Chinese brand Chery details first step in Australian resurrection

Chery is returning to Australia in the first half of 2023 with the small Omoda 5 crossover, with a base price somewhere under $40,000 drive-away and a seven-year warranty.

It will arrive here first in base and EX trim levels, powered by a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine mated with a continuously variable transmission.

Chery says if you order a car now, the wait time is 80 days. The first allocation has already arrived in Australia.

In the second half of 2023, the range will expand to include the EX+ and EX+ AWD with a more powerful turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine mated with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

An electric version of the Omoda 5 is due here in the first half of 2024. A plug-in hybrid version has also been mooted.

While the Omoda 5 doesn’t have any local suspension tuning, the company says it’s open to doing that in future to improve the vehicle.

The company says the Omoda 5 is its first truly global model, simultaneously developed in left- and right-hand drive and benchmarked against the Mazda CX-30, Hyundai Kona and Toyota C-HR.

The Chery range will expand beyond the Omoda 5 in the second half of 2023, with the Tiggo 7 Pro and Tiggo 8 Pro. The former will use a turbo 1.6-litre and the latter a turbo 2.0-litre, both mated with a seven-speed dual-clutch auto.

The range will be sold through a network of at least 40 dealers nationally, with additional regional dealers set to be added.

Chery says it’s targeting a little over eight per cent of the total market in each category it competes in. That would peg it at around 10,000 small SUV sales.

For context, GWM sold 8217 Haval Jolions last year, Kia sold 8504 Seltos crossovers, and Subaru sold 9090 XVs.

Likewise, a figure of eight per cent of the mid-sized SUV segment would see the Tiggo 8 Pro outselling the likes of the GWM Haval H6 and Honda CR-V.

Drivetrains and Efficiency

The base Chery Omoda 5 and EX will use a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 115kW of power and 230Nm of torque, mated with a continuously variable transmission. These variants are front-wheel drive.

Claimed fuel consumption is 6.9L/100km.

The front-wheel drive EX+ and all-wheel drive EX+ will use a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine with 145kW and 290Nm, mated with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.

These models also upgrade from a torsion-beam rear suspension to a multi-link set-up.

Dimensions

The Omoda 5 measures 4400mm long, 1830mm wide, 1588mm tall and rides a 2630mm wheelbase, which makes it particularly close to a Kia Seltos dimensionally.

Servicing and Warranty

The Chery Omoda 5 will be offered with a seven-year warranty, seven years of capped-price servicing and seven years of roadside assistance.

Chery won’t be alone in offering a seven-year warranty, with the likes of Kia and SsangYong offering the same coverage.

Safety

Unlike the J1 and J11 from Chery’s last run in Australia, which received only three- and two-star ANCAP ratings respectively, the Omoda 5 has received five stars from Euro NCAP. That suggests ANCAP could also award it five stars.

Chery says the Omoda 5 will have 16 active safety and driver assist features, though it hasn’t detailed which ones will be available.

Standard Equipment

The base Omoda 5 comes standard with the following:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Automatic LED headlights
• Automatic high-beam
• LED tail lights with directional indicators
• 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Wireless phone charger
• Keyless entry and start
• Six-way power driver’s seat
• PU & PVC upholstery
• Rear air vents
• Remote start

The EX adds:

• Heated front seats
• Heated steering wheel
• Second-row ambient lighting
• Exterior LED welcoming lights
• Omoda LED puddle lights
• Red brake callipers
• Four-way power passenger seat
• Surround-view camera
• Power tailgate
• Power sunroof

Colours

The full colour palette comprises:

• Space Black
• Mercurial Grey
• Saturn Silver
• Lunar White
• Titan Green
• Jupiter Blue
• Midnight Blue

In the EX, Mercurial Grey, Lunar White and Saturn Silver are also available with bold red accents on the side skirts, mirrors, wheels and front bumper.

MORE: Everything Chery Omoda 5