2024 Omoda 5 & E5 Review – Affordable Family SUVs from Chery
Have you ever heard of Omoda? No, me neither. You might have heard of Chery though. Essentially the Chinese car company is infiltrating other global markets under the guise of several new brands including Exeed, Jetour, Luxeed, Jaecoo and Omoda. The latter two are going on sale in the UK, with the Omoda 5 petrol and EV versions hitting dealerships in July.
The 5 and E5 offer affordability, practicality, and modern features, aiming to become strong contenders in the family SUV segment. While at the SMMT Media Test Day, I grabbed a go in both models.
Omoda 5 Petrol
The Omoda 5 ICE (internal combustion engine) version is an interesting-looking SUV with hints of Hyundai Tucson especially at the front. It starts at an enticing £24,000. Its design is unique, with a spacious boot that offers a bit of underfloor storage, split-folding rear seats, and a reasonably practical interior. Watch out for the rear roofline, it encroaches on the doorway into the back and I managed to brain myself getting in, but then I am tall, gangly and clumsy!
The rear seats are comfortable with sufficient legroom, and there’s a USB-C port and two vents for rear passengers. The front seats are power-adjustable, and the cabin features a 10.25-inch infotainment screen.
Under the bonnet, the Omoda 5 petrol houses a 1.6-litre Turbo Petrol engine paired with a 7-speed DCT auto transmission, delivering 187bhp and 275Nm of torque. This setup propels the car from 0-62mph in 7.8 seconds, with a top speed of 128mph and a fuel efficiency of 37.7mpg. While the engine provides good torque and reasonable acceleration, the ride quality is firm, and there’s noticeable body roll and vibration. The steering is light, perhaps too light for some, but it aligns with the car’s user-friendly offering.
The entry-level Comfort spec includes ADAS Drivers Assist systems, Android Auto/Apple CarPlay, and an 8-speaker Sony audio system.
At £27,000, the Noble trim adds heated front seats, a 360-degree camera, and dual-zone climate control.
While the performance is perfectly adequate the handling is competent until pushed and it resorts to understeer and whereas body control is decent the ride is less capable, verging on harsh and jarring on the worse surfaces.
Omoda E5 Electric
Typically, I expect the electric version of a model to be a little less appealing than the ICE edition, especially in terms of ride comfort. However, while the Omoda E5 commands a premium price it offers a substantially better package in every way.
From the quality of the cabin to the superior trim and clearer crisper digital screen, the more advanced features and a generally more luxurious and upscale feel. While the boot manages to pack even more underfloor space, in this case taken up by a full-sized spare wheel (highly unusual in an EV) the only compromise within is the higher floor logically containing the batteries within. While most of the exterior is identical, the E5 has a unique ‘EV face’ with a futuristic styling, a grill-less grin and slim headlights.
The Omoda E5 is equipped with a 61.4kWh battery, driving the front wheels with a power output of 201bhp and 340Nm of torque. It achieves 0-62mph in 7.6 seconds and has a top speed of 107mph, with an impressive range of 257 miles. On paper, the performance isn’t vastly different from its ICE sibling.
What stands out, and remains quite a surprise to me, is that the ride quality of the E5 is vastly superior to the petrol version, providing a smoother and more comfortable well-damped experience. However, the steering remains light, and there is some wind noise at higher speeds. Despite these minor issues, the E5 excels the petrol version in all departments.
How much more do you have to pay? Prices start at £33,500 for the E5 Comfort spec, with many standard features. The Noble trim is £35,500 and adds luxury features such as heated front seats, a 360-degree camera, and dual-zone climate control.
While that doesn’t make it the cheapest EV on the market, considering the size, practicality and equipment levels, this is a highly competitive offering. And while both versions offer great value for money in the family SUV segment, and there is no denying the tempting affordability of the petrol version, it’s really the E5 EV that you should be looking at if you’re considering going Omoda, as it’s definitely the cherry here (so to speak!).
BrownCarGuy.com
YouTube.com/BrownCarGuy
Facebook.com/BrownCarGuy
Instagram.com/ShahzadSheikh
Twitter.com/Shahzad_Sheikh
