid sedan and wagon pair.It is a different story for BYD in its home market of China, where the brand suffered a drop in sales year-on-year, as competitors grew.These challenges are likely to increase for BYD and other big brands in China, following the Chinese government’s recent banning of below-cost car sales domestically in order to end a years-long bruising price war.This will give smaller brands an opportunity to contest with larger automakers on price, which theoretically creates further competition.

A new hope emerges for once-favourite car body styles in Australia.

A new engine from this Geely joint-venture promises 40 per cent lower consumption compared to rivals.

The Leapmotor B10 and Zeekr 7X are among several models that have received top marks in their Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) safety tests. The B10 is an all-electric small SUV, which went on sale in November 2025. The BYD Atto 3, Hyundai Kona and Kia EV3 rival received some stand out results, including 93 per cent for adult protection and 95 per cent for child protection.Those two results equalled the highest score for those areas under ANCAP’s now outgoing 2023-2025 testing criteria.  The Zeekr 7X (the current 2026 CarsGuide Car of the Year best medium SUV under $60,000), also received five stars and was awarded 91 per cent for adult protection and 87 per cent child protection. The 7X offers a new alternative to big sellers in the mid-size SUV market, such as the Tesla Model Y and BYD Sealion 7.Another car to receive a five-star rating was the Geely Starray EM-i, the second Geely model to launch in Australia after the EX5 SUV. The recently-introduced Kia EV4 has also been rated, receiving five stars. The all-electric sedan arrived in Australia this month, ahead of the hatch variants joining later this year. The other car to pick up a five-star rating, was the Mercedes-Benz CLE Coupe, which rated at 93 per cent for adult protection and 86 per cent for child protection. ANCAP Chief Executive Officer Carla Hoorweg said this latest batch of ratings highlights the importance of maintaining car safety as more brands continue to be introduced to the market. “As more new models and emerging brands arrive on our roads, independent safety assessment remains critical,” Hoorweg said. “ANCAP testing provides consumers with clear, comparable information, and ensures vehicles meet the highest standards for protection, regardless of badge or price point.”ANCAP also announced that the MG HS small SUV’s five-star rating now extended to hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants in addition to petrol offerings.There was also an updated five-star rating for the Toyota bZ4X and its sister car the Subaru Solterra.This latest round of rest results will be the final set of cars tested under the previous criteria, with all new cars to be using the four-stage ‘Stages of Safety’ system. This will examine safe driving, crash avoidance, crash protection and post-crash, but a rating out of five stars will still be awarded for each car.