Review - Chery Omoda 5

Hitting the road with two choices up its sleeve, the Chery Omada 5 is faced with the mammoth task of going up against the heaviest hitters in the compact SUV segment, though it has a lot going for it in terms of outright pricing and lengthy equipment lists.

Just how well does the Chery Omoda 5 stack up against its rivals, then, and how does it perform under the test here in Australia? Let’s take a closer look and find out.

Chery Omoda 5 Competition

Starting Price: $29,900

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How Much Does It Cost?

Retail prices for the Chery Omoda 5 range here in Australia kick off from $29,990 for the entry-level Omoda 5 BX, while stepping up to the range-topping Omoda 5 EX brings the price to $32,900.

Keep in mind that these prices are subject to change, and do not include on-road costs.

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Chery Omoda 5 - BX (BASIC VERSION) Specifications

For more details and other variants, check Chery Omoda 5 car page.

What Features Does the Chery Omoda 5 Have?

Chery’s entry-level Omoda 5 BX comes riding on 18-inch alloys and receives LED head & tail lights, adaptive cruise control, a rear-view camera with parking sensors, leatherette upholstery with power-adjustable driver’s seat, keyless entry & start, ambient lighting, a wireless phone charger, 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.25-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto.

Stepping up to the Omoda 5 EX adds a powered boot lift, panoramic sunroof, a surround-view camera, heated front seats and steering wheel, red brake calipers, ambient lighting in the second row and a set of LED puddle lights and welcoming lights.

Range Features:

• 18-inch alloys

• LED head & tail lights

• Adaptive cruise control

• Rear-view camera with parking sensors

• Leatherette upholstery with power-adjustable driver’s seat

• Ambient lighting

• Wireless smartphone charging

• 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster

• 10.25-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto

• Powered boot lift (EX)

• Panoramic sunroof (EX)

• Surround-view camera (EX)

• Heated front seats & steering wheel (EX)

Is the Chery Omoda 5 Comfortable to Drive?

The Chery Omoda 5 presents buyers with an impeccable value for money proposition, though it’s worth stating from the outset that it struggles to keep up with rivals on the road here in Australia.

Power comes supplied by a 1.5-litre four-cylinder pushing out a modest 115kW of power and 230Nm of torque, which is thrown to the front wheels via a CVT automatic.

The engine isn’t anything to get excited about, nor is it a selling point of many of the Omoda 5’s rivals, with some moderate response from flattening the throttle pedal to get you up to speed.

Around town, the driving experience is similarly uninspiring, and while it retains the user-friendly hallmarks of an urban runaround with its lightweight steering rack, there isn’t much in the way of feedback during the driving experience.

“The Omoda 5 seems overwhelmed by even mundane Australian B-roads and completely outpaced by most rivals in the compact SUV segment.” Glynn - OnlineAuto Car Buying Specialist

Around town, the Omoda 5 is relatively well-behaved on bumps, driveways and inclines, though the steering does need quite a lot of input that makes piloting more cumbersome while its rivals remain zippy, more agile and far more confidence-inspiring.

On the open road, the Omoda 5 seems to be overwhelmed by even the most mundane of Australian B-roads, and feels completely outpaced by most of its rivals in the compact SUV segment.

Throw it into some corners and the lack of feedback in the steering is immediate and wipes any confidence you might have had from the equation, meaning there is still work to do to ensure it catches up with rivals.

As a complete package, the Omoda 5 feels like it’s a few major steps behind the competition, with a lot of attention that needs to be paid to active safety features like the lane-keep system.

Is it Fuel Efficient?

The Chery Omoda 5 has fuel economy figures rated at 6.9L/100km on a combined cycle, making it relatively fuel-efficient for a naturally-aspirated four-cylinder.

Competitors with turbocharged three-cylinders and hybrid assistance leave it in the dust when it comes to fuel efficiency, though.

Is it Practical and Spacious?

Perhaps the strongest selling point of the Chery Omoda 5 as a complete package is the interior design and packaging that benefits from a particularly generous equipment list for the price.

Up front, the driver and front passenger are treated to a particularly sleek cabin design featuring a large centre console housing a wireless charging pad and a curious little spot for the key fob that can double as some added storage.

There’s no issues in terms of headroom, though the lack of adjustment in the steering wheel gets in the way of achieving a perfect driving position for a variety of body shapes.

The centre console receives an EV-inspired design that offers storage underneath the tunnel with enough storage for small bags and loose items, with more storage inside the folding armrest and large door bins.

“The interior design is sleek for the price point, with ample space and storage options, buoyed by a tonne of features inside the EV-inspired cabin.” Dan - OnlineAuto Car Buying Specialist

Move to the rear of the cabin and the Omoda 5 offers just enough space for adults to sit in the second row reasonably comfortably, with no major complaints when it comes to headroom, even with the range-topper’s panoramic sunroof in place.

Keep in mind that this is a compact SUV, though, so don’t expect a heap of space in the back seats.

Those seated in the second row pick up a set of air vents, map pockets and a USB port, as well as a pair of ISOFIX anchors and three top tether mounts to accommodate child seats.

Finally, the Chery Omoda 5 has a boot measuring in at 360L, which is on the smaller side of things for the segment, though the boot expands to 1075L with the rear seats folded to help swallow up bulky cargo and sports equipment, if needed.

Is it Safe?

The Chery Omoda 5 is yet to be officially tested by ANCAP, though its European equivalent, Euro NCAP has awarded it a five-star safety rating.

The Omoda 5’s standard safety equipment includes autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assistance, rear cross-traffic alerts, a rear-view camera with parking sensors, emergency lane-keep assistance and curtain airbags inside the cabin.

Upgrading to the range-topping Omoda 5 EX adds a surround-view camera.

Our Verdict: Is The Chery Omoda 5 Worth it?

While the Chery Omoda 5 comes storming out of the gates with a boatload of value, competition is so fierce in the world of small SUVs that it’s hard to ignore some of the Omoda 5’s more pressing issues.

It’s a very promising sign of what’s to come from future generations of Chery’s cars, no doubt, though the driving experience and questionable performance of active safety features have proven somewhat unforgivable considering how well its rivals perform.

If you’re looking for a great value compact SUV, get in touch with one of our car buying specialists who can help find you a great price.

2023 Chery Omoda 5 video review from PerformanceDrive

Five Chery Omoda 5 Specs You Need to Know

1. Seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty

2. No official ANCAP safety rating, yet; five-star Euro NCAP rating

3. Seven-years roadside assistance included

4. 6.9L/100km combined cycle fuel economy figures

5. 360L boot space