The New Zealand launch of Geely, in partnership with Giltrap Group, is part of a global expansion which will likely see the world's tenth-biggest carmaker overtake Nissan, Honda, Ford, and General Motors within the next twelve months.

First to arrive is the EX5, a fully electric mid-sized SUV. It is important to note Geely is not 'just' an electric car maker. The company has a full range of cars and powertrains coming to New Zealand, with a plug-in hybrid expected to join EX5 later in the year. In other words, you can fill up a Geely at the plug, pump…or both.

Ahead of the New Zealand launch, we had the chance to experience the EX5 in Australia, one of the model’s first international launches. Pricing was kept under wraps during the event, attended by journalists from Australia and New Zealand. It was confirmed that the EX5 will come in two versions, Complete and Higher Spec Inspire.

The Geely EX5 starts at $51,990 for the Complete, while the Inspire which adds the sunroof, Heads-up display, high-powered audio, front parking sensors and 19-inch wheels is $55,990.

That razor sharp introductory pricing, which includes a three-year complimentary service plan is a clear indication that Geely sees the Atto is a benchmark for price, even if it's not in the same league when it comes to every other comparison, with the EX5 delivering more space, performance and efficiency than both the BYD and Omoda E5, which is another key competitor.

At just over 4.6 metres long, the EX5 is line ball with the Toyota RAV4. But thanks to the flexibility of a fully electric platform, the EX5 outstretches New Zealand's top seller for cabin space with a 60mm longer wheelbase.

It is very clear from first glance that the EX5 has not been designed to out-SUV the RAV4, with frontal styling that resoundingly states BEV, thanks to the absence of a pointless radiator grill. It gives the EX5 a soft look and masks the actual size of the car in photographs.

If the dimensions were a surprise, the incredibly high level of fit and finish is astonishing for any volume brand. The panel-gaps lines, materials and even the heft and solidity of the doors all felt a level above the competition. A case in point is that the rear door panels get the same soft-touch finish as the front doors, something even some premium brands don't deliver anymore.

Executive Lounge is how Geely describe the feel inside EX5, and that stretches to the ride, which is comfort focused. It is at its best on motorways and urban streets, where the year spent ironing out the quirks of antipodean roads shines through. Geely says they paid special attention to the overabundance of coarse chip surfaces, speedbumps and roundabouts in our cities, and it shows.

Along with the compliant ride is an astonishing level of quiet, just 61.3 decibels at 50 km/h. This, combined with the impressive build quality and low wind noise, produces an ethereal experience on the move. The quiet allows you to hear everything, including the slightly surreal pedestrian sound resembling the chimes of an ice cream van. Geely informed us that this might change for cars sold here; I'm in two minds because it's one of the few quirks to the EX5, which, despite being tech-driven, is pleasantly free of weirdness.

Geely has focused on quality over gimmickry with the EX5, and that is more than a touch of the minimalism seen in the other brands, namely Volvo and Polestar. Still, the simplicity hides some functional wizardry, with the volume knob able to be switched to control climate control or the display on the 15.4-inch screen, which runs Geely's own Flyme operating system.

Flyme (Pronounced fly-me) is yet another Geely subsidiary, and thanks to their proprietary Dragon Eagle operating system, the tech is fast and intuitive; eventually, it will also be inclusive, with both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay phone mirroring connectivity coming later this year as over the air updates. On our drive, connectivity was limited to a more basic Bluetooth connection, enough to test the 16-speaker—1000-watt audio system, another Flyme product. The big sound is one of the perks of opting for the Inspire spec, with the Complete making do with a six-speaker system. The full-noise version of the Inspire comes with real-silk tweeters and headrest-mounted speakers, which only deliver navigation and other commands to the driver. Other Inspire upgrades include a heads-up display, a panoramic sunroof with sunshade and a power tailgate.

Both models share the same 160kW/320 Nm front-mounted power unit, which weighs a touch under 80kg; that leanness adds to a segment-leading efficiency of 15.8 kilowatts per 100km. That equates to an official range of 430km, although the 19-inch wheels on the Inspire version contribute to a slightly reduced 410km range.

That weight also blunts the performance, with the fully equipped EX5 a couple of tenths slower in the 0-100km/h sprint, which the Complete delivers in 6.9 seconds…yet another segment-topping stat.

Energy is stored in a 60kWh battery pack using Short-Blade technology. The stack can be charged at up to 100kW, which results in competition-beating charging performance of 30-80 per cent in as little as 20 minutes. In real-world terms, a ten-minute charge would be enough to drive from Auckland to Hamilton.

Along with the Short-Blade battery tech is Vehicle to Load capability, which means your EX5 can double as a power backup for home or camping. In addition, the camping mode can be programmed to leave enough power to complete the drive home. The EX5 is also equipped with Vehicle-to-Vehicle capability – only the second car in the world to have this – meaning it can charge another vehicle at up to 7kW, the same speed as a standard Wall Box.

The front-wheel-drive layout gifts EX5 an additional 51-litre storage bin under the rear floor, complimenting the 420-litres above. With the rear seats down, the total storage is 1877 litres. Drawers are under the rear seats, with sizable bag storage available under the floating console.

Geely is committed to achieving a five-star safety rating for EX5, which is equipped with seven airbags and a full safety suite, including rear collision and door opening warnings, traffic sign recognition, automatic high and low-beam switching and a function where the car makes extra space when passing large vehicles with cruise control set.

At the launch, special mention was made of Geely's Devil Test, which the battery has had to pass. It includes the battery pack being run over by a steam roller, fully submerged, and even set on fire. After which, it still had to function. Less extreme but just as thorough is a commitment to passenger health, with the air-con auto-drying the car after every drive and an antibacterial coating on the steering wheel.

A final Geely detail is a fragrance-free interior, which eliminates any of what can often be an overpowering new-car smell. It's a fitting touch for what is a new but established car maker in New Zealand.

Check out our first drive video: