Words: Richard Edwards
Published 18 August 2026
Geely’s extended range EX5 has arrived in New Zealand, with the bigger-battery electric SUV now open for pre-order through the brand’s dealer network.
The new Inspire Extended Range replaces the standard Inspire at the top of the two-variant line-up, priced from $56,990 plus on-road costs, a $3,000 increase over the outgoing car. It carries a WLTP range of 450km, up 40km on the previous Inspire’s 410km, courtesy of a larger 68kWh version of Geely’s Aegis Short Blade LFP battery in place of the old 60kWh pack.
Dane Fisher, who heads Geely distributor NordEast, confirmed the arrival to us this week, ahead of an official announcement expected within days. “EX5’s now got extended range, so over 450 kilometre range,” he says.
The arrival comes sooner than expected. In March we reported that the updated model was likely a late-2026 proposition for New Zealand, with the bigger battery reaching Australian showrooms first.
The entry EX5 Complete continues unchanged at $49,990 with the 60kWh battery and a 430km WLTP rating.
The extra kilometres address the main reservation from our test of the Inspire last year, where real-world mixed driving returned around 340km per charge. How much of the new 450km claim survives contact with New Zealand roads is something we’ll find out when cars arrive.
Beyond the bigger battery, the Inspire Extended Range carries over the previous Inspire’s equipment advantage, adding a head-up display, 16-speaker Flyme Sound system, ventilated front seats, panoramic sunroof, electric tailgate and 19-inch alloy wheels over the Complete.
The drivetrain is unchanged, with a 160kW/320Nm motor driving the front wheels through Geely’s 11-in-one integrated electric drive unit, and DC fast charging at up to 100kW for a 30 to 80% top-up in a claimed 20 minutes.
At $56,990 the Extended Range holds its position against the mid-sized electric SUV pack, sitting below the entry Tesla Model Y while asking a premium over the BYD Atto 3 and MG S5 it out-ranges.
Its arrival lands mid-way through Geely NZ’s winter promotion, which bundles three years of free home charging and an Evnex home charger with EX5 purchases until 30 September.
The EX5 has been the volume anchor of Geely’s return to New Zealand, with more than 300 registered since the brand’s local launch in early 2025, and Fisher says the operation is scaling faster than planned. “Geely is really starting to grow,” he says. Pricing for the incoming EX2 small car was confirmed this week at $32,990, the extended range Starray EM-i plug-in hybrid is landing this month, and Fisher says “there is a huge model range coming for Geely.”
That growth extends across the wider NordEast portfolio. “The growth is much faster than we thought. I said by 2028 we’ll sell 5,000 electrified vehicles. I think that’s going to come forward,” says Fisher.
All EX5s carry Geely’s seven-year unlimited-kilometre warranty and three years of roadside assistance, extendable to seven years with dealer servicing.
