Geely E5 EM-i vs Rolls-Royce Phantom

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — compare price, performance, fuel economy or electric range, safety and the details that shape long-term ownership.

Geely E5 EM-i in South Africa

Geely E5 EM-i

Apex Plug-in Hybrid Current
ZAR 679,999 ex-showroom
⚡ 73 kW 🔧 125 Nm
VS
Rolls-Royce Phantom in South Africa

Rolls-Royce Phantom

Phantom Series II Petrol 8-Speed Automatic Current
Price on request
⚡ 420 kW 🔧 900 Nm ⛽ 6.29 km/l
+ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Geely E5 EM-i vs Rolls-Royce Phantom: the short answer

E5 EM-i and Phantom are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification E5 EM-i Phantom
Maximum Power E5 EM-i73 kW Phantom420 kW @ 5000 rpm
Maximum Torque E5 EM-i125 Nm Phantom900 Nm @ 1700 rpm
Engine Size E5 EM-i1499 cc Phantom6749 cc
Combined Fuel Economy E5 EM-iNot Officially Disclosed Phantom6.29 km/l
Ground Clearance E5 EM-i172 mm Phantom136 mm

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

Independent editorial assessment

Hagalu editorial ratings

When a variant is selected, its rating out of five applies only to that exact derivative; a model-range review is not inherited. Editorial ratings are separate from the Specification Evidence Index out of 100 and are not customer ratings.

Geely E5 EM-i

Apex

Hagalu editorial rating Not yet rated

No complete editorial rating is published for this exact variant. This is not a zero score.

How Hagalu rates cars

Rolls-Royce Phantom

Phantom Series II

Hagalu editorial rating Not yet rated

No complete editorial rating is published for this exact variant. This is not a zero score.

How Hagalu rates cars

Not yet rated means a complete review is not published; it does not mean the vehicle scored zero. Read the rating methodology.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

E5 EM-i

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Fewer listed safety features
Best suited to: Published Efficiency Published Practicality
Specification evidence leader

Phantom

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Performance

Which One's Right for You?

E5 EM-i

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Phantom

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec E5 EM-i Phantom
Model Introduced Year 2025 2018
Generation Current South African model / exact generation number not separately published Eighth-generation Phantom in standard-wheelbase Series II form
Facelift History No applicable South African facelift history established The eighth-generation Phantom was presented globally in 2017, introduced in South Africa in 2018 and received its light-touch Series II evolution in 2022
Facelift Launched Since Not Applicable 2022
Facelift Version Ending Not Applicable Current
Body Style SUV Four-door luxury saloon
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status active active
Segment Passenger vehicle Full-size super-luxury saloon
Vehicle Type SUV Internal-combustion passenger car
Spec E5 EM-i Phantom
Length 4740 mm 5762 mm
Width 1905 mm 2018 mm
Height 1685 mm 1646 mm
Wheelbase 2755 mm 3552 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 172 mm 136 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) Not Officially Disclosed 136 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 51 l 90 l
Boot/Cargo Space 528 l 530 l
Kerb Weight 1770 kg 2560 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) Not Officially Disclosed 3235 kg
Payload Capacity Not Officially Disclosed 675 kg
Towing Capacity Not Officially Disclosed 0 kg
Seating Capacity Not Officially Disclosed 5 seats
Number of Rows Not Officially Disclosed 2 rows
Doors Not Officially Disclosed 4 doors
Minimum Turning Radius Not Officially Disclosed 6.55 m
Front Headroom Not Officially Disclosed 1046 mm
Rear Headroom Not Officially Disclosed 978 mm
Front Legroom Not Officially Disclosed 1041 mm
Rear Legroom Not Officially Disclosed 1105 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This E5 EM-i and Phantom comparison uses the exact derivatives selected above for South Africa. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: E5 EM-i 39 vs Phantom 96.

Efficiency index: E5 EM-i 79 vs Phantom 29.

Safety-equipment index: E5 EM-i 91 vs Phantom 95.

Practicality index: E5 EM-i 71 vs Phantom 67.

Ownership-cover index: E5 EM-i not separately scored vs Phantom not separately scored.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.

Specification Evidence Index

A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.

Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout

Phantom leads by 6 points

E5 EM-i and Phantom are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Evidence leader 75 /100
Lead 6 points
Data 79% source coverage
75
#1 Evidence leader

Phantom

79% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Performance 96 Check Efficiency 29
Performance 96
Efficiency 29
Safety 95
Practicality 67
Leads by 6 points
69
#2

E5 EM-i

55% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 91 Check Performance 39
Performance 39
Efficiency 79
Safety 91
Practicality 71
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Phantom +57 Efficiency E5 EM-i +50 Safety Phantom +4 Practicality E5 EM-i +4

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

Phantom

Performance 96/100
Efficiency 29/100
Safety 95/100
Practicality 67/100

E5 EM-i

Performance 39/100
Efficiency 79/100
Safety 91/100
Practicality 71/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index Rolls-Royce Phantom leads the specification evidence index with 75 pts vs 69 pts for E5 EM-i

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, Phantom leads. However, E5 EM-i may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

E5 EM-i vs Phantom questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the models and available derivatives in South Africa on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.