Chinese automaker Geely says its best-selling EX2 electric hatchback will arrive in dealerships across Australia later this month, starting at an impressively low price of $26,490 before on-road costs.
The pricing means that the much awaited car will be one of the lowest cost EVs on Australian roads, and it’s a potentially hugely significant move given the surge in the interest that has propelled EVs to 23.5 per cent of the new car market in June, with seven different EVs achieving sales of more than 1,000 units, two in the top 4 of all car sales and three in the top 10.
Geely confirmed last December that the EX2 would eventually make its way to Australia in the second half of this year, as evidenced by its listing on the federal government’s ROVER approval-for-sale register last month. Geely had also promised in April that pre-orders for the EX2 would include a free charger and premium paint upgrade.
As promised, Geely confirmed on Tuesday that the EX2 would arrive in showrooms later this month and would be available in two variants – the EX2 Complete and EX2 Inspire, priced from $26,490 and $30,990 respectively and before on-road costs.
The EX2 was the bestselling car in China last year and Geely is obviously hoping a similar level of enthusiasm will follow its arrival Down Under.
Its EX5 electric SUV has been one of the best selling EVs in Australia this year, totalling 6,576 in the year to date to rank 3rd behind the Tesla Model Y and the BYD SeaLion 7. See The Driven’s month by month sales data for more information.
To further strengthen interest in the EX2, Geely is bringing back the pre-order offer for the car’s launch, with customers ordering and taking delivery between 12 July and 31 August also receiving a complimentary 7kW home EV charger and premium paint upgrade.
Installation costs for the charger are not included, however, and South Australian customers may be prevented or limited by local network rules from having the supplied charger installed.
Geely did say, however, that “If the supplied charger cannot be lawfully installed or configured at the property, Geely will determine the available option and may supply an alternative benefit of equal value.”
Eligible buyers will also be able to benefit from a 0.68 per cent comparison rate on a 36-month finance term.
The entry-level EX2 Complete will be powered by a rear-mounted electric motor putting out 60kW of power and 150Nm of torque, with a 35.3kWh lithium-iron (LFP) battery pack capable of a driving range of up to 252km (WLTP).
The flagship EX2 Inspire, however, will be powered by an upgraded rear-mounted electric motor capable of putting out 85kW of power and 150Nm of torque, and will also come with a larger LFP 47.1kWh battery pack with a driving range of 345km (WLTP).
Maximum DC charging speed is 60kW for the Complete and 80kW for the Inspire, and max AC charging is 6kW for both.
A rear-wheel drive configuration offers balanced driving with a multi-link independent rear suspension setup that provides greater driving control and comfort compared to the torsion beam suspension arrangements more common across the small car segment.
The EX2 features “generous” interior space thanks in part to being built on the same Global Intelligent New Energy Architecture (GEA) that is shared by the Geely EX5 all-electric SUV and Starray EM-i PHEV. This equates to 375 litres of boot space plus another 70L in the “frunk” and a 10L drawer-style glovebox.
Other benefits include large LED-illuminated vanity mirrors, heated seats, heated steering wheel, 256-colour dynamic ambient lighting completes, and a power tailgate, while an 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster is paired with a 14.6-inch central touchscreen with built-in satellite navigation and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Geely is also included 24-months of Geely Connected Services which allows the car to access a range of online functions via an embedded 4G SIM card. A revamped Geely App will also provide remote access to various vehicle functions including door and window control, climate control, vehicle status monitoring, and scheduled charging.
Over-the-air updates will also be available, as suggested by the promised Emergency Call (eCall) functionality which is due to be activated in the fourth quarter.
A huge range of safety features also accompany both models including 7 airbags (2 front, 2 side, 2 curtain, and 1 centre), rear parking sensors, and a full suite of driver assistance options. In addition, the EX2 Inspire will also feature a 360-degree around-view monitor with transparent view, helping to improve visibility of the surrounding environment.
To look at all EV models available in Australia, and their prices and specifications, see our Compare EVs page here.
Sign up for The Driven’s free daily newsletter and get the latest EV news and analysis delivered straight to your inbox.
