Updated Geely EX5 gains rear-wheel drive and 800V fast charging in China, Australian timing unconfirmed

What has been launched, and where

Geely has put an updated version of its EX5 mid-size electric SUV on sale in China, where it is sold as the Galaxy E5. According to zecar, the new model launched on 23 September 2026 in five variants priced from 97,800 yuan (about US$14,400) to 137,800 yuan (about US$20,300). The updated car first appeared in a Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology filing in June 2026, as reported by both CarExpert and cars24.com.au. ⁵³²

CarExpert reports that Australian timing for the updated model has yet to be confirmed, and zecar likewise states Geely Auto Australia has not confirmed the car for local sale, nor announced pricing or timing. Any suggestion the update is bound for Australia remains unconfirmed. ³⁵

Drivetrain: rear-wheel drive and 800V for most variants

The headline change is the drivetrain. Four of the five Chinese-market variants, branded Smart Charging, use a single 245kW electric motor driving the rear wheels on an 800V electrical architecture, up 85kW on the previous model's output, according to CarExpert and zecar. CarExpert specifies the motor as 245kW/320Nm, while zecar notes torque figures for the updated model have not yet been published. These variants return 0-100km/h in between 5.8 and 6.2 seconds. The entry-level 530 Global Classic Edition keeps the existing 400V front-wheel-drive layout with a 160kW/320Nm motor and a 6.9-second 0-100km/h time. ³²⁵

The move to rear drive frees space under the bonnet. zecar notes the updated model gains a 160-litre front boot that the previous car did not have, while total boot capacity with the rear seats folded is 1838 litres, down from 1877 litres, per CarExpert. ⁵³

The 800V variants also support a 6kW vehicle-to-load (V2L) system, according to cars24.com.au, allowing the battery to power external devices from the new rear-wheel-drive grades. ²

Batteries, charging and range

The updated variants use lithium iron phosphate batteries in three sizes: 60.22kWh, 61.52kWh and 70.01kWh. CarExpert and cars24.com.au describe the cells as Geely's so-called Gold Brick batteries, while zecar refers to a new Aegis Golden Brick short-blade battery; the exact naming differs between reports. ²³⁵

On the more lenient Chinese CLTC cycle, the three batteries deliver claimed ranges of 530km, 550km and 635km, equating to 429km, 446km and 514km on WLTP, according to CarExpert and zecar. The entry 400V variant supports DC charging at up to 120kW (1.8C), while the 800V variants carry a 6C rating and AC charging remains at 6.6kW across the range. ³⁵²

Charging claims differ between sources and should be treated accordingly. CarExpert and cars24.com.au report DC fast charging of up to 460kW, with cars24.com.au citing a 10 to 70 per cent charge in 8 minutes and 25 seconds, while zecar, describing real-world conditions, expects peak output in the range of 360kW to 400kW depending on the charger and estimates around nine minutes to 80 per cent. A Ground News summary of drive.com.au's report cites Geely as claiming 10 to 80 per cent charging in 10 to 12 minutes. These figures are manufacturer claims or outlet estimates, not independently verified results. ³²⁵¹

Design, chassis and driver assistance

The facelift brings a sharper front bumper with larger vertical side air intakes, more traditional door handles replacing the previous flush units in light of new Chinese-market regulations, and 'Geely' lettering on the tailgate, as reported by CarExpert and cars24.com.au. zecar adds fender-mounted cameras, privacy glass on the rear windows and a choice of 18- or 19-inch wheels. ³²⁵

Dimension figures differ slightly between outlets. CarExpert and cars24.com.au state the updated variants are 4615mm long, 1901mm wide and 1670mm tall on a 2750mm wheelbase, which is 15mm longer and 19mm wider than before but with a 5mm shorter wheelbase. zecar lists the rear-wheel-drive models at 4630mm long, 1920mm wide on a 2745mm wheelbase, with the front-drive entry model matching the smaller figures. ³²⁵

Underneath, the previous four-link independent rear suspension is replaced by a five-link setup, with adaptive dampers newly available, per CarExpert and cars24.com.au. A roof-mounted LiDAR unit on the top variant supports Geely's Qianli Haohan (or G-Pilot) H5 active safety and driver assistance suite, which includes urban and highway Navigation on Autopilot with autonomous lane changes and traffic light detection. The cabin otherwise carries over its 15.4-inch touchscreen and 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster with a new three-spoke steering wheel; zecar adds Flyme Auto 2 infotainment, a head-up display and zero-gravity front passenger seats on Chinese-market versions. ³²⁵

zecar also reports body-structure and safety claims for the updated model: a torsional rigidity of 36,000Nm per degree, use of 1,500MPa hot-formed steel, a battery pack with what zecar describes as a bulletproof coating, and a tyre blowout stability system designed to keep the car under control at up to 160km/h in a straight line and 120km/h through corners. These are manufacturer figures reported by a single outlet and not independently verified. ⁵

The Australian picture and new rivals

The EX5 currently sold in Australia is the Extended Range, which reached showrooms in March 2026 with a 68.39kWh LFP battery and a front-mounted 160kW/320Nm motor, offered in Complete and Inspire grades at $41,990 and $45,990 before on-road costs, according to zecar. CarExpert's showroom data lists drive-away pricing from $46,267 for the Complete and $50,407 for the Inspire, based on a Sydney location, a different price basis from the list prices and not directly comparable. ⁵⁴

The update matters locally because the EX5 is Geely's best-selling model in Australia. CarExpert and cars24.com.au report 10,737 deliveries to the end of August 2026, making it one of the country's best-selling EVs, and CarExpert's sales data shows 3944 deliveries in 2025 following the March 2025 local launch. zecar notes the August total of 1947 left it third among EVs behind the Tesla Model Y and BYD Sealion 7. ²³⁴⁵

The current Australian car lags the updated Chinese model on power and charging, and zecar's comparison shows it also trails two new similarly priced rivals on those measures: the BYD Atto 3 Evo Premium ($46,990 before on-road costs, 230kW, 800V, 220kW DC), which went on sale in August with deliveries from September, and the XPeng L03 (from $41,900, all battery-electric variants charging at 193kW or more, with first deliveries expected from November 2026). zecar's expectation that Geely would review local sales across the fourth quarter of 2026 and first quarter of 2027, pointing to a possible third-quarter 2027 launch if confirmed, is that outlet's forecast, not a manufacturer statement. The BYD Atto 3 Evo also offers both front- and rear-drive layouts in Australia, a rarity CarExpert notes the EX5 shares in the segment. ⁵³²