Meet the Geely EX5, the latest in the tidal wave of Chinese cars to land on our shores but this one has a valuable friend in the UK.

Not a name you are likely to have heard of so let’s start with some housekeeping.

Who is Geely? The company is big in China and has been producing cars for nearly 30 years and has a strong connection with Europe because it is the money behind Volvo, Polestar, Smart… and Lotus.

It is entering the market at the height of Chinese brand popularity, in fact the speed at which new Chinese models are shaping our market is frightening. The big players are BYD, Jaecoo and Omoda and together they sold more cars in January than Volkswagen, the UK’s biggest brand.

The Geely is classed as a compact SUV but this car is spacious throughout with more legroom than expected for back seat passengers who get a nice flat floor and wide enough for three adults to sit comfortably.

Although built in China it was designed in Milan, its classic shape pleasing on the eye if a tad conservative compared to some Chinese rivals. It does not have the scary face of a Jaecoo 7 or the beautiful styling of the X-Peng G6; more the soft, uncluttered lines of a Porsche Macan which is no bad thing.

So what can we expect from this Geely EX5? It is Chinese and that means tech, tech, and even more tech. Apart from a fast demist button, everything goes through a whopping central touchscreen. I am getting used to this type of car but they are still a challenge.

You can’t just jump in and drive away, well you could obviously, but learning how the car functions first is time well spent. I liken it to swatting for an exam and hoping you remember the answers when you open the paper.

The saving grace is voice control as long as you can remember how to say the commands. Too often the reply is ‘I am still learning this function, please try again later’. It does not turn off immediately and records your conversation prompting another reply from our friendly lady. All a bit annoying.

That said, the touchscreen is reasonably easy to master. There is a lot to take in with menus and sub menus but is clearly laid out, it’s just that there is so much of it and there are probably functions I never found. The most useful were the automatic heated seats and heated steering wheel which come on as soon as you are in the car. It is the same for the ventilated seats.

I mentioned the conservative styling, well that changes in the cabin. It is stunning and I would suggest taking a look at the ivory trim. This top of the range model is all but £37k but could pass for a 50 grand motor, it is that special. Dominating the cabin is a long central bridge with exquisite detailing and adds such class to the car. On a practical side this creates a substantial storage area underneath to compliment 32 other storage areas.

Getting to the business end the Lotus factor has paid huge dividends because the springs, dampers and anti roll bars have been refined by Lotus engineers so the Geely’s ride and handling is rather good and sends a ‘we’re coming for you’ message to Chinese rivals.

The battery pack is 60.22kW giving a range of 267 miles which is down on some European makes. The Renault Scenic’s 87kW battery gives a range around 370 miles and the Seat Tavascan is in the same ballpark. Performance is lively enough and the Geely can take a 160kW DC charge so 30-80 per cent is reached in 20 minutes.

A full charge from a standard 7kW home charger takes just over six hours and using the remote control app can take advantage of cheaper EV tariffs some of which start in the middle of the night so you choose when to start and stop. The car can also be used to charge an e-bike and other plug-in devices, handy if you are into camping and other lifestyle activities.

Geely has hit the ground running with EX5 and is sending out a strong message. It feels quality, has a long list of standard equipment and the usual full suite of safety features. This is the start and we can expect 10 more models over the next three years. Watch this space.

Fast facts

Geely EX5 Max

£36,990 (starts £31,990)

Battery 60.22kW

Range: 267 miles

0-62mph 7.1secs; 109mph

214bhp

Emissions: Zero

Boot: 461-1877 litres

Warranty: 6 years; battery 8 years

Insurance group: 35-36