THEY seem to have come out of nowhere as Chinese car makers are suddenly all over TV advertising and sports sponsorship here in the UK.

Names new to us are also rapidly becoming a common sight on our highways as several brands push to establish themselves here… and with better pricing and specifications than European competitors plus long warranties it seems to be working.

After our first taste of Chinese autos in the shape of the Geely Starray PHEV on test a few weeks ago we got our hands on their first motor to land on UK shores, the EX5 EV.

Now I hear you say Geely who? But they are by no means newcomers to the global car market as Geely Auto had become the first Chinese auto brand to sell more than 10 million units in 2020 and by 2025 the group’s global sales exceeded 20 million.

Based in Hangzhou province it was founded in 1997 and now owns big name manufacturers like Volvo and Polestar – even UK legend Lotus is now part of this giant automotive empire already giving them a 4.2 per cent share of the UK market. 

The EX5 keeps things simple for this C-segment SUV which has one battery option (60.2kWh) and three trim levels – SE, Pro and Max. EX5 also only comes with only one electric motor mounted on the front axle which, with 215bhp on tap, means an official 0-62mph time of 6.9sec and a total full charge range of around 250 miles.

Being quite softly sprung the EX5 is comfortable to drive and manages to soak up lumps and bumps with ease. You have three different levels of regenerative braking to choose from and even at motorway speeds the EX5 remains impressively refined, producing very little road or wind noise…

In the entry-level SE EX5 you get a blue faux-leather upholstery while upgrading to Pro or Max gives the option of a white and black cabin. 

All models have a quality feel with leather-look materials on almost every surface and a centre console that’s faux wood grain. It’s impressive and looks quite plush.

All cars also get a manually-adjustable steering wheel and electric driver’s seat and thanks to the high driving position and thin front pillars you have a great view out over the bonnet. Rear visibility is also good with large rear windows and the added comfort of rear parking sensors and a 360-degree camera as standard.

There are few physical buttons with almost every feature managed through a 15.4in infotainment touchscreen that sits on the centre of the dashboard.

The EX5 also gets a rotary controller which in default mode is to turn the volume up and down but holding it down allows you to temporarily change what function it controls including temperature, fan speed and even changing the touchscreen’s wallpaper.

Every EX5 comes with built-in sat-nav and Apple CarPlay while top-spec Max upgrades the standard six-speaker stereo to a punchier 16-speaker Flyme system.

Highlights on a long list of standard equipment include things like a power tailgate, adaptive cruise, 360-degree camera system and heads up display plus some quirks such as indicators which sound through the left or right door speakers and those seat headrest speakers which whisper in your ear (very disconcerting at first but a good idea) although probably hardest to get used to is no conventional key.

When you approach the car with a small plastic fob in your pocket it not only unlocks but is ready to set off, just select drive on the column mounted shifter and away you go. Similarly when you park up just get out, close the door and walk away while the car shuts down and locks itself – which feels very odd at first.

Even if you and your front seat passenger are over six-feet you’ll have no trouble getting comfortable with loads of head, leg and shoulder room. It’s the same in the back with lots of head room and limo-like leg room

You’ll find loads of handy storage spaces such as large front door bins, a pair of cup holders, a pair of phone charging spaces and a large space underneath the centre console.

Even the basic SE comes with loads of standard equipment including 18in alloy wheels, that keyless entry and start, wireless phone charging, privacy glass, a heated steering wheel, heated front seats and a 10.2in digital driver display

Stepping up to Pro adds 19in alloys and the option of a white interior while top-spec Max adds a head-up display, panoramic sunroof, power tailgate, standard metallic paint, front seats with heating, ventilation, massage and memory functions and a front passenger seat leg rest which extends from the base of the seat. 

The standard warranty of eight-years/125,000-miles should give peace of mind and also covers the battery. On top of that, Geely offers four years of roadside assistance and two years of free maintenance, which includes the car’s first service.  

The Ex5 range is from £32 to £39k and for more details see www.geely.co.uk