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Review
2023 Chery Omoda 5 EX review
Bruce Newton
July 24, 2023
After a long absence in Australia, can Chery take the fight to small compact SUV sales leaders with the bold new Omoda 5?
Chery was one of the first Chinese brands to enter the Australian market. Attractive pricing drew some initial interest before the arrival of other Chinese brands years later such as MG and BYD with the successful Atto 3, but the cars weren't very good, and by 2016, Chery had departed our shores.
Now, it has returned with a different attitude and a hugely different car, the Chery Omoda 5 compact SUV. It's modern, well-equipped, and competitive on price rather than cut-price.
Chinese brand Chery has returned to Australian shores with the Omoda 5. Image: Supplied.
The Chery Omoda 5 comes with significant boot space for road trips. Image: Supplied.
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Chery Omoda 5 pricing and models
There are two models in the line-up, the entry-level $29,900 Chery Omoda 5 BX, and the $32,900 Chery Omoda 5 EX we are driving here. All pricing is plus on-roads.
Chery’s trying to overcome the lack of buyer awareness and knowledge about the brand with a lengthy list of standard equipment.
It includes an impressive tech display with two 10.25-inch digital screens mounted on the dashboard – one for infotainment, and the other for instrumentation such as the speedo.
Wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto are standard, and there is also wireless smartphone charging. There are dual USB-A points, albeit on the far side of the centre console to the driver. But you don’t get satellite navigation or a digital radio band.
Six-way powered front seats are trimmed in synthetic leather, while an eight-speaker Sony sound system, dual-zone climate control, a power tailgate, a sunroof, and multi-coloured 18-inch alloy wheels are all included.
Chery’s backed up their value pricing for the Omoda 5. with a long seven-year warranty and capped price servicing program that adds up to just over $2,000 for seven workshop visits.
However, the service intervals are a short 10,000km (or 12 months – whichever comes first), which means you’ll likely be headed into your dealer twice a year.
The Chery Omoda 5 has an impressive infotainment display but no satellite navigation. Image: Supplied.
Chery Omoda 5 safety equipment
The safety specification of the 2023 Chery Omoda 5 EX is a classic case of impressive theory clashing with unimpressive reality.
The Chery Omoda 5 comes with a full suite of driver assist systems that include the ability to autonomously brake for obstacles, adapt the cruising speed to vehicles in front, stay in its lane, warn when it’s leaving its lane, and monitor blind spots, speed signs, the front and rear of the car, and the driver.
The problem is the calibration of the lane assist and the speed alert systems. In the case of the former, it's unpredictable in its responses, while the latter was incessant in its bonging when it judged a transgression had been made.
They were annoying enough to be shut down during every drive of this road test. Obviously, not optimal to have safety systems in a car that are always switched off.
Chery’s had one crack at retuning these systems since the Omoda 5 came to Australia and based on this experience, it’s still got a way to go.
If this car is on your shopping list for a small compact SUV, please make sure you get a proper test drive with the driver assist systems active in the environment they are designed for - and also try it with them switched off.
The Chery Omoda 5 also comes with seven airbags, including a centre-front airbag to protect against head knocks between front seat passengers, as well as LED headlights, a 360 degree camera, and front and rear sensors to aid with parking.
There is no ANCAP rating as yet, although the Omoda 5 did rate five stars under Euro NCAP protocols.
The new Chery Omoda 5 SUV comes with dual-zone climate control. Image: Supplied
Chery Omoda 5 interior and design
The 2023 Chery Omoda 5 EX is another car that proves the Chinese brands are at the cutting edge when it comes to exterior and interior styling.
With its huge grille and raked hatchback, the Omoda 5 certainly makes a statement visually. Inside, there’s more drama, thanks to those two big screens and the Tesla Model Y-like angled centre console.
The Chery Omoda 5 is also big for its class at 4400mm long, 1830mm wide, and 1588mm high.
That translate to a generous amount of interior space, especially in the back seat where a 180cm adult has ample legroom and adequate headroom behind a driver of the same height.
The boot of the Chery Omoda 5 is the only area where space isn’t optimised. At 360 litres, it’s only average for the segment, although it does expand to 1026 litres with the rear seat split-folded.
The driver of the Chery Omoda 5 is looked after with a reach and rake adjustable steering wheel. Storage is also good up-front, including bins under the centre console.
Key rear seat features include adjustable air-con vents and a USB-A outlet.
The Chery Omoda 5 provides ample room for adults in the backseat. Image: Supplied.
The Chery Omoda 5 interior has some classy finishes. Image: Supplied.
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Chery Omoda 5 engine, specs and fuel efficiency
The 2023 Chery Omoda 5 is powered by a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine that mates to a continuously variable transmission and drives only the front wheels.
The key output numbers are 108kW and 210Nm, and that makes it competitive in its class. The fuel consumption claim is a thrifty 6.9L/100km. However, we averaged 9.2L/100km on test.
If that’s a bit thirsty for you, a battery electric version of the Chery Omoda 5 should be with us in a couple of years.
The 2023 Chery Omoda 5 is decent rather than great drive. Image: Supplied
Chery Omoda 5 performance and handling
Once you go through the process of switching off the intrusive lane keeping and distracting speed limit warnings, the 2023 Chery Omoda 5 settles down to be an acceptable drive.
To be clear, it is nowhere near the tuning refinement and cohesion of a Hyundai Kona, Mazda CX-30 or Volkswagen T-Roc.
The ride of the Chery Omoda 5 is compliant at urban speeds, but that doesn’t help with smoothness at higher open road speeds, especially when it has to deal with bumps and corners at the time same time.
The steering is only approximate help in advising which way the front wheels are pointed.
The enclosed cabin also makes the Chery Omoda 5 more of a challenge to park in tight spots. This is where its bevy of cameras and sensors help out, along with an excellent 10.2m turning circle.
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