Small electric cars aren’t exactly omnipresent on Philippine roads. Even as more people warm up to EVs, most buyers are still drawn to crossovers and SUVs – big, roomy, and ready for family duty.
However, with fuel prices climbing, more charging stations popping up, and electric cars getting cheaper, some people are finally giving small EVs a second look for their daily grind. The growing number of small EVs on the streets is proving that pint-sized electrics actually make a lot of sense for city life.
Enter Geely, crashing the party with the new EX2. With prices starting at P938,000 for the Pro and just over a million for the Max, the EX2 jumps right into the thick of the local EV boom. We got a quick spin behind the wheel, and it turns out this little hatchback has more going for it than just a tempting sticker price.
Globally, the EX2 isn’t just another new face. In fact, it was China’s bestselling passenger car in 2025 and kept the crown into 2026. It’s also the world’s top-selling A/B-segment EV right now. Sure, big sales don’t always mean a great drive, but clearly, this little Geely has already struck a chord with buyers in the world’s biggest car market.
What grabs us first is how Geely has packaged the EX2. It’s only 4,135 mm long, but with a 2,650-mm wheelbase, the EX2 is all about squeezing out as much interior space as possible. The wheels are shoved right out to the corners, so you get a roomy cabin without losing that city-friendly footprint.
Step inside, and you’ll be surprised – the cabin feels way bigger than you’d expect from the outside. There’s loads of space up front, and even adults can stretch out in the back without suffering the usual hatchback knee-crunch. It won’t shatter every expectation, but it’s definitely roomier than most cars this size.
In terms of practicality, the cargo area offers 375 liters of luggage space, expanding to 1,320 liters with the rear seats folded, believe it or not. Numerous storage compartments are scattered throughout the cabin, while the addition of a 70-liter front trunk provides useful space for charging cables, bags, or small groceries – probably best for stowage of items you don’t want inside the cabin. It’s a thoughtful feature that owners are likely to appreciate in everyday use.
The dashboard is pure modern EV minimalism. Front and center is a massive 14.6-inch touchscreen running Geely’s Flyme Auto system, backed up by an 8.8-inch digital gauge cluster.
You get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the menus zipped along during our drive. Like most new EVs, nearly everything is handled through the touchscreen, so button-lovers might need a minute to adjust. Still, the setup is pretty easy to figure out.
Equipment levels are generous considering the price. The EX2 comes equipped with adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning, and a 540-degree camera system that provides a view around and beneath the vehicle during low-speed maneuvers. Safety technology that was once reserved for significantly more expensive vehicles has become increasingly common in Chinese EVs, and the EX2 continues that trend.
Power comes from a rear-mounted electric motor with 114 horsepower and 150 Nm of torque. The numbers might not wow you, but like most EVs, the instant torque makes the EX2 feel punchier than the spec sheet lets on.
Our drive was limited to roughly 15 minutes, so it wasn’t enough to fully evaluate performance in a variety of conditions. Even so, the EX2 left a favorable first impression.
Acceleration from a standstill is brisk, making it well suited to urban traffic where quick responses are more valuable than outright speed. The rear-wheel-drive layout also gives the car a slightly different character compared to the front-wheel-drive setups commonly found in this segment. It feels balanced through corners and remains easy to position in traffic.
Surprisingly, the EX2’s ride quality is good. Small cars usually have a tough time juggling comfort and handling, especially on unforgiving surfaces (a.k.a. Philippine roads). The EX2 soaks up bumps without turning mushy, and body roll stays in check when you change direction. From what we saw, the suspension hits a sweet spot between daily comfort and confidence.
The steering, though, is a bit of a letdown. It’s super light – great for parking and whizzing through traffic – but it doesn’t really tell you what the front wheels are up to. If you want sharp feedback, you might be left wanting, but for daily commuting, most people probably won’t mind.
Of course, a quick test drive only tells half the story. We still need to see how it holds up over time, how the battery copes with Philippine heat, what charging is really like, and what kind of range you’ll get in the real world. That’ll have to wait for a longer test.
Still, the early signs look good. The EX2 isn’t trying to reinvent the affordable EV, but it does polish the formula with a roomy cabin, smart packaging, loads of tech, and driving manners that feel more grown-up than the price tag hints at. That last bit sure ticks the boxes in terms of value.
It had to be said, but the EX2’s toughest rival is the BYD Seagull, which has already set the bar for budget EVs here and abroad. But Geely fights back with seriously more space inside, rear-wheel drive, and a seriously impressive features list – giving buyers another tough contender in a crowded field.
After a quick first drive, the EX2 looks like it’s more than just another cheap electric hatch. If it’s as good to live with as it is to drive, Geely might have just dropped one of the best value EVs you can buy in the Philippines right now.
