The numbers are staggering. Geely sold roughly 600 000 of these little hatchbacks in China last year alone, a figure that single-handedly outpaces the entire South African new car market for 2025. That kind of volume suggests it has cracked a formula, and now that formula has landed on our shores with an asking price that demands attention.
At R339 900 for the Aspire and R389 900 for the Apex I had on test, the Geely E2 officially claims the crown as South Africa's most affordable electric vehicle. It undercuts the BYD Dolphin Surf by a scant R2 000 at entry level, but before you write that off as a cynical pricing exercise, consider what you are getting for that money. I spent time behind the wheel on local roads to find out if the value proposition holds up when the tarmac meets the rubber.
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The E2 sits on Geely's dedicated GEA electric platform, measuring 4 135 mm in length with a wheelbase stretching to 2 650 mm. That wheelbase is nearly 10 0mm longer than a VW Polo and the packaging efficiency of the electric skateboard layout becomes immediately apparent when you climb inside. The cabin floor is completely flat, translating into proper rear legroom that genuinely surprises given the car's compact footprint.
Step into the Apex model, and the interior punches above its price bracket. Vegan leather upholstery and soft-touch surfaces on the dashboard elevate the experience beyond what you would expect from a budget-minded city car. A 14,6-inch infotainment screen dominates the dash, running Geely's Flyme Auto system, paired with an 8,8-inch digital driver display. The system boots up quickly and mirrors Apple CarPlay and Android Auto without lag, though smartphone mirroring is currently wired rather than wireless.
Practicality is where the E2 really shows its cleverness. The rear boot offers 375 litres of cargo space, expanding to 1 320 litres with the second row folded. But the party trick is the 70-litre ‘frunk’ under the bonnet, a brilliantly conceived storage compartment that is perfect for keeping dirty charging cables separate from your shopping. Geely also claims 30 different storage compartments dotted around the cabin, which is either impressive organisation or an invitation to lose your house keys in a new location every day.
The single electric motor sends 85 kW and 150 Nm to the rear wheels, which is 30 kW and 15 Nm more than the BYD Dolphin Surf offers. The claimed 0-100km/h sprint time of 11,5 seconds sounds modest on paper, comparable to a naturally aspirated petrol hatchback, but that is not the whole story. The immediate torque delivery from zero rpm gives the E2 a responsive, peppy character in urban traffic that the numbers simply cannot convey.
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Throttle response is smooth and linear, with none of the herky-jerky regen behaviour that plagues some budget EVs. Several driving modes and energy recuperation levels are accessible through the touchscreen and even the most aggressive regen setting avoids feeling intrusive. The steering is well-weighted, light enough for easy manoeuvring in tight spots yet gaining pleasing heft when you push on.
The ride quality deserves particular mention. A multi-link rear suspension setup, combined with the low centre of gravity from the floor-mounted battery pack, delivers impressive compliance over the kind of road imperfections that have become a grim feature of Johannesburg's suburbs. Directional changes are drama-free, and the E2 does a decent job of hiding its 1 300 kg kerb weight.
There's a catch, though, and it is one you will need to weigh carefully. Geely claims a top speed of 130 km/h, and during testing on a private road, it struggled at the top end so, while it is enough to maintain the national speed limit, overtaking on busy highways requires careful planning and a heavy right foot. The limitation is clearly a range-optimisation strategy, confirming this car's focus as an urban appliance rather than a long-distance cruiser.
The official consumption claim sits at 15,2 kWh/100km, but my mixed route testing through city traffic and highway stretches consistently returned figures between 12 and 14kWh/100km. That is exceptional efficiency and the 325 km WLTP range claim is achievable within stop-start city environments.
The 39,4 kWh LFP battery accepts DC fast charging at up to 70 kW, covering the 30%-80% spread in around 25 minutes. At home, a full AC charge takes roughly six and a half hours using the included wallbox charger. Geely Finance is sweetening the deal with a complimentary wallbox, an emergency charger and a R7 500 public charging voucher for financed units.
Two practical considerations stand out for local buyers. First, the E2 relies entirely on a tyre repair kit and pressure monitoring system, with no physical spare wheel provided. In a country where potholes can claim sidewalls without warning, that is a genuine concern that demands awareness of your regular route's road quality.
Second, the Vehicle-to-Load capability offers a uniquely South African advantage. In a country navigating load-shedding, the ability to power a kettle, television or office monitors from the car's battery transforms the E2 from mere mobility tool into a mobile backup generator. That's a feature internal combustion simply cannot match.
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The Geely E2 is not trying to be all things to all people. It does not pretend to be a weekend getaway machine or a cross-country tourer. What it does offer is honest, hyper-efficient metropolitan transport at an entry price that finally makes electric mobility accessible to the South African mainstream.
The maths works particularly well for two-car households looking to sideline a petrol guzzler for school runs and office commutes. The energy savings over a typical month of city driving are substantial, and with home solar, those savings become even more compelling.
The lingering questions revolve around brand perception and long-term residual value. Geely is re-establishing itself in South Africa, and while the dealer network is expanding rapidly from 33 active locations toward 45 by year-end, confidence in resale values remains a bet on the brand's longevity.
But for buyers shopping in the EV space with a budget under R400 000, the E2 makes a compelling case. Geely did not just launch an affordable EV; it launched a very smart one.
Colin Windell for Colin-on-Cars in association with
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