Overview

CHERY Australia executives said the brand’s first all-electric vehicle, the Omoda E5, is priced to take on the likes of the BYD Atto 3 (from $44,999), Hyundai Kona Electric (from $54,000), Kia Niro EV (from $66,590) and MG ZS EV long-range (from $46,990), making it the second-cheapest electric SUV entrant in the market behind the base-grade MG ZS EV (from $34,990).

Offered in two trim grades – BX and EX – the Chery Omoda E5 is now available from $42,990 plus on-road costs, both configurations offering a 430km WLTP driving range, 150kW/340Nm front-drive motor, and 61.1kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack.

DC fast charging is available at speeds up to 80kW, meaning a 30-80 per cent recharging time of 28 minutes, with single-phase AC charging available at up to 6.6kW and three-phase AC charging at up to 9.9kW.

In local showrooms from this week, the Chery Omoda E5 offers buyers a claimed 0-100km/h acceleration time of 7.6 seconds on top of a long list of standard equipment.

The entry BX grade includes 18-inch alloy wheels (with full-size spare!), cloth upholstery, front and rear parking sensors, LED headlights, sat nav, and a six-speaker Sony audio system with digital radio reception (DAB+).

Infotainment and instrumentation screens measure 12.3 inches on the diagonal and are complemented by ‘hard’ buttons on the centre console.

Safety tech includes adaptive cruise control, AEB, auto high beam, blind spot monitoring, driver monitoring, lane keeping assistance, rear cross-traffic assist, seven airbags, traffic sign recognition and more.

Chery is yet to receive EuroNCAP or ANCAP safety ratings, but says it is optimistic the car will achieve a five-star result.

The high-spec’ EX grade (from $45,990) adds a 360-degree camera system, eight-speaker sound system, power adjustable and heated front seats, heated rear outboard seats, LED ambient cabin lighting, a powered tailgate, puddle lights, an electric tilt and slide sunroof, and synthetic leather upholstery.

Five exterior colours are offered, including Lunar White, Martian Red, Saturn Silver, Space Black, and Titan Green. The latter is the only no-cost option with all other hues attracting a $500 surcharge.

The Chery Omoda E5 measures up at a generous-for-segment 4424mm in length, 1830mm in width, 1588mm in height and with a 2610mm wheelbase. It tips the scale at a podgy 1776kg (kerb), offers seating for five, and between 300 and 1079 litres of cargo space depending on seating configuration. The rear seats split fold in a 60:40 configuration.

Chery backs the Omoda 5 with a generous seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty including roadside assistance and capped-price servicing. The high-voltage battery is warranted for eight years.

Service intervals are pegged at 12 months or 20,000km. Service pricing is listed at $1586 (total) for the duration of the capped-price servicing program.

Driving Impressions

The drive route selected for our appraisal of the Omoda E5 was a somewhat challenging longer distance run through the farmland surrounding Canberra. The pockmarked and undulating roads were hardly an ideal choice for an urban dweller with a somewhat podgy kerb weight and were quick to highlight some of the vehicle’s dynamic shortcomings.

It’s at this point we must stress that these shortcomings are noted at the hands of experienced test drivers in scenarios unlikely to impact metropolitan mums and dads. However, they do point to the fact that Chery is still on its way to becoming a stalwart-brand competitor, and not as well-rounded as its established competitors.

Still, with sharp pricing, a generous kit list and surprisingly spacious interior, we think there are few who’ll mind the Omoda E5’s on-road aberrations.

Leaving the city centre, we found the power delivery of the Omoda E5 to be uniform and smooth with brisk acceleration from standstill. Around-town ride and handling (on smoother surfaces) is quite acceptable, and the braking action both progressive and predictable enough for the average driver.

But as speeds increase and surface quality deteriorates, so too does the vehicle’s reflexes. The damping feels mismatched, the suspension loses its refinement, and the steering bucks and kicks.

Accelerate hard and the ‘wheel tugs with torque steer reminiscent of an early Mitsubishi Cordia. It’s very evident the Omoda E5 is front wheel driven at highway speeds, the electronic smarts doing little to counter the mechanical intrusion felt when reapplying throttle out of bends or accelerating hard to overtake.

We also noted a modicum of bump steer in more challenging scenarios. Gnarly road surfaces highlight shortcomings in the geometry of the front-end that can see the steering take charge momentarily when encountering mid-corner bumps and ruts. Combine this with a couple of other foibles and you’ll soon appreciate our concern…

The Omoda E5’s suspension feels mismatched to the vehicle’s weight. It is absorbent enough in day-to-day running, but when challenged is busy and slow to respond. The vehicle tends to float when unsettled and tends to roll in harder cornering. Add firm-walled Kumho rubber into the equation and the ride feels confused – and not at all at home on the challenging route selected.

Still, we commend Chery for being brave enough to select a route that shows the budget brand is still on its way to becoming a household name and know that despite its foibles the Omoda E5 still has plenty to offer, especially in view of its price.

The fit and finish of the vehicle is far better than its sticker price might suggest, the interior feeling quite upmarket with hints of “leather”, metal, and polished plastics. Useful console buttons offer speedy access to vital functions, the steering wheel spoke controls and others seeming logical in operation, even to a first-time Chery driver.

The infotainment system is equally easy to navigate, though some of the car’s more critical functions (e.g., regenerative braking) could afford to be prioritised higher in the settings. That said, the graphics are clean and the response to touch quite reasonable.

We found the front seats set too high for our liking with inadequate adjustment for taller drivers. At the ‘wheel of the high-grade EX, the sunroof does reduce headroom, detracting from what’s otherwise a comfortable seating position with cossetting seats and a good view ahead.

On test, the Chery Omoda E5 returned an energy consumption figure of 16.8kWh per 100km which should see a driving range of around 360km. Bear in mind this result was predominantly in highway running and it’s not unreasonable to see that the vehicle would do better in city traffic.

Which is probably where the Omoda E5 is at its best... The vehicle feels far happier on smoother urban streets than it does in stretching its legs on meandering country roads. It’s a great size SUV that is well equipped and well backed by its state-owned importer, meaning Aussie buyers shouldn’t have too many reservations in wondering if parts will be available down the track.

Though we still have mixed feelings about the car in relation to its competitor set, we think it’s a decent offering for family drivers who are unlikely to test the car as a motoring journalist does. We’re certain Chery will continue to polish its product as other Chinese marques have, and in no time will be on top of its game.

But for now, it’s clear the Omoda E5 is still a little way from being the perfect mid-sized electric SUV.