Geely has significantly upgraded its electric EX5 for 2027, giving the compact SUV more power, longer driving range, much faster charging and a major change to its drivetrain layout.

Known as the Galaxy E5 in China and the EX5 in international markets, the refreshed electric SUV has officially launched in China with an available 800-volt electrical architecture, rear-wheel drive and a new electric motor producing as much as 333 PS.

The most capable version also offers up to 635 kilometers of driving range under China’s CLTC testing cycle.

Those changes transform the EX5 from a relatively conventional electric crossover into a considerably more advanced EV.

Rear-Wheel Drive Replaces the Previous Layout

One of the biggest mechanical changes is Geely’s decision to move the primary electric motor from the front axle to the rear.

Most updated versions now use rear-wheel drive instead of the front-wheel-drive configuration offered previously.

The new Thunder 16-in-1 electric drive unit produces up to 245 kW, equivalent to approximately 333 PS, together with 320 Nm of torque.

That represents a substantial increase compared with the 160-kW motor used by the current global EX5, which Geely lists at approximately 215 horsepower depending on the market.

With the more powerful drivetrain, the updated Galaxy E5 can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in as little as 5.8 seconds.

Its top speed also rises to approximately 201 km/h.

Those figures place considerably more emphasis on performance than the original version.

New 800-Volt Electrical Architecture

The power increase is only part of the story.

Selected versions of the updated EX5 now use an 800-volt electrical system, a technology increasingly found in newer generations of electric vehicles.

Higher-voltage architectures can provide several advantages, particularly when it comes to fast charging and electrical efficiency.

In the Geely, the new system enables DC charging capability of as much as 460 kW.

That is a massive jump compared with the charging performance of the current global EX5.

For comparison, Geely’s existing international model is marketed with its Short Blade battery and significantly lower charging outputs depending on the country and version. The current vehicle’s global specification highlights rapid charging as one of its principal features, but the new 800-V model takes that capability to another level.

Up to 635 KM of CLTC Range

Geely is offering the new model with second-generation Aegis Short Blade lithium iron phosphate batteries.

Two battery capacities are reported: approximately 61.52 kWh and 70.01 kWh.

The smaller battery provides up to 550 km of claimed CLTC range, while the larger battery increases that figure to as much as 635 km.

CLTC figures should not be directly compared with EPA or WLTP ratings because the Chinese testing procedure generally produces higher range numbers.

Actual driving range will also depend on temperature, driving speed, wheel size, climate-control use and other conditions.

Still, the increase demonstrates Geely’s effort to improve energy efficiency while making the EX5 more suitable for longer journeys.

Charging Is One of the Biggest Upgrades

Perhaps the most significant improvement is charging speed.

The upgraded electrical architecture supports DC charging at up to 460 kW on compatible versions. That is approximately four times the peak capability reported for the previous Chinese model.

Real-world charging performance will depend heavily on the charger being used and battery temperature.

Nevertheless, an EV capable of accepting more than 400 kW under ideal conditions could substantially reduce charging stops compared with older electric crossovers.

Fast charging has become an increasingly important area of competition among Chinese automakers.

Rather than simply increasing battery size, manufacturers are developing batteries and electrical systems capable of absorbing energy more quickly.

The result is an EV market where charging time is becoming nearly as important as maximum range.

The EX5 Is Already a Global Model

The EX5 is particularly interesting because it was developed from the beginning as a global vehicle.

Geely says the original model was engineered to meet regulatory requirements across dozens of countries and was developed with both left- and right-hand-drive configurations.

The SUV is already sold in multiple international markets.

For example, the current EX5 offered in Colombia provides up to 490 km of NEDC range in selected versions and produces 215 hp and 320 Nm.

In Ecuador, Geely currently advertises up to 495 km of NEDC range, 215 hp and a 60.22-kWh LFP battery for the existing vehicle.

Those specifications demonstrate how substantial the Chinese-market upgrade is.

However, Geely has not yet confirmed that every specification of the refreshed Chinese Galaxy E5 will be offered internationally under the EX5 name.

Familiar Design With Major Changes Underneath

Visually, the new model represents an evolution rather than a complete redesign.

That means the most important developments are beneath the body.

The move to rear-wheel drive, a more powerful motor, second-generation batteries and an 800-V electrical system collectively represent a significant technical upgrade.

This approach is becoming increasingly common in the EV industry.

Instead of waiting for an entirely new generation, automakers can substantially improve batteries, motors, software and charging architecture during a model’s normal lifecycle.

For customers, that means the differences between two model years can sometimes be much larger than exterior styling suggests.

A More Competitive Electric SUV

The 2027 Geely EX5 arrives as competition in the electric SUV market becomes increasingly intense.

Consumers are now comparing vehicles not only by price and range but also by charging speed, performance, software, cabin technology and battery architecture.

By adding rear-wheel drive, up to 333 PS, an 800-V system and as much as 635 km of CLTC range, Geely has addressed several of those areas simultaneously.

The big question now is how much of this upgraded technology will reach export markets.

If Geely brings the same powertrain and charging system to international EX5 versions, the updated SUV could represent a considerable step forward over the model currently available outside China.

For now, the refreshed Galaxy E5 provides a strong indication of what the next evolution of the global Geely EX5 could look like.