Geely moved 465,775 vehicles in China alone last year, beating about 425k of Tesla model Y. It also took the crown from China's other once-best-selling pint-sized EV that surprised basically all executives a few years ago: BYD Seagull. The seagull was only able to move 310,000 units. This year, Geely's small EV offerings have outperformed Seagull in a nearly 2-to-1 ratio.
While in China, a few days after the Beijing Motor Show, I had the opportunity to take a spin on one during the showcase of some of Geely's most important plug-in cars, which are planning to bring more of them to the global market (except for the United States for now). My time was limited compared to the full afternoon I had with the BYD Seagull, but I understand why Geely's pint-sized EV is so popular and that's just why it's beating Seagull in recent sales. In short, it's taking people like BYD Seagull, who hit harder in terms of value and feel like they're designed properly for Chinese budget buyers, but it's not a good idea.
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What is it?
There were a lot of cheap EVs in China. For more than five years, we have marveled at cars like the Wuling Hongguang Mini EV, a small two-door electric car that costs as much as a mid-tier laptop. But they were barely cars. Even in China, safety and performance concerns surrounded these ultra-compact urban commuters. They can't go very fast; cars like the Wuling Hongguang Mini EV only have 20 horsepower motors, which makes them uncomfortable on Chinese highways. Many of them did not have airbags or were not so much in the way of collision protection, so even among two cars of similar size, the accident was not a problem for the occupants.
But China's auto market is maturing. Sales of these super box cars have given way to more modern and sophisticated EV designs. The result is safer and more dignified, giving low-income drivers the opportunity to access EVs that are well-settled with too much money. I would like to argue that BYD Seagull is one of the first people to master this formula. BYD made a small EV that felt like a real car. It had 75 horsepower, 4 airbags, and a chassis with a modern look, all priced less than the glorious neighborhood electric car that was once popular at the lower end of the Chinese market. The EX2 looks at BYD Seagull from the front, but on its face, the two cars are actually not as similar as you might think.
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(Chinese specification) The BYD Seagull is the same size as the a-segment Chevrolet Spark EV, but the extra 14-inch length and nearly 4-inch width of the EX2 put it close to a true sub-compact like the Chevrolet Sonic. The extra bit of length and width is more spacious than the Seagull; I have never found the Seagull cramped, especially for its petite dimensions, but the extra length and width give the EX2 an internal advantage over the BYD. The Seagull can only accommodate four passengers, while the EX2 can easily swallow five people.
Underneath, Xinguan also feels a little more special. Seagull's front motor, its semi-independent rear torsion beam axle and front-wheel drive design resemble any small hatchback from the past 35 years, but the EX2 is very sophisticated for small, inexpensive cars. The EX2 is rear-wheel drive and has a completely independent rear suspension. The EX2 has a 2.5 cubic foot frunk, and the Seagull's nose has a motor and electronics that can move the car back and forth. When the seats are folded, Geely's 46.6 cubic feet of interior cargo room is perfect for BYD Seagull's 32 cubic feet of storage.
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What is it like to be together?
My time at EX2 was limited to a short Gymkhana-style lap or two in the parking lot near Geely's world headquarters in Hangzhou, China. All the cars tested were powered by the same 40 horsepower motor powered by a battery of 114 kWh. The price tested was around $11,000, which was cheap for most of us in the West and quite competitive in China's small EV sub-compact hatchback and crossover class.
Dynamically, EX2 is fine. It is clearly tailored for the Chinese market, which values comfort rather than sporty drive. The steering is light without feeling too much, but accurate. The suspension is very soft, and the EX2 has a fairly high amount of body lean for such a small car. Pushing it too hard will understeer, but that's probably intentional. From Chinese spec to Chinese spec, I think I prefer to drive a seagull, but the EX2 is not bad. Geely claims about 11.5 seconds of 0-62 m/hr for a car, which is accurate and suitable for most drivers, especially in China. I didn't have enough space to go that fast, but even with a passenger car, it felt good enough.
As with my observations at BYD Seagull a year ago, it's impressive how sophisticated high-tech EX2 is at such a low price. I used to be inside a cheap car made for the so-called developing market, but through ride, handling or NVH issues, it can sometimes become clear that there are many parts, components, tuning and improvements that were not made on some of the cheaper models. But the EX2 is a smooth ride, quiet and sophisticated, and literally not less than half the price of the cheapest car on the U.S. market. The EX2's Flyme Auto infotainment system feels speedy, easy to use, and just as well-made as any other car made by Geely, which is more than five times the price.
Why is this important?
I think the real standout quality of the EX2 is how seemingly more suitable it is for a real, average Joe driver compared to the competition. This car really hits all the right notes and shows that Geely is listening closely to what Chinese drivers want, giving them something that its biggest competitors do not have. But that doesn't make competition irrelevant. The BYD Seagull is also cheaper and may be slightly cheaper than the EX2. Seagull also comes with BYD's "God's Eye" ADAS software, which includes city driving on autopilot and lane keeping assist, which is not common in cars as cheap as this in China.
But as you can guess from the number of sales, I feel that sophisticated ADAS may not be as sales drivers as some might think. When it comes to ADAS functionality, Geely EX2's suite is basic and offers nothing more than traditional cruise control. I would like to bet that the larger interior and extra power are more attractive to virtually minded buyers on a budget rather than pseudo-autonomous driving technology. If I was on a budget I would rather kind of be able to steer myself in very limited situations rather than carry more people.
This preference for larger affordable models is reflected in the Chinese market, too. Geely EX2 may have been the first, but other manufacturers have copied the same playbook in variations. Chery has regained its infamous QQ name for EV hatchbacks of similar size and price. Leapmotor's new A10 (B03X for markets outside China) is also fit for EX2 with similar pricing. China has the new gaggle of small hatchbacks and crossover EVs, all starting at about starting $9,000, with five seats and a full suite of infotainment features, not necessarily the most advanced ADAS suite. (Most of the things that offer sophisticated ADAS functionality make them optional. On their faces, they look more practical than the 4-seater BYD. For us here in North America, these cars look like what the doctor ordered for a cheap and practical EV. We're all looking for a less expensive EV that can still carry people and won't feel uncomfortable behind the wheel or on the road. In its current state, the Geely EX2 didn't feel that much change was needed to make it delicious in markets outside of China.
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