The EX2, sold in China as the Xingyuan, is the country's most popular carColin Chapman's mercurial Lotus became renowned for its expertise in developing fine-handling cars. It provided its magic touch to spice up many famous everyday models over the years, most notably the Ford Lotus Cortina of 1963. To that roster we can now add Geely's EX2, a medium-sized EV family hatchback priced from £20,990.For those unaware of the name, Geely is a Chinese car-making conglomerate formed in 1986 as the maker of parts for refrigerators. As Geely Auto, the company builds the Geely, Lynk & Co and Zeekr brands. The conglomerate's holding companies own or have joint ventures (JVs) with: Volvo, Polestar, Proton, Smart, Lotus, the London EV company, Radar Auto and Farizon. It also owns various motorcycle brands, has a 17 per cent stake in Aston Martin, owns half of Horse Powertrain (a JV with Renault) and recently signed another JV with Ford to produce zero-emission and low-emission vehicles at its factory in Valencia, Spain. Frankly, Geely founder Eric Li Shufu has a bit of a shopping obsession…And the numbers are boggling. The EX2, sold in China as the Xingyuan, is the country's most popular car. It sold 460,000 last year, a whisker short of all EVs registered in the UK during the same period. Geely UK isn't being quite as ambitious, expecting to shift 1,234 EX2s this year and 6,000 in 2027. Although with another four new models slated to join the current three-model line-up, a target of a 5 per cent UK market share (or about 20,000 sales) in 2030 doesn't look that Panglossian.Under the skinAt 4,135mm long, 1,805mm wide and 1,580mm high the EX2 is something of a segment-buster. EV rivals include the MG4 Urban, BYD Dolphin, Nissan Micra, Citroën ë-C3, Mini Cooper Sport, Kia EV2 and of course the 2025 Car of the Year and the toast of the sector, Renault's R5.AdvertisementAdvertisementPro, Max and Ultra trim packs are priced from £20,990 to £25,490, so it's competitive if not a giveaway – the top Ultra trim will be the best seller, and 60 per cent of all EX2s will go to retail private buyers. There are two lithium-iron-phosphate battery options. A 35.3kWh unit gives a WLTP combined range of 156 miles, a top speed of 81mph and 0-62mph in 14.2sec. This is only available with the base Pro trim, which will comprise less than 5 per cent of total sales.Once charging, the EX2 reaches 80 per cent battery in just 25 minutesMore appealing is the 47.14kWh battery, which gives the car an official range of 214 miles (I achieved 180 miles), the same top speed (although that seemed a substantial underestimate) and 0-62mph in 11.5sec. This version weighs 1,365kg.The battery charges at a maximum of 160kW DC which will permit a 30-80 per cent fill in 25 minutes on both vehicles.Inside jobSpace, if not the final frontier, is certainly a reason some will buy this car. Before eulogising that accommodation, however, it's worth remembering that the EX2 is large for the sector; the Renault 5 is only 3,922mm long, so its rear-seat legroom and the boot are smaller. This is an old motor-industry trick: build a large car in its market segment and price it against smaller rivals.AdvertisementAdvertisementAlong with a 70-litre storage space under the bonnet, there is a 375-litre boot, rising to a distinctly stepped-floor 1,320 litres if you fold the rear seats. Among the 36 storage compartments are huge door pockets, a sliding-drawer glovebox, a huge centre console and space under the rear seats, where an optional set of drawers can fit.Along with 36 storage compartments, the EX2 comes with a spacious 375-litre bootWhile the rear seats might not be the last word in comfort, they offer excellent leg and head room. Similarly, in the front seats, where the cushioning seems mean, but the driving position is highly adjustable, as is the steering column.The touchscreen isn't the most user-friendly, but it's easy to turn off the driver monitoring systemAs with so many Chinese cars, the interior is unremittingly grey and black, although there's some fake chrome around the single wireless phone charger and silvery plastic door handles. The overall visual effect is quite sophisticated, if a bit boring. The huge central touchscreen isn't the easiest to navigate, although at least you can turn off the super-intrusive driver monitoring and the abrupt lane-keeping systems without too much trouble. But it would have been better had Geely emulated sister company Volvo, which calibrates these assistance systems so well that you're not compelled to switch them off.On the roadGiven the MacPherson struts at the front and a multi-link rear suspension, rear-wheel drive and titivation by Lotus, I had high expectations of the top model Ultra with the 47.1kWh battery, 114bhp and 111lb ft of torque. It's no firecracker, but you can keep up with traffic and maintain 70mph on a motorway. I wouldn't consider the smaller battery version, though.AdvertisementAdvertisementYou can make a bewildering number of selections via the touchscreen: everything from steering weight, lift-off retardation, brake-pedal feel, hill-descent control and a comfort stopping function. But it's all fiddling, with not a huge amount of discernible effect.The EX2 brakes feel soft at first press, which doesn't inspire much confidence, especially when slowing down or turning cornersOn 16in tyres it bounces along, feeling distinctly under-damped, yet with too much roll resistance, so it throws you forward from the driving seat and makes your head toss from side to side across rough edges.The steering feels soggy and numb around the dead-ahead position, so you never get a feeling of how it might turn through a corner before you are actually in the act.The brakes aren't bad, but there's not much grab at the top of the pedal travel, so they don't provide a great deal of confidence, while the retardation is heavily stepped, so you stop in a series of surges.AdvertisementAdvertisementThis car might have been seen by Lotus engineers, but the impression is that it was a glance across a crowded room rather than the full handling boot camp at its base in Hethel, Norfolk.The Telegraph verdictDynamically, the EX2 is a lot less tasty than it should be, and while you can opt for some nice colours, the rounded styling is bland compared with stylish Renault or Kia rivals. And that big-car-for-small-money schtick doesn't wash unless you regularly use all the space.The EX2 is efficient, bland transportation aimed straight at an undiscerning market, typified by those eager to buy into a reliable electric future in which they can charge on their drive, but who are not much into driving pleasure.Somehow I expected more – and you should, too. Right now, Renault does it (a lot) better.The factsOn test: Geely EX2 UltraAdvertisementAdvertisementBody style: five-door EV family hatchbackOn sale: nowHow much? £20,990 to £25,490 (£23,490 as tested)How fast? 81mph/0-62mph in 11.5secHow efficient? 4.0 miles/kWh WLTP combined, 3.8 miles/kWh on testPowertrain: 47.14kWh gross lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery with permanent-magnet synchronous motor and step-down gear, rear-wheel driveRange: 214 miles maximum (WLTP), 180 miles on testCharging: DC fast charging up to 160kW, 30-80% in 25min; 6.6kW AC, 0-100% in 7hr 10minMaximum power/torque: 114bhp/111lb ftCO2 emissions: 0g/km (tailpipe), 18g/km (CO2 equivalent well-to-wheel)Vehicle Excise Duty (VED): £10 first year, then £200AdvertisementAdvertisementWarranty: eight years/125,000 on car and battery but see text NOOThe rivalsRenault R5 Techno52kWh, from £26,995Although it is smaller, the Renault R5 is better and unique in its retro feel - Jed LeicesterUndoubted star of the sector, although it is smaller. It delivers a 252-mile range, spritely performance and a lovely combination of ride and handling – plus irresistible retro-influenced looks.MG4 UrbanFrom £23,495The MG4 Urban range of 258 miles outclasses that of the EX2 - James ArbuckleGrants bring the price down to nearly £22,000, although the best versions of this inoffensive mid-sized, front-drive family hatchback have the 54kWh battery, which gives a range of 258 miles, rather than the 42.8kWh/201-mile versions.Try full access to The Telegraph free today. Unlock their award-winning website and essential news app, plus useful tools and expert guides for your money, health and holidays.
