loading . . . We test drove four small/mid-size EV SUVs. Having passed my driving license test, Jo and I decided it was time to look at buying a new car. Prior to moving into my house, I debated if I should get a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) or a simple hybrid - EVs were not at all on my radar.
### Why EV?
After I moved to my new home, I was still skeptical if I should get an EV ā range anxiety being the primary reason. Not having a nearly independent energy setup was another - a comparative analysis indicated that running costs for an electric vehicle when not having access to a home charging setup would be similar, if not slightly higher than petrol cars.
The below is an annual running cost breakdown that I did for three different car categories. Some assumptions:
* Home Charging Cost: $0 (utilizing my 42kWh battery + solar).
* Public DC Charging: $0.75/kWh (for long-distance top-ups).
* Fuel: $1.75/L
* Total Annual Distance: ~18,720 km based on:
* average of 60 kms a week in city driving
* smaller road trip of 300km once a month - _assumes this falls within the Geely's range_
* semi-long 1000km road trip once a month - _assumes_ _we start with 100% solar charge and pay for public charging for the remaining 600-700km of the 1,000km trip._
The cost comparison was quite interesting to say the least - below tables indicate the running costs for home charging setup vs. public/grid charging
Feature | Toyota RAV4 Hybrid | Geely EX5 (EV) | BYD Sealion 6 (PHEV)
---|---|---|---
City Driving (3,120 km) | $262 (Petrol) | $0 (Solar) | $0 (Solar)
Small Trip (3,600 km) | $302 (Petrol) | $0 (Solar) | $300 (Petrol)
Long Trip (12,000 km) | $1,008 (Petrol) | $972 (Public DC) | $1,255 (Petrol)
Total Annual Cost | $1,572 | $972 | $1,555
Feature | Toyota RAV4 Hybrid | Geely EX5 (EV) | BYD Sealion 6 (PHEV)
---|---|---|---
City Driving (3,120 km) | $262 (Petrol) | $157 (Grid) | $157 (Grid)
Small Trips (3,600 km) | $302 (Petrol) | $181 (Grid) | $297 (Grid + Petrol)
Long Trips (12,000 km) | $1,008 (Petrol) | $1,183 (Grid + Public DC) | $1,105 (Grid + Petrol)
Total Annual Cost | $1,572 | $1,521 | $1,559
I almost considered getting a PHEV but it didn't make a lot of sense given that the short range of the batteries would mean I'd be carrying dead weight during the larger road trips.
* * *
We booked test drives for four cars on the same day - the GAC Aion V, the BYD Atto 3, the Geely EX5, and the MG S5. Here's what we found.
### GAC Aion V
GAC Aion V
The GAC was the first car we tested, and I have to say, first impressions were pretty good. The driving position felt a bit lower than what I expected, or rather, the hood felt higher, so it felt like I was looking straight on rather than having a commanding view of the road. Initially, this annoyed me, but I quickly realized the seat height was adjustable, and once I sorted that out, the position became a lot better.
One of the first things I noticed was the regenerative braking - it automatically slows down a bit when you lift off the accelerator, unlike standard petrol cars where you have to explicitly press the brake. It's not a dramatic slowdown, but it's noticeable and something you'd get used to quickly.
The car was impressively quiet - I could actually hear the music clearly, even with the volume reduced. CarPlay connected quickly, and the car has traffic speed detection systems that automatically announce when the speed limit changes. Pretty handy feature. As with most systems, it wasn't able to accurately detect school zone hours or not, and in no time, the pretty handy feature became annoying.
**The Interior Experience**
The seats are pretty comfortable - very soft and supportive. The lumbar support is excellent; I haven't felt the need to constantly adjust my sitting position like I usually do. It's got a really good hugging position, which I think would be great for longer drives. There's wireless charging for your phone (it's CarPlay plus wireless charging), decent cupholders, and plenty of storage space. The back seat has lots of room - Jo said her feet weren't even touching the front seat, and that's with me in a comfortable driving position.
There's no sunroof, but there is a moonroof (a moonroof doesn't open, for those wondering). The 360-degree cameras are excellent, especially for reversing - really useful when parking. The turning angle is pretty good too; I was able to get out of a tight spot without much fuss.
The most glaring omission, however, was a lack of a glovebox. You just get two hooks - Iām not quite sure what the designers were thinking when they did this.
**The Drive**
The steering is light and quite comfortable. I've heard complaints about it being floaty, but I didn't find that to be the case. It felt responsive and easy to handle. The car is incredibly smooth - whether I was going at low speed or medium speed, I couldn't feel any bumps. The sound system could use some work though - it lacks a bit of bass and feels a bit flat. The mids and treble could use a boost as well, but it's not overpowering with bass, which I actually appreciate.
There's a small driver dash screen showing the driver information, including tire pressure monitoring, map display (though it doesn't show turn-by-turn instructions), and what song is playing.
**Pricing & Verdict**
The GAC Aion V Premium is priced around $42,000 AUD. It's a solid car with plenty of room, good comfort, and impressive smoothness on the road. The back seat was a bit bumpier than the front when we were on internal roads, but overall, it's a very comfortable vehicle. There is a Luxury variant which comes with leather seats and an in-built fridge in the center console. While we didn't get to test drive this, we sat briefly in the Luxury variant and didn't feel any difference in the seats.
* * *
### BYD Atto 3
BYD Atto 3
Next up was the BYD Atto 3. Right off the bat, the seating position felt too low with no proper under-thigh support - this was my main complaint. The visibility is slightly better than the GAC, probably because the windscreen has a different slope.
**Power and Handling**
The Atto 3 doesn't have as much power as the GAC - it feels a lot slower and more laggy to respond. When I pressed the accelerator, it felt like the car was deciding whether it wanted to respond or not. It's bumpier compared to the GAC, not as smooth, though I'm not sure if that's because we were going through a lot of roundabouts at the time.
After switching to sports mode (using the voice command "Hey BYD, switch drive mode to sport"), things improved but not a lot. The car felt a bit more responsive, but even then, it didn't feel as refined as the GAC. In eco mode, the power delivery felt quite sluggish.
**Interior and Features**
The seats are decent but not as plush as the GAC. The headrest is not adjustable, which could be a problem for some people. The back seat has decent leg space, but not as much as the GAC. There is a sunroof though, which can be opened with a voice command.
The driver display dash is more in-your-face and easier to read compared to the GAC because of the better background contrast. However, the map display isn't as intuitive. The regenerative braking can be adjusted between standard and strong modes, which gives you more control. One last party trick was being able to rotate the display to portrait mode, but not while in Apple CarPlay/Android Auto mode, which defeats the purpose as I expect most people to use them.
**Voice Commands**
The voice commands are... interesting. "Hey BYD" works for some commands like opening the sunroof and switching drive modes, but it's not as reliable as I'd like. We tried "Hey BYD, close the sunroof" multiple times, and it didn't recognize the command consistently.
**Verdict**
The BYD Atto 3 is a decent car but falls short when compared directly to the GAC. The main factors that would influence the decision are the brand name, dealership network, and the sunroof feature. The sunroof is nice but not a must-have - when you're driving on the motorway, you can't really use it because of the wind noise. In the city, you're more likely to keep the windows up anyway. The moonroof on the GAC gives you brightness without the noise factor.
Price-wise, I think the BYD is slightly cheaper than the GAC (it's also a slightly smaller car), but I don't see any compelling driving reasons to choose it over the GAC. If the price difference is significant, it might be worth considering, but otherwise, the GAC feels like the better package.
### Geely EX5
Geely EX5
The third car we tested was the Geely EX5, and honestly, this one impressed me the most. The Geely was also the first car that I was interested in, but when we went to the Castlehill dealership, we were told there was no stock and there was a minimum wait time of 2 months. However, at the Blacktown dealership - the sales rep was far more personable and was really great to chat with.
**Seating and Comfort**
The seating position is excellent - probably the best of the three. I liked how high the seat position is; it gives you a really good view of the road. Good visibility, good space, and comfortable seating. The steering wheel is not circular (it's slightly flattened), which some people might find weird, but I got used to it pretty quickly.
The steering feel is similar to the GAC - responsive and comfortable. The build quality feels pretty good, and the driving position is very natural. Unlike both the BYD and the GAC, I didn't feel like I was sitting in an awkward position. Both the GAC and BYD seats felt a bit high on the sides, so I had to sit in a slightly hunched position, but the Geely let me sit normally and comfortably.
**Performance**
The power delivery is excellent. I could feel the regenerative braking working effectively, but it wasn't very strong. The acceleration is good and responsive without feeling sluggish.
One thing that's slightly annoying (or it's supposed to be a feature) is that there are speakers inside the headrest, so you feel the navigation directions coming from the back of your head, which makes you want to turn your head. It's a bit distracting at first, but something you'd get used to easily.
**Interior Features**
There's a proper glove box (which Jo was very happy about - apparently, this is important for storing stuff!), a wireless charging pad, two cupholders, and decent storage. The music system is supposedly one of the best in its class, and I have to agree - it's got good punchy bass and clear sound quality. Definitely better than both the GAC and the BYD.
The car is very silent inside. The suspension feels good - I didn't feel anything bad about it, at least on these roads. The back seat is smooth too - Jo said she couldn't see much difference between the back and front in terms of comfort, even on narrow roads.
**Comparison to Others**
The styling feels similar to the GAC in terms of interiors and positioning. The car is a bit smaller than the GAC but feels just as roomy for four adults (five can fit). The turning radius is pretty good - I did a tight turn without much fuss, and it felt very easy.
I didn't feel much difference between eco mode and sports mode in the Geely - the car felt good in both modes. In the BYD, eco mode was pretty much unusable, and even sports mode didn't feel great.
**Heads-Up Display**
One minor issue: the heads-up display is barely visible with polarized sunglasses (the polarization cancels out the display). Without the sunglasses or in low sun conditions, it's visible, but in bright sun with polarized glasses, you can't see anything.
**The Final Test**
The Geely handled everything with ease - smooth acceleration, good braking, comfortable ride. Jo tested the back seat on all and confirmed that the Geely's back seat is the smoothest of the lot.
### MG S5
MG S5 EV
The fourth car we tested was the MG S5, and this was an interesting comparison, especially since it's a rear-wheel drive unlike the other three.
**Interior and Build**
The interior feels very similar to the Geely EX5. There's a proper glove box (always appreciated!), two cupholders, and wireless charging. The styling and positioning are quite similar to the Geely - I didn't feel any significant difference between the two in terms of interior layout.
The sitting position is actually pretty good - I felt like I was sitting a lot straighter and taller, at a really good height. I could see a lot further ahead compared to the EX5. The visibility is excellent, comparable to the Geely.
**Driving Experience**
The steering feel is similar to the other cars we tested, and the build quality feels pretty good. However, the power delivery is a bit lacking - it's not as bad as the BYD Atto 3, but it's not as good as the EX5 either.
In sport mode, I could feel the power coming in a bit more, but the steering became a lot heavier - it was harder to turn, requiring more effort. The sport mode also makes the suspension a lot stiffer, which means less bouncing around but you actually feel the bumps harder because the stiffer suspension requires more force to absorb impacts completely.
One thing I noticed is that the start is a bit jerky - the power delivery isn't as smooth as the Geely. It's more noticeable in sport mode. This was kind of surprising because everyone praises the MG as a nice driver's car, but I found the jerkiness a bit off-putting.
**Rear-Wheel Drive - Any Difference?**
The MG S5 is rear-wheel drive, which I was curious to try. Honestly? I don't feel any difference whatsoever compared to the front-wheel drive cars we tested. I think rear-wheel drive advantages might be more noticeable on wet roads or in risky driving conditions, but for normal day-to-day driving, I couldn't tell the difference.
**Other Observations**
The 360-degree camera doesn't come on automatically - it only pops up when you're stationary, which sort of defeats the purpose. I remember seeing a YouTuber mentioning the same complaint. The turning radius is noticeably wider than the Geely - I couldn't do a full U-turn as easily as I could in the EX5.
The back seat is pretty decent with good space, though probably not as much as the Geely. It's slightly narrower in the back. Jo mentioned feeling a little bit more thrown about during turns, and I'm not sure if it's the rear-wheel drive setup or just the suspension tuning.
The sound system is pretty okay - nothing great. I think the Geely's sound system was much better. It feels like the sound is coming from somewhere far away rather than being immersive. The wireless charger had trouble charging my iPhone 14 with a silicone cover on. After I removed the cover, it started charging, albeit very slowly.
There's no heads-up display on the MG, but they have a display panel that's positioned a bit lower.
**Pricing and Verdict**
The MG S5 is priced in the mid-40s, around $48,000 AUD. The speed limit detection is pretty bad - it keeps picking up school zones and you hear the ping-pong sound constantly. However, there's a button to customize and disable it, so it's not a dealbreaker.
The back seat is fairly comfortable, and as smooth as the EX5 in terms of handling. The brakes are smooth and not annoying. Overall, it's a pretty decent car with no major complaints.
That said, when it comes down to the EX5 versus the MG, I'd still go for the EX5 even if it's 2-3K more expensive because it feels a lot nicer. The smoother power delivery, better sound system, and overall refinement make the Geely worth the extra money. If there's a 5-6K price difference, the MG would be worth considering purely from a value-for-money perspective, but given they're similarly priced, the EX5 is the better choice.
### Final Thoughts and Our Decision
After a full day of test driving, here's how I'd rank them:
1. **Geely EX5** - The clear winner. Best driving position, most responsive, great sound system, and smooth ride overall. The power delivery is smooth and refined, and the overall package just feels right.
2. **GAC Aion V** - A very solid second choice. Incredibly smooth, comfortable seats, good tech features, and plenty of room. The only downsides are the sound system, the slightly lower driving position (though adjustable), and the lack of a glovebox. This was a close second.
3. **MG S5** - Good value for money and decent overall. The rear-wheel drive didn't make a noticeable difference in daily driving, and the jerky power delivery was a bit disappointing. The wider turning radius and lack of refinement compared to the Geely put it in third place.
4. **BYD Atto 3** - Decent but doesn't stand out. The sluggish power delivery (even in sports mode) and the seating position issues make it hard to recommend unless there's a significant price advantage.
**Our Final Pick: Geely EX5**
After weighing all the factors - driving experience, comfort, features, and pricing - we decided to go with the Geely EX5. While all four cars had their strengths, the EX5 simply felt like the best of the lot. The combination of excellent driving position, smooth and responsive power delivery, superior sound system, and overall refinement made it stand out from the competition.
The deciding factors for us were:
* **Driving experience** : The EX5 felt the most refined and enjoyable to drive
* **Comfort** : Both front and back seats were comfortable without compromises
* **Build quality** : Felt solid and well-put-together
* **Value** : Even at a slightly higher price point, it felt worth the extra money
We've booked the car in Jungle Green colour and the car has an approximate delivery time of end of June. Had we opted for the light interior trim, it would have been available earlier but we felt it would have gotten dirty pretty easily and would be hard to keep it clean. https://sathyabh.at/we-test-drove-four-small-mid-size-ev-suvs/
