Massive changes for Geely EX5: Power hike, rear-wheel drive, active aero. Look out Tesla and BYD!
A significantly upgraded Geely EX5 has been revealed in China in a mandatory MIIT (Ministry of Industry and Information Technology) filing and is hotly tipped to preview a facelifted version of the Chinese brand’s small SUV sold in Australia.
Overhauling the Geely EX5 that was only introduced globally in 2024 and launched in Australia in April last year, the headline changes are both a cosmetic makeover and the switch to a more powerful 245kW rear-mounted motor.
Currently, the Geely EX5 sold locally is front-wheel drive and comes with a 160kW electric motor.
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Still recognisable despite a restyled front end, the new EX5 now comes with a redesigned front bumper that incorporates large twin air curtains and a new, more prominent upper blade-style element that sits above a tweaked air intake.
Improving efficiency by lowering drag, the large intake now includes active aero shutters that close at speed.
At the rear, the tail-lamps and bumper carry over unchanged, but along its flanks, you might have noticed the pop-out door levers have been replaced by a set of mechanical handles following a dramatic change in Chinese safety regulations.
Another less expected change is the charging port has migrated from the front guard to the rear left quarter panel.
For Chinese buyers, a new roof-mounted LiDAR unit has also been introduced, joined by new side cameras and a rear-mounted camera that has sprouted from the tailgate spoiler.
The introduction of the new driver-assistance hardware will allow the Chinese firm to roll out its sophisticated Geely Assisted Self Driving (G-ASD) G-Pilot H5 system, which offers a hands-free supervised driving experience on highways and in urban environments.
Only earlier this year, Geely updated the EX5 by replacing its 60.2kWh battery with a larger 68.4kWh power pack that increased range to around 475km.
Despite the launch in China, Geely Auto Australia has told local media it has no news to share at this stage and that any changes to the specification of the EX5 sold Down Under would be “communicated in due course”.
