Chery returns to Australia with the all-new Omoda 5 small SUV, offering style and value with a sub-$30,000 headline price
- How much does the Chery Omoda 5 cost?
- What equipment comes with the Chery Omoda 5?
- How safe is the Chery Omoda 5?
- What technology does the Chery Omoda 5 feature?
- What powers the Chery Omoda 5?
- How fuel efficient is the Chery Omoda 5?
- What is the Chery Omoda 5 like to drive?
- What is the Chery Omoda 5 like inside?
- Should I buy a Chery Omoda 5?
The relaunch of Chery is officially underway in Australia, where the new and strangely named Chery Omoda 5 has kicked off proceedings. It’s been almost a decade since the Chinese car-maker has plied its trade Down Under, and its return with Omoda 5 lands it straight in the popular small SUV class. There are bigger SUVs and other models coming, but as the first cab off the rank the Omoda 5 plays a crucial role in establishing the reborn Chery brand here. So, how good is it? Let’s hop in and find out…
How much does the Chery Omoda 5 cost?
For now, the MG ZS remains the most affordable model in the segment, priced from $23,990 drive-away (MY23), while the other Chinese-built contender in class is the GWM Haval Jolion priced from $28,490 drive-away.
Despite aspirations of selling 75,000 cars annually by 2027, Chery’s relaunch strategy Down Under is more about winning over buyers with high levels of standard equipment than it is about offering cut-price models.
The sub-$30K headline price is for the Omoda 5 BX, while the flagship Omoda 5 EX starts from $32,900 plus ORCs.
Sharp drive-away pricing means you can get into an Omoda 5 BX for $32,190 drive-away in NSW
(or $32,690 in Victoria), or the top-spec EX for $35,490 drive-away in NSW ($35,890 in Victoria).
Head to the Chery Motor website for drive-away pricing in other states and territories.
What equipment comes with the Chery Omoda 5?
As found with other aspiring Chinese brands, the 2023 Chery Omoda 5 comes with a generous level of standard equipment.
The range-opening Omoda 5 BX is fitted with 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights with auto high beam, LED tail-lights, wireless phone charging, dual-zone climate control, PVC-clad upholstery, smart entry with push-button start, and a six-way electric-adjust seat for the driver.
Moving into the EX, as tested here, adds a sunroof, electric tailgate, 360-degree surround-view camera, heated steering wheel, heated front seats, four-way power adjustment for the front passenger’s seat, ‘Omoda’ puddle lamps and red brake callipers.
Similar treatment can be seen right around the exterior, with splashes of red running along the side skirts and incorporated into the wheels.
Chery covers the new Omoda 5 with a seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, seven-year capped-price service plan and seven years of free roadside assistance with a “comprehensive” retail and servicing network that will see the brand represented in every capital city across the country.
How safe is the Chery Omoda 5?
The 2023 Chery Omoda 5 has been crash-tested overseas – and awarded a maximum five-star Euro NCAP rating – but the same rating has yet to be adopted locally.
ANCAP says that while test results provided by its European counterpart will help formulate a safety rating for the Omoda 5, it will conduct further testing locally first.
Judging by its high levels of safety and driver assistance aids, we’d be surprised if it didn’t achieve a five-star rating here too. Chery has also pledged to offer only five-star-rated cars.
On the driver assist front, every Omoda 5 variant comes fitted with lane assist, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking (AEB), rear cross traffic alert with rear AEB, blind spot monitoring, tyre pressure monitoring and speed sign recognition, just to name the major ones.
What technology does the Chery Omoda 5 feature?
While the 2023 Chery Omoda 5 looks very well equipped on paper, the execution of its advanced driver assist technology isn’t all there.
Driver aids – in their factory settings – have the tendency to be overly sensitive, with lane assist jerking you around in your lane and a little sensor mounted to the steering to monitor driver fatigue constantly warning you of distractions. Ironically, it’s really distracting.
Another setting we were forced to quickly switch off was the pop-up 360-degree camera that appears on the central touch-screen when you indicate, so you can see what’s around the vehicle before turning.
A voice assist feature can manage a handful of commands, such as fan speed, climate control temperature and audio settings, but it isn’t intuitive and seems to get jammed if it doesn’t understand what you’ve said.
carsales understands that Chery is currently assessing the calibration of the Omoda 5’s driver assist features, but there’s no word on whether any changes will be made before reaching customers.
Infotainment, on the other hand, is much better, with a pair of 10.25-inch digital displays offering loads of driver information, Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.
The central touch-screen is clear and responsive, even if it takes some time to find your way around.
What powers the Chery Omoda 5?
The 2023 Chery Omoda 5 will kick off Down Under with a single powertrain option – a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol.
Producing 108kW of power and 210Nm of torque, power is sent exclusively to the front wheels via a continuously variable transmission.
It isn’t the zippiest combination, but the fuss-free unit gets around with little commotion, even at full throttle.
And while it doesn’t produce quite enough grunt to spin the front wheels upon take-off, it chugs along at highway speeds just fine.
Later in the year, the Chinese car-maker will introduce a more powerful 145kW/290Nm 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine to the Omoda 5 range, which will be available in both front- and all-wheel drive.
How fuel efficient is the Chery Omoda 5?
Considering its modest powertrain, the 2023 Chery Omoda 5 isn’t as frugal as expected.
Our test car sipped an average of 8.2 litres per 100km after a big highway stint along with some suburban driving, making it a little thirstier than Chery’s official 6.7L/100km claim.
It runs on regular unleaded and the fuel tank holds 51 litres.
What is the Chery Omoda 5 like to drive?
On road, the 2023 Chery Omoda 5’s driving experience isn’t as convincing as rivals.
It doesn’t feel as tied-down as competition from Mazda, Hyundai or Kia, with floaty suspension that feels a little too soft.
It also feels top-heavy, with body roll around corners and steering that feels artificially light, disconnected and lacking in proper feedback.
Most will find it easy enough to get into a comfortable driving position, however chunky rear pillars and a small rear window tend to obstruct rearward vision.
We’re also left disappointed by the omission of reach adjustment for the steering wheel, while the tiller itself chops into a good portion of the driver’s view of the central touch-screen, cutting off the bottom right corner and forcing you to peer around the wheel.
Elsewhere, there’s a fair bit of travel to the brake pedal before you actually feel the brakes engage, and the road noise (particularly wind noise coming from the sunroof) at highway speeds reveals a lack of sound deadening within the cabin.
If you’re not fussed on a sporty SUV or a particularly engaging driving experience, the Omoda 5 will get you from A to B with ease.
What is the Chery Omoda 5 like inside?
Hop in the cabin of the 2023 Chery Omoda 5 and it feels minimalist and neat, with a sleek panel for climate control switches and few buttons to clog up the centre console.
It’s a well-thought-out space, and while materials feel good-quality and hard-wearing, there’s a few design elements – such as felt-lined phone cradles up front and instrument displays – that hint at a bit of Tesla influence.
But execution isn’t perfect, and small things annoy, such as the centre console lid rubbing against the front seats, making it unnecessarily difficult to open and close.
The front USB ports are also in an awkward position near the passenger side footwell, owing to the car’s left-hand drive origins.
Otherwise, the leather-appointed seats feel supple and supportive up front, while second-row passengers are treated to decent legroom, just-okay headroom with the swoopy roofline, a single USB-A port, air vents, outboard ISOFIX anchorage points and a centre arm rest with two cup holders.
Narrow rear windows combined with those sporty front seats up front could make it a little claustrophobic in the rear seat for longer stints, and a little more toe-room and wider seat bases would be nice. But for a small SUV, it’s not bad.
Boot capacity for the Omoda 5 is rated at 360 litres with all five seats in place, which is good but not class-leading. A high-set floor will make loading goods easier, and there’s a space-saver spare tyre on board.
Should I buy a Chery Omoda 5?
Not only is the 2023 Chery Omoda 5’s value proposition strong, but it comes backed by an appealing list of standard equipment, plenty of driver assist technology and very competitive ownership credentials that will afford buyers peace of mind.
But there are a few areas the Chinese car-maker will need to improve on if it wants to be a serious contender against established models in the small SUV segment, including the Hyundai Kona, Kia Seltos, Toyota Corolla Cross and Mazda CX-30.
Overall, for its first go back in Oz, the eye-catching Chery Omoda 5 makes a good impression.
But whether that’s appealing enough to steer Aussies away from big-name brands, we’re not so sure…
2023 Chery Omoda 5 EX at a glance:
Price: $32,900 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 108kW/210Nm
Transmission: Continuously variable automatic
Fuel: 6.7L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 164g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Not tested
Keyword: Chery Omoda 5 2023 Review