2024 Chery Omoda 5 GT AWD assessment

The Chery Omoda 5 vary continues to broaden in Australia, as does its gross sales attain.

It has rapidly risen to a median of 4.0 per cent market share within the burgeoning mainstream small SUV phase, which isn’t any imply feat.

Nonetheless haven’t heard of Chery? It’s one in all China’s greatest automobile producers, having fun with a rebirth in Australia after a failed first life below unbiased distributor Ateco between 2011 and 2015.

The Omoda 5 was the primary of the ‘New Chery’ product to be launched in Australia in 2023, and is an angular small SUV that takes on the likes of the MG ZS in addition to the Mazda CX-30 and Nissan Qashqai.

Omoda is definitely distributed as a separate model in some abroad markets, and in comparison with the boxier and extra sensible Tiggo-badged merchandise is extra design-led and premium in feel and appear – at the very least, so the corporate claims.

On check now we have the newly launched flagship, the 2024 Chery Omoda 5 GT AWD, which is the only all-wheel drive choice within the native vary.

With a beefier turbocharged petrol engine and a quick-shifting dual-clutch automated in comparison with the repeatedly variable transmission (CVT) fitted to decrease grades, can this all-paw hero add some spice to the equation?

How does the Chery Omoda 5 evaluate?

View an in depth breakdown of the Chery Omoda 5 in opposition to equally sized automobiles.

Chery

Omoda 5

How a lot does the Chery Omoda 5 price?

The Omoda 5 GT begins from $38,990 drive-away for the FWD model, with the AWD on check commanding an additional $2000 – these costs are barely down on earlier within the 12 months.

To see how the Omoda 5 traces up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability instrument.

What’s the Chery Omoda 5 like on the within?

You could be shocked with how nicely introduced the cabin of the Omoda 5 is, even in cheaper grades.

Whereas the GT AWD on check is simply over $40,000 on the street, the bones are fairly much like the BX and EX grades that begin as little as $33,990 drive-away. It’s good right here, even higher decrease down within the vary.

There’s a slickness to the straight traces and shiny finishes much like how Mercedes-Benz has showroom enchantment. The twin 10.25-inch shows are properly built-in right into a unified fascia, and the steering wheel design is gorgeous.

Piano black adorns a lot of the bridge, tunnel, and dashboard. Good within the dealership, not so good when you begin poking and prodding it with soiled fingers – greatest to maintain a rag within the glovebox.

On this spec the motive force’s seat is electrically adjustable six methods, with the passenger seat providing 4 methods of energy adjustment. In contrast to the GWM Haval Jolion, longer-legged drivers don’t must contort to discover a good driving place.

The sporty entrance seats with built-in headrests are comfy, with supple cushioning and first rate help from the bolsters. They aren’t fairly pretty much as good as the attractive entrance pews within the Mazda CX-30, however they’re comfortable over lengthy journeys and in addition provide heating – fairly useful throughout Melbourne’s winter.

I just like the clicky switchgear and the felt-lined cellphone holder which doubles as a wi-fi charger on the left-hand facet. There’s additionally an air vent there to maintain your system from overheating.

Now whereas these shows I discussed earlier look schmick when the automobile isn’t transferring, they’re not fairly as slick in operation. The design and interface may be very price range Benz, however the display screen is laggy to the purpose the place issues nearly ‘tick’ as they animate.

Fortunately wi-fi Apple CarPlay labored fairly nicely throughout our week with the Omoda 5, although there was the odd event the place identified black spots would trigger a disconnection after which a buggy reconnection – or no connection in any respect.

In contrast to the bigger Tiggo 7 Professional and Tiggo 8 Professional Max, the Omoda 5 doesn’t have embedded satellite tv for pc navigation. So, these CarPlay quibbles could be a little bit of a trouble in case you’re utilizing your cellphone to navigate someplace.

Different highlights embrace a crisp encompass digital camera system with 3D projection, providing you with view of the Omoda 5’s environment whereas animating wheels in movement and indicator lights when activated. That is the type of tech Chinese language manufacturers are actually excelling with in comparison with most Japanese manufacturers.

You additionally get ambient lighting strips by way of the dashboard and doorways, complemented by accent lighting within the cupholders and different areas. It’s fairly swanky at night time.

Construct high quality within the Omoda 5 feels sturdy, and the design is extra up to date and cohesive in contrast than an MG ZST or GWM Haval Jolion.

The Omoda 5 isn’t class-leading when it comes to second-row area, however has ample room to accommodate a pair of adults with out a lot fuss. Simply be conscious that sloping window line would possibly imply you knock your head on the best way in – talking from expertise right here…

Knee room is a bit of cosy behind these chunky entrance seats, however in any other case 6’1 me may sit behind my most popular driving place. Headroom is ok, although my voluminous hair was brushing the headliner within the again.

The children will likely be effective within the again offered the entrance seats don’t hinder their view an excessive amount of, and there are facilities like rear air vents, a single USB-A cost port, map pockets, and bottle holders within the doorways. There’s additionally a flip-down centre armrest with cupholders.

Talking of the youthful ones, the requisite ISOFIX and prime tether factors are current as you’d count on.

The Omoda 5 can’t match the category leaders in the case of boot area, probably a product of its swoopier design.

Chery quotes 360 litres of cargo capability with the rear seats in place, increasing to 1075 litres with them folded. So, the Omoda 5 actually has the load-lugging functionality of a small hatchback.

To see how the Omoda 5 traces up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability instrument.

What’s below the bonnet?

Omoda 5 GT fashions get a 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine in comparison with the 1.5-litre turbo petrol powering different grades. An all-electric Omoda E5 can be due later this 12 months.

To see how the Omoda 5 traces up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability instrument.

How does the Chery Omoda 5 drive?

Having not spent a lot time within the Omoda 5, I wasn’t certain what to anticipate.

There was loads of criticism of the car’s driver help techniques because it launched final 12 months, and Chery has fairly brazenly admitted to ongoing developments to make them higher.

Past that, the 1.6T drivetrain is acquainted from the Tiggo 7 Professional, although I’d argue it feels higher suited to the smaller Omoda 5.

Twin-clutch transmissions (DCTs) from Chinese language manufacturers, and cheaper vehicles usually, don’t fairly have that easy and snappy really feel that you just get in higher-end Volkswagen Group merchandise, for instance. It’s type of the case right here.

Getting off the road flares revs a bit of because the Omoda 5 will get going, with that just about elastic really feel in first that’s a standard criticism in DCTs. It can be a bit of sluggish after idle cease/begin fires the petrol engine up – when you’re transferring although, it’s effective.

The transmissions slurs greater than smacks by way of cogs, however when you’re transferring progress is first rate. Having 275Nm on faucet in a reasonably small automobile makes it really feel punchy.

I drove this in peak-hour situations which mixes metropolis streets and a freeway stint to my dwelling. That type of explains the high-ish real-world gas use of 9.0L/100km, however I did spend loads of time in bumper-to-bumper visitors.

Having all-wheel drive meant the Omoda 5 by no means actually spun up the entrance wheels even in inclement climate. I’ll say although, apart from assuaging that situation, I discover AWD to be redundant in this sort of automobile.

The added weight will increase gas consumption and is basically not in use except you’re completely gunning it. For the type of driving the Omoda 5 will spend 99.9 per cent of its life doing, you most likely can save your self the $2000.

Really feel by way of the chunky steering wheel is a contact obscure with a lightweight, closely assisted weighting, making the Omoda 5 really feel manoeuvrable and wieldy in mundane every day duties.

Enjoying round with the drive modes can add some synthetic weight when you choose Sport, however this doesn’t out of the blue rework the Omoda 5 right into a eager driver. The trip is on the softer facet, however in regular driving round city and within the metropolis it’s nicely sorted sufficient save for the odd thwack over sharper hits.

Within the Omoda 5 GT you get unbiased rear suspension versus the torsion beam setup in decrease grades. Does this make an enormous distinction? I’d must drive the 2 variants again to again to make sure, however I don’t have any complaints round floatiness as my colleagues had in regards to the 1.5T variations.

Street and wind noise can be properly stored at bay, even when you hit rougher blacktop. It’s not luxury-car quiet, however it’s one of many higher small SUVs for refinement at pace.

Now, these driver assists. To be sincere there’s just one primary criticism. The adaptive cruise management and lane hold help work effective, however attempt to use the semi-autonomous Built-in Cruise Help and also you’ll be fast to lengthy press the steering button to maintain it off.

As I’ve noticed within the Tiggo 7 and Tiggo 8, the Omoda 5’s freeway assistant hugs the left facet of the lane and aggressively tugs in case you centre your self simply off to the best or strategy a curve. Not significantly confidence inspiring.

I didn’t have any points with the motive force consideration monitor, even when it activated a couple of times if I used to be making an attempt to enter one thing on the display screen.

The Tesla-like reside assistant system show offers previous online game vibes, however usually misjudges the place automobiles are positioned on the street forward. I do benefit from the NOS flames popping out of the Omoda 5’s tailpipes once you overtake, although.

What do you get?

The GT sits atop of the Omoda 5’s four-grade lineup in Australia.

Omoda 5 FX customary gear:

• Halogen projector headlights
• LED daytime working lights
• LED entrance fog lights with cornering lights
• Computerized headlights
• Computerized high-beam
• 18-inch alloy wheels in 215/55 R18 tyres
• Area-saver spare wheel
• Tyre stress monitoring
• Digital parking brake with auto maintain
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Rear wiper
• Energy-folding exterior mirrors
• Keyless entry and begin
• 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Wi-fi Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
• 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster
• DAB+ digital radio
• Clever voice assistant
• 2 x entrance USB-A and 1 x USB-C retailers
• 1 x rear USB-A outlet
• 1 x entrance 12V outlet
• 6-speaker Sony sound system
• Fabric and leatherette upholstery
• Leatherette-wrapped steering wheel and shifter
• Tilt and telescopic steering wheel adjustment
• 6-way energy driver’s seat
• 4-way handbook passenger seat
• Air-conditioning
• Rear air vents
• Rear centre armrest with cupholders
• Entrance LED inside lighting
• Energy home windows with auto up/down
• ‘Matte Metallic’ centre console end

Omoda 5 BX provides:

• LED headlights
• LED tail lights
• Gloss-black B-pillar and window surrounds
• Acoustic entrance door glass
• 50W wi-fi cellphone charger (NEW)
• 8-speaker Sony sound system
• 1 x boot 12V outlet
• Leatherette upholstery
• Twin-zone local weather management
• Multi-colour ambient lighting
• Frameless rear-view mirror with auto dimming (NEW)
• Tender-touch higher door trims

Omoda 5 EX provides:

• 4-way energy passenger seat
• Heated entrance seats
• Heated steering wheel
• Rear LED inside lighting
• Contact-capacitive local weather management panel
• Energy sunroof
• Energy tailgate
• Pink brake calipers
• Puddle lights
• ‘Welcome Gentle Present’ tail gentle animation

Colors

• Titan Inexperienced
• Jupiter Blue
• Midnight Blue
• Lunar White
• Mercurial Gray
• Saturn Silver
• Area Black
• Martian Pink

Saturn Silver, Lunar White and Mercurial Gray include Pink Strike exterior accents on EX, GT and GT AWD fashions, with Lunar White and Saturn Silver moreover accessible with a Black roof.

Is the Chery Omoda 5 protected?

The Chery Omoda 5 has a five-star security ranking from ANCAP primarily based on testing carried out in 2022.

All fashions come customary with the next security gear:

• 8 airbags incl. front-centre
• Autonomous emergency braking
• Emergency Lane Maintaining
• Lane-keep help
• Adaptive cruise management
• Visitors Jam Help
• Built-in Cruise Help (adaptive cruise + lane centring)
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic help
• Visitors signal recognition
• Driver consideration monitoring
• Entrance and rear parking sensors
• Reversing digital camera

Omoda 5 EX provides:

How a lot does the Chery Omoda 5 price to run?

Chery Motor Australia covers its vary with a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee.

To see how the Omoda 5 traces up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability instrument.

CarExpert’s Tackle the Chery Omoda 5

Chery’s ongoing enhancements to the Omoda 5’s software program positively have made it much more bearable than what has been reported by automotive media beforehand.

The distinctive design, swish cabin and plentiful customary specs makes for a stable various to legacy nameplates within the compact SUV area – although this flagship GT AWD wouldn’t be my decide of the vary.

As with many of the value-focused Chinese language manufacturers, probably the most goodness comes decrease down within the vary. A fast have a look at the grade stroll above reveals you the EX (from $36,990 D/A) is nearly identically specified save for the drivetrain, and is $4000 cheaper than the automobile you see right here. It even seems to be the identical.

Extra so, the BX shaves one other $3000 off once more and needs for little if you are able to do with out heated seats and a sunroof. Actually, it’s that model of the Omoda 5 that makes probably the most sense given how nicely positioned it’s in opposition to entry-level variations of massive gamers just like the Hyundai Kona and Mazda CX-30.

Whereas the Omoda 5 goes onerous on paper, it’s considerably let down by its laggy infotainment tech, obscure steering really feel and infrequently sharp trip on the town. Conversely, it has stable worth for cash and presents a reasonably agreeable driving expertise save for an indecisive semi-autonomous freeway assistant.

I’d be tempted by the Omoda 5 over its Chinese language rivals if I have been to counsel one in all these as a less expensive various to mainstay small SUV nameplates.

As for the GT AWD on check right here, I’d solely say “certain” in case you’re offered on the Omoda 5 and completely should have all-wheel drive. In any other case, there’s loads of good SUV steel going for $40,000.

I’d even be retaining a watch out for the all-electric Omoda E5 due imminently.

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