Fledgling Chinese brand’s answer to MG ZS EV and BYD Atto 3 brings unique front-end design
The 2023 Chery Omoda 5 EV made its relatively low-key world debut at the Shanghai auto show last month, and while Chery is yet to publicly release official details, it seems the Chinese brand’s Malaysian arm has been more forthcoming.
Appearing on stage in Shanghai alongside other ‘new energy’ Chery vehicles during myriad executive addresses, the new EV is not immediately recognisable as a member of the Chery Omoda 5 small SUV range that relaunched the brand Down Under in March, but look beyond the unique front-end design and the family resemblance is there for all to see.
Appearing otherwise identical to its combustion-powered siblings, the Chery Omoda 5 EV is distinguished by a slippery front bumper that does away with almost any sort of grille and features a few extra contours designed to help it slip through the air a bit better.
More aerodynamic wheels and chrome trim round out the primary styling changes and, although there is a different colour scheme used within the cabin, the interior layout and overall design remains the same.
That unique front-end alludes to the battery-electric drive system hidden underneath, which according to data and images published by Malaysian website PaulTan.org, develops 165kW of power via a 61kWh battery pack and will propel the compact SUV up to 450km on a single charge, although it’s not clear if that’s NEDC or WLTP.
Other claims include energy efficiency of less than 15kWh/100km, an 80 per cent DC fast-charge time of less than 35 minutes, 0-100km/h acceleration in 7.8 seconds and an aerodynamic drag co-efficient of 0.293Cd.
Specs like that should put the Chery Omoda 5 EV in good stead against small electric SUVs like the next-generation Hyundai Kona EV (up to 160kW, 490km), Kia Niro EV (150km, 460km), MG ZS EV (up to 130kW, 430km) and BYD Atto 3 (150kW, up to 420km.
Of course, pricing is unknown at this stage, but the MG ZS EV is the cheapest of the Omoda 5 EV’s direct rivals (from $44,990 drive-away) and, judging by the petrol Omoda 5’s sharp pricing, it will be similarly affordable.
Chery Australia has confirmed it will release the Omoda 5 EV locally next year, following the rollout of the larger Tiggo 7 and Tiggo 8 SUVs later this year.
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Keyword: Chery Omoda 5 EV revealed