2024 Chery Omoda 5 GT AWD evaluation

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 section, which is not any imply feat.

Nonetheless haven’t heard of Chery? It’s considered one of China’s greatest automobile producers, having fun with a rebirth in Australia after a failed first life underneath impartial 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 look – a minimum of, so the corporate claims.

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

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

How does the Chery Omoda 5 examine?

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 yr.

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

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

You may be shocked with how effectively offered the cabin of the Omoda 5 is, even in cheaper grades.

Whereas the GT AWD on check is simply over $40,000 on the highway, the bones are fairly just 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 strains and shiny finishes just like how Mercedes-Benz has showroom attraction. 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 need to contort to discover a good driving place.

The sporty entrance seats with built-in headrests are comfy, with supple cushioning and respectable assist from the bolsters. They aren’t fairly nearly as good as the attractive entrance pews within the Mazda CX-30, however they’re cozy over lengthy journeys and likewise supply heating – fairly helpful throughout Melbourne’s winter.

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

Now whereas these shows I discussed earlier look schmick when the automobile isn’t shifting, they’re not fairly as slick in operation. The design and interface may be very finances 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 effectively throughout our week with the Omoda 5, although there was the odd event the place recognized 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 generally is a little bit of a problem in case you’re utilizing your telephone to navigate someplace.

Different highlights embrace a crisp encompass digital camera system with 3D projection, providing you with an excellent view of the Omoda 5’s environment whereas animating wheels in movement and indicator lights when activated. That is the form 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 house, however has ample room to deal with a pair of adults with out a lot fuss. Simply be conscious that sloping window line may imply you knock your head on the best way in – talking from expertise right here…

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

The youngsters can be fantastic within the again supplied 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 house, seemingly 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 strains up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability instrument.

What’s underneath 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 also be due later this yr.

To see how the Omoda 5 strains 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 methods because it launched final yr, and Chery has fairly overtly 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 automobiles basically, don’t fairly have that clean and snappy really feel that you simply get in higher-end Volkswagen Group merchandise, for instance. It’s form 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 typical criticism in DCTs. It may also be a bit of sluggish after idle cease/begin fires the petrol engine up – when you’re shifting although, it’s fantastic.

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

I drove this in peak-hour circumstances which mixes metropolis streets and a freeway stint to my dwelling. That form of explains the high-ish real-world gasoline use of 9.0L/100km, however I did spend loads of time in bumper-to-bumper site 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, aside from assuaging that situation, I discover AWD to be redundant in this sort of automobile.

The added weight will increase gasoline consumption and is basically not in use until you’re completely gunning it. For the form 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 light-weight, closely assisted weighting, making the Omoda 5 really feel manoeuvrable and wieldy in mundane day by day duties.

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

Within the Omoda 5 GT you get impartial 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 concerning the 1.5T variations.

Highway and wind noise can also 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 velocity.

Now, these driver assists. To be sincere there’s just one important criticism. The adaptive cruise management and lane preserve help work fantastic, 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 aspect of the lane and aggressively tugs in case you centre your self simply off to the proper or method a curve. Not notably confidence inspiring.

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

The Tesla-like dwell assistant system show offers outdated online game vibes, however usually misjudges the place automobiles are positioned on the highway 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
• Automated headlights
• Automated high-beam
• 18-inch alloy wheels in 215/55 R18 tyres
• Area-saver spare wheel
• Tyre strain 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 shops
• 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 telephone 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)
• Mushy-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
• Crimson 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 Crimson

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

Is the Chery Omoda 5 secure?

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

All fashions come customary with the next security gear:

• 8 airbags incl. front-centre
• Autonomous emergency braking
• Emergency Lane Retaining
• Lane-keep help
• Adaptive cruise management
• Site visitors Jam Help
• Built-in Cruise Help (adaptive cruise + lane centring)
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic help
• Site 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 strains 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 different to legacy nameplates within the compact SUV house – although this flagship GT AWD wouldn’t be my choose 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 sort of identically specified save for the drivetrain, and is $4000 cheaper than the automobile you see right here. It even appears 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 effectively 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 sometimes sharp trip on the town. Conversely, it has stable worth for cash and affords a fairly 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 had been to recommend considered one of these as a less expensive different to mainstay small SUV nameplates.

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

I’d even be protecting an eye fixed out for the all-electric Omoda E5 due imminently.

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