Chery Omoda E5 Review 2025

Just like the rest of Chery’s rapidly expanding Aussie line-up, value is a primary attraction for the . There are two variants to choose from, starting at $42,990 plus on-road costs for the entry-level Omoda E5 BX.

For $3000 more you can step into the range-topping Omoda E5 EX which is mechanically identical but ups the ante with a longer list of standard equipment for $45,990, again before on-road costs.

That pricing sees the Omoda E5 undercut its chief rival, the BYD Atto 3, by around $1500 when you compare the entry-level versions of both vehicles. It’s also far more affordable than the Hyundai Kona EV Standard ($54,000) and the Kia Niro Electric S ($66,590).

It can’t lay claim to being Australia’s cheapest electric small SUV, however, as the MG ZS EV now starts at a razor-sharp $34,990 driveaway thanks to a recent nationwide price drop.

And unlike the MG, and Chery’s other models, it’s important to note the price of the Omoda E5 excludes on-road charges, rather than national drive-away pricing.

While an attractive sticker price is important, Chery is far more committed to boosting the value proposition of its vehicles by including a high level of equipment as standard.

As such, both versions of the Omoda E5 give you loads of features and equipment including 18-inch alloy wheels, LED lighting front and rear, a curved widescreen display that combines two 12.3-inch digital screens, manually adjustable seats trimmed in cloth with artificial leather bolsters, and an in-built sat-nav system.

Apple CarPlay (wired) and Android Auto (wireless) both feature, as does a wireless phone charging pad, five USB charging ports (3 x USB-A, 2 x USB-C), a 6-speaker Sony sound system, and DAB+ radio.

Stepping up to the top-spec Omoda E5 EX adds a power sunroof, ‘Omoda’ puddle lamps, sequential rear indicators, an automatic tailgate, an 8-speaker Sony sound system, interior ambient lighting, acoustic glass, and a high-resolution 360-degree surround-view monitor. EX versions also score power adjustable front seats (6-way driver, 4-way passenger), a heated steering wheel, heated seats in both rows, and synthetic leather interior trim.

The steering wheel is also wrapped in synthetic leather and it’s a big improvement over the plastic wheel you get in the BX which feels cheap to touch and undermines what is otherwise a comfortable and modern cabin.

Outside there are five exterior colours to choose from (that’s two less than the petrol Omoda 5), and EX versions can also be optioned with a black roof for an additional $600.

Like the rest of Chery’s range, the Omoda E5 is backed by a seven-year/unlimited kilometre warranty and also comes with seven years free road-side assistance and seven years of capped price servicing.

Service intervals are every 12 months or 20,000km, whichever occurs first, and the battery is covered by a separate eight-year/unlimited km warranty.

ANCAP is yet to release a crash test rating for the 2025 Chery Omoda E5 but one is expected to arrive before the end of the year.

Chery’s local arm is confident the E5 will score a five star result considering the petrol version, with which the E5 was jointly developed, does carry a five star rating.

On paper, the E5’s safety credentials are impressive and both versions score a long list of standard safety systems. All up, Chery says the E5 has 18 advanced driver aids including: autonomous emergency braking (AEB), forward collision warning, lane departure warning and prevention, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot detection, rear cross traffic alert, and a driver monitoring system.

Earlier Chery models have been criticised for the overzealous calibration of their advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), which intervene too often and distract the driver. Chery has since undertaken thousands of kilometres of local testing to better tune the systems for our roads.

Seven airbags are standard in the Omoda E5 and there are two isofix fixtures in the outboard seats of the rear bench.

You’d need to be a harsh marker to criticise the level of technology on offer in the Omoda E5, especially at this price point.

The headline piece of tech is the widescreen digital dash which combines a pair of high-resolution screens and gives the cabin a real sense of wow factor. The screens are larger than those in the petrol-powered Omoda 5 (12.3-inches versus 10.25) and they’re quick to respond and easy to read thanks to large fonts and clear graphics.

The menu structure isn’t super logical, however, so bank on a period of familiarisation before you’ll know how to access some key features. It took us a while, for example, to find the correct menu to adjust the three stages of regenerative braking.

A ‘Hey Chery!’ intelligent voice assistant is included in both models and it can make and receive calls as well as control a handful of other functions, like the fan speed for the air conditioning and opening the sunroof.

Sadly, one area that still requires some improvement is the calibration of the active safety systems. Despite the recent local testing, we still found them to be overzealous in their standard settings. The lane-keep assist function and driver monitor were the biggest offenders and quickly had us diving into the menu to switch them off.

Both versions of the Omoda E5 use the same powertrain which combines a single electric motor on the front axle and a large 61kWh lithium-iron phosphate battery pack. Similar to BYD, Chery arranges the cells of its batteries into closely stacked strips or ‘blades’, which is said to improve energy density and safety.

Power is rated at a healthy 150kW while torque is 340Nm, with those figures being some of the best in this class. They combine to give the Omoda E5 a 0-100km/h claim of 7.6 seconds, which is brisk for a small SUV that weighs a chunky 1776kg. That’s almost 400kg more than a petrol Omoda 5!

The official WLTP driving range of the Chery Omoda E5 is 430km. That’s around 85km more than you get from BYD Atto 3 Standard (345km WLTP) and 110km more than an MG ZS EV Excite (320km).

Chery says the Omoda E5’s combined consumption is 15.5kW per 100km and we did get close to that during urban driving. Taking the Omoda E5 onto some open roads saw that figure jump to 19kW/100km, however, meaning the realistic range on longer road trips is around 320km.

Stay within the confines of the city, though, and you should get fairly close to the Omoda E5’s 430km claim.

Chery says it’ll take you 28 minutes to achieve a 30-80 percent recharge on an 80kW DC fast charger, which isn’t too bad. Although a maximum charging rate of 80kW isn’t especially impressive in 2024.

On a single phase AC charger the max charging speed is 6.6kWh, meaning you’ll need about 9 hours to achieve a full charge. The AC charge rate bumps up to 9.9kWh if you have a three phase power connection.

Generically capable rather than dynamically gifted is probably the best way to describe how the 2025 Chery Omoda E5 drives. At gentle speeds around town it’s actually quite impressive thanks to brisk acceleration, smooth power delivery, light steering and a suspension tune that does a decent job of soaking up bumps.

But on faster country roads, the driving experience starts to fall apart. The steering is overly light and feels vague and artificial, which makes it difficult to place the car with confidence through corners, while the suspension lacks control and is disconcertingly floaty over bigger undulations.

There’s plenty of body roll to contend with, too, and because there’s so much power and torque going through the front wheels, there’s noticeable torque steer if you accelerate too hard. The soft suspension also means there’s a large degree of ‘squat’ or pronounced lifting of the nose (like a speedboat) under hard acceleration.

The general sense of refinement also deteriorates at speed where you’ll encounter too much wind noise, especially in the lower spec BX which misses out on acoustic glass. Noticeable tyre roar is also a constant companion on coarse chip roads.

If sharp dynamics aren’t a priority then most will find the Omoda E5 acceptable to drive, however the driving experience certainly lacks the polish and cohesion of rivals like the BYD Atto 3.

Slip inside the Chery Omoda E5 and you’re greeted by a cabin that has heaps of wow factor, thanks to its large widescreen digital dash and a cabin design that is pleasingly modern and minimal.

The mix of materials is impressive, too, with plenty of soft-touch plastics and stitched synthetic leather on all of the key touch points. And even though there are hardly any physical buttons, there are hot keys for key functions like the air conditioning, so the E5 mostly avoids the ergonomic pitfalls of having such a minimal design.

There’s a clear influence from Mercedes-Benz in positioning the gear selector on the indicator stalk and in the Burmeister-esque circular speaker grilles on the doors. Another Mercedes hallmark is a heavy use of shiny piano black which looks great in the showroom but quickly becomes grubby with fingerprints. We’d suggest keeping a cloth in the glovebox for regular wipe downs.

Another minor annoyance is the positioning of the USB ports, which are low down on the left side of the centre console and difficult for the driver to reach.

The front seats are comfortable and supportive (neither grade includes height adjustment for the front passenger) and cabin storage is plentiful thanks to a deep lidded centre console, average-size door pockets and a useful shelf underneath the centre console.

Those in the back aren’t shortchanged, either, with a deep rear cushion and enough head-, knee- and toe-room for adults. Rear passengers also score dedicated air vents and their own USB charging ports.

Boot space is decent rather than excellent and measures 300L, which is actually 60L less than you get in the petrol Omoda 5 and significantly down on the 440L you get in a BYD Atto 3.

Unlike a dodgy first pancake, Chery’s first electric SUV is a commendable effort. It packs plenty of power and equipment for the money and also boasts a roomy cabin that feels modern and is pleasingly high-tech. The long seven-year warranty also brings peace of mind, as does Chery’s expansive 70+ dealer network.

But while the value proposition is strong, the Omoda E5 lacks the dynamic polish and refinement of its rivals.

As such, we’d recommend opting for the cheaper BX version which is mechanically identical to the more expensive EX but feels better value, providing you don’t mind a plastic steering wheel.

2025 Chery Omoda E5 at a glance:
Price: $42,990 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Powertrain: Single permanent magnet synchronous motor
Output: 150kW/340Nm
Transmission: Single-speed reduction gear
Battery: 61.1kWh lithium-ion phosphate
Range: 430km (WLTP)
Energy consumption: 15.5kWh/100km (WLTP)
Safety rating: Not tested

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