The appearance of hybrids in the Russian Geely lineup has changed not only the technical начинку of the models, but also the approach to their positioning. The name EX5 EM-i stands out from the usual series of Atlas, Coolray and Emgrand and sounds much more utilitarian than you would expect from a new crossover. In China, the model is sold under the громким name Galaxy Starship 7, but a more down-to-earth option was chosen for our market. At the same time, behind the unremarkable name hides a car that unexpectedly turned out to be one of the most hardy in the hybrid supertest, betting not on эффектность, but on efficiency.
Externally, the EX5 EM-i looks as calm as possible. A streamlined silhouette without sharp lines, a closed front end in the style of electric vehicles, ordinary door handles and the absence of designer experiments form the image of a neutral urban crossover. There is no all-wheel drive, the battery is of a relatively small capacity, and the заявленный запас хода of 943 km according to WLTP looks more modest than that of a number of competitors. Even the equipment does not try to surprise: climate control in all versions is single-zone, and the list of options is more rational than rich.
At the same time, the EX5 EM-i cannot be called compact in size. Its length is 4740 mm, width is 1905 mm, height is 1685 mm, and the wheelbase is 2755 mm. In terms of dimensions, the hybrid surpasses the Geely Atlas in length, but is slightly inferior to it in terms of the distance between the axles. As a result, the model is in the same class as Chery Tiggo 7L, Jaecoo J7 and Haval F7, although there are still few direct hybrid competitors in this segment.
The interior of the EX5 EM-i makes a favorable impression at first acquaintance. The upper part of the front panel is finished with dense leatherette, soft and pleasant to the touch materials are used below. Hard plastic is found only at the bottom, where you almost don't touch it. The interior is made in a restrained style, and a brown finish is available in older versions. The посадka за рулём is comfortable, despite the lack of adjustment of the lumbar support and the tilt of the подушки, and the range of seat and steering wheel settings is enough for drivers of different heights and builds.
The controls combine digital solutions and familiar physics. The mirrors are adjusted with a regular joystick, and the climate control has a separate block of buttons on the central tunnel. However, all winter functions, including heated steering wheel and windshield, are hidden in the multimedia system menu. The heated steering wheel is located in an unexpected section and cannot be quickly programmed to a button, so in winter you have to wait for the system to fully load. The media complex itself works stably, the menu is logical and well Russified, and the instrument panel remains readable in all conditions.
In the second row, the EX5 EM-i offers a lot of space. Even behind a driver with a height of about 180 cm, a passenger can sit with his leg over his leg, with a large supply of space in the knees and above the head. The floor is absolutely flat, the width of the cabin allows you to easily accommodate three people. The подушка of the rear sofa is long, the back is comfortable, and the amenities include heated seats, ventilation deflectors, USB ports, an armrest and individual lighting.
The trunk has a regular shape and a volume of 528 liters, which is less than that of some gasoline competitors. The floor is two-level: in the lower position it adds about 100 liters, but when the seats are folded, a step appears. Under the floor there is a repair kit, an emergency stop sign and a charging cable, there is no spare wheel even in the form of a докатки. Of the equipment - only a hook for bags and a curtain, without a розетки and additional niches.
From a technical point of view, the EX5 EM-i is a hybrid version of the electric EX5 and is built on the GEA platform. The body is 65% made of high-strength steels, and the battery is integrated into the power structure of the bottom, which reduces the center of gravity. The power plant is made according to a series-parallel scheme with front-wheel drive. It is based on a 1.5-liter naturally aspirated engine with a capacity of 99 hp, which works mainly as a generator, but if necessary, connects to the wheels. The EM-i electric module includes two electric motors with a total output of 218 hp, with an estimated tax power of 167 hp. A battery with a capacity of 18.4 kWh provides up to 111 km of хода on electric тяге.
In motion, the EX5 EM-i demonstrates a character focused on calm operation. Electronic assistants work intrusively and do not remember the settings, and the sign recognition system often makes mistakes. But the запас хода is close to the заявленному: in real conditions, the crossover traveled more than 760 km, showing moderate fuel consumption. In the city, the battery lasts for about 100 km, after which the engine actively turns on, without ухудшая dynamics. The suspension is comfortable on small and medium bumps, the sound insulation is decent, but at high speed there is a feeling of disunity between the body and the chassis, and the steering wheel remains empty and uninformative.
Geely EX5 EM-i is offered in two trim levels - Pro and Max, the cost of which fits into the range from 3 669 990 to 3 969 990 rubles. Already in the base there is adaptive cruise control, heated seats, cameras and a full set of assistants, and the top version is complemented by a panoramic roof, a projection display, a кругового обзора system, electric drives and an audio system with 16 speakers.
