2023 Chery Omoda 5 first drive

Technology should make new cars easier to live with, but this machine manages to frustrate like few other vehicles on the road today.

David McCowen

3 min read

March 20, 2023 - 6:39PM

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Chery’s second bite at Australia has a different flavour.

Previously known for basic machines with rock-bottom prices, the brand hopes to attract cashed-up customers with eye-catching looks and generous equipment lists.

The new Chery Omoda 5 is a world away from the stripped-out hatchbacks once offered by the brand for $9990 drive-away.

The Chery Omoda 5 EX makes a striking first impression.

Priced from around $32,000 drive-away in standard trim, or about $36,000 drive-away as the high-grade Omoda 5 EX shown here, the new machine isn’t particularly cheap.

It’s dearer than Chinese compatriots such as the Haval Jolion or MG ZST, and costs more than a Hyundai Kona Elite, Kia Seltos Sport or Mitsubishi ASX GSR.

But those models can’t match the kerbside appeal of the Chery.

Bold exterior styling includes bright-coloured highlights.

Bold styling cues include a textured grille similar to the Hyundai Tucson, swoopy tail-lamps that take after Lexus crossovers, and red highlights that wouldn’t look out of place on a Hot Wheels toy.

Nifty LED lights and branded puddle lamps make drivers feel welcome, as does a cabin with twin 10.25-inch displays, a flat-bottomed steering wheel, and prominent smartphone charging pad similar to what you’ll find in a Tesla.

The Omoda 5 rides on 18-inch alloy wheels.

There’s plenty of space in the front and rear, though the boot is smaller than expected.

A squishy seat with flat bolsters and limited adjustment might not be the best bet for long drives, and we weren’t enamoured by an odd wide-angle effect presented by the interior rear-view mirror.

Voice assistance tech allows you to activate features by saying phrases like “Hey Chery, open the sunroof”, and ambient lighting pulses with music from a Bose-branded stereo – stuff you won’t see in a basic Hyundai or Kia.

The Omoda’s cabin looks attractive to our eyes.

Chery matches Kia’s seven-year, unlimited warranty, which instils confidence.

But we weren’t impressed by elements of its build quality – inconsistent panel gaps, a creaky dash, loose threads in the upholstery and disconcertingly wavy sheet metal on the roof suggest the manufacturer’s attention to detail is less than exacting.

That suspicion is reinforced by chaotic driver assistance features in dire need of refinement.

The Chery has a five-star safety rating underpinned by seven airbags and a laundry list of electronic aids such as automatic emergency braking.

Chery’s driver aids are easily bamboozled.

But their inclusion feels like a box-ticking exercise rather than a genuine attempt to assist drivers.

Ragged intervention from the lane keeping assistance feature is disconcertingly jarring, and an utterly misguided driver monitoring system warns that you’re “no longer in driving condition” when safely cruising in your lane on straight highways.

A similarly wayward speed sign recognition feature occasionally displays the wrong limit while driving, often mistaking streetside objects for road signs erroneously displayed on the dashboard.

The Omoda uses a camera to watch drivers.

You can turn the systems off, but need to do so every time you start the car.

In short, the Chery might get five stars for having all the latest safety features, but their integration and calibration represents a one star effort.

There’s better news under the bonnet, where a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo engine delivers fuss free process. The motor sends 108kW and 210Nm to the front wheels through a CVT automatic with nine stepped ratios – a smoother solution than dual-clutch transmissions in some rivals.

Soft suspension lacks poise when cornering.

It’s an easy motor to get on with, though 6.9L/100km claimed fuel economy runs closer to double figures in real-world running.

Soft suspension delivers a reasonably compliant ride on the road, though excessive body roll and a floaty sensation at speed relegate it toward the bottom of the class for driving joy.

Chery’s tyres lack grip in the wet.

Spongy brakes sap confidence and Giti tyres lack purchase in slippery conditions, not helped by numb and oddly-weighted steering that returns an approximate suggestion of what might be happening at the road surface.

The suspension action is noisier than it should be, and there’s more wind and tyre roar than you should expect from a new car.

VERDICT 2/5

Eye-catching looks and impressive features are undermined by a higher-than-expected price, sub-par quality and poorly calibrated driver aids.