[ĐÁNH GIÁ XE] Driving the Geely EX5 EM-i from Hanoi to Soc Son: Very leisurely, very spacious... but there are 2 points that make me wonder

Hanoi in the early days of summer always has a very unique rhythm of life. The morning begins with a steady stream of cars in the central street, long stops at red lights, the sound of car horns and the feeling of always having to stretch yourself in the middle of crowded traffic.

And that is also the reason why Plug-in Hybrid SUVs like the Geely EX5 EM-i are gradually becoming a more interesting choice than ever. No need to rely too much on charging stations like pure electric cars, but still have a much more smooth, economical and modern operating experience than traditional gasoline cars.

On the journey from Hanoi to Soc Son, passing through crowded inner-city roads and then continuing along the gentle hill roads towards Ham Lon Lake, the Geely EX5 EM-i gives a very clear feeling of a C-class SUV born to serve daily life in a more “leisurely” way, more modern and easier to use.

EX5 EM-i is a new Plug-in Hybrid SUV (PHEV) launched in Vietnam in 2026, possessing Geely’s new generation EM-i hybrid powertrain. The car is equipped with a 1.5L gasoline engine combined with an electric motor with a capacity of about 217 horsepower, accompanied by 11-in-1 integrated electric drive technology.

According to the company’s announcement, the vehicle’s fuel consumption is only about 3.83L/100 km in low battery conditions and the total distance traveled combined with gasoline + electricity can be up to more than 1,000 km – a quite impressive number in the current hybrid SUV segment under 1 billion VND.

The first impression when driving the EX5 EM-i is that the cabin space is really large. Wide in a way that makes people forget this is just a family-oriented C-class SUV.

With a length of about 4,725 mm and a large wheelbase, the car’s rear seats are very comfortable, with plenty of legroom and an airy ceiling. This is the type of space that is suitable for both weekend trips and daily urban use.

Geely also does a pretty good job with the interior design. The EX5 EM-i’s cabin follows a modern minimalist style, but still creates a premium feel thanks to the color scheme and screen layout. In the middle of the dashboard is a large 15.4-inch entertainment screen with a sharp display interface, fast response and full support for modern connections.

In front of the driver there is also a HUD that displays information on the windshield – a very useful equipment when traveling long distances. The EX5 EM-i’s HUD displays speed, navigation, driver assistance warnings and traffic sign recognition. However, the sign reading system is sometimes not really accurate in traffic conditions in Vietnam. There are times when the car does not correctly recognize the speed limit on some roads towards Soc Son.

Leaving the eastern streets of Hanoi, the EX5 EM-i begins to show the typical performance of a PHEV model that favors relaxation. The car accelerates quite smoothly, the coordination between the gasoline engine and electric motor feels seamless and comfortable for most of the time of use. This is the type of car that just needs to be sat in and can be driven very gently without taking too much time to get used to.

Front visibility is a point I highly appreciate on the EX5 EM-i. The A-pillar of the car is quite compact, the windshield is large and airy, so when moving in the city or on gentle hills leading up to Ham Lon Lake, it gives a very pleasant observation feeling.

For a C-class SUV, this is an extremely important point because it creates confidence when driving, especially for those who have just switched from a sedan or hatchback to a high-clearance vehicle.

The car is also fully equipped with driving assistance technologies such as Adaptive Cruise Control, lane keeping assist, 540-degree camera, blind spot warning or emergency brake assist. On the highway sections toward Soc Son, Adaptive Cruise Control operates relatively smoothly and makes the journey significantly more leisurely.

However, the EX5 EM-i still has points that are not really perfect. The point that worries me the most is the feel of the steering wheel.

The car’s steering wheel is light, even too light. In town, this makes turning or turning extremely easy. But when traveling at high speed or going through roads with many continuous changes of direction, the steering wheel feels a bit lacking in compactness and lacks the necessary firmness of hand. There are times when you just need to steer a little too hard and the front of the car reacts quite quickly, creating an unnatural feeling if the driver is not focused. This is the kind of feeling that those used to driving European cars may need time to get used to.

The second point is the braking system. The brakes of the EX5 EM-i are quite sensitive, so sensitive that just lightly touching the brake pedal makes the car respond very strongly. In slow moving conditions in the city, this is not too uncomfortable, but in situations of smooth deceleration or slow stopping, the car sometimes feels a bit sluggish. It’s not an unsafe braking style, but one that needs to be refined to feel more linear and natural.

However, after the whole journey from Hanoi to Soc Son and then around the Ham Lon lake area, the EX5 EM-i is still a car model that leaves a lot of sympathy. This is not an SUV for those who like a sporty driving feel or a heavy, European-style steering wheel. But if you look at it as a modern, spacious, technology-rich, fuel-efficient and easy-to-use family SUV, the EX5 EM-i is doing quite well.

In the segment under 1 billion VND, the EX5 EM-i will compete directly with hybrid and PHEV models that are of great interest such as the BYD Sealion 6 or Jaecoo J7 PHEV. But Geely’s advantage lies in the fact that it is one of the largest auto corporations in China, owning many global brands such as Volvo, Zeekr, Lynk & Co or Lotus. That partly helps users feel more secure about the technology platform as well as the brand’s long-term development orientation in Vietnam.

In the current context, when there are still many people who are not really ready to switch to pure electric cars, Plug-in Hybrid models like the Geely EX5 EM-i are clearly a more reasonable solution. No need to change too many usage habits, no pressure on charging infrastructure, but still get fuel savings and a more modern operating experience than traditional gasoline cars.

And perhaps that is also the reason why hybrid SUV models like the EX5 EM-i are increasingly becoming a more worthy choice in the family car segment today.

Accompanying the Geely Vietnam brand

Reporter (Otoxemay)