Chery’s first new-generation mannequin in Australia rapidly grew to become its first all-electric automobile in Australia too.
The Chery E5 (previously referred to as the Omoda E5) is the all-electric model of Chery’s distinctively styled C5 (previously the Omoda 5) small SUV, which spearheaded the Chinese language model’s return to the Australian market in 2023.
Aiming straight on the likes of the BYD Atto 3 and MG S5 EV, the E5 is an attainable compact electrical SUV that can value you related cash to an up-spec petrol-fired Kia Seltos or Mazda CX-30 – and now it’s even extra inexpensive.
Like its ICE-powered C5 sibling, the E5 trades laborious on worth and aftersales provisions, with inexpensive pricing and a protracted seven-year manufacturing unit guarantee. The E5 additionally presents aggressive efficiency and vary at this finish of the market.
On take a look at right here now we have the entry-level 2025 Chery E5 – now generally known as the City – which since being renamed has seen retail pricing drop by as a lot as $6000. It’s now priced listed from $36,990 plus on-road prices.
WATCH: Paul’s video assessment of the 2023 Chery Omoda 5
The Chery model is steadily gaining momentum within the Australian market, registering 12,603 new automobiles in 2024 (up 114.0 per cent), with the Omoda 5 household (now C5 and E5) main the cost (6162 models, up 14.7 per cent).
To this point in 2025, the Chery C5/E5 has been supplanted because the model’s top-seller Down Beneath by the extra inexpensive Tiggo 4 small SUV, but it surely stays in second place throughout the Chery steady. Is that this base EV model value a glance?
Word: The automobile pictured is an MY24 Chery Omoda E5, which aside from revised ‘CHERY’ badging changing the outdated ‘OMODA’ script and a few minor specification adjustments, is successfully the identical automobile.
How a lot does the Chery E5 value?
For 2025, the Chery E5 has been renamed and repriced, with the bottom City now beginning at $36,990 plus on-road prices.
| Mannequin | Worth earlier than on-road prices |
|---|---|
| 2025 Chery E5 City | $36,990 |
| 2025 Chery E5 Final | $40,990 |
To see how the Chery E5 traces up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability instrument
What’s the Chery E5 like on the within?
As with the Omoda 5 (now C5), the E5 presents a extra premium cabin design than most of its Chinese language opponents, with inspiration drawn from luxurious marques like Mercedes-Benz.
It differs barely from the petrol-powered C5 in among the detailing, with its padded leather-look protrusion beneath the air vents and central show, and a novel centre console design. It’s much more Benz-like than the ICE model.
There’s a slickness to the straight traces and shiny finishes. The bigger 12.3-inch shows are properly built-in right into a unified fascia, and the steering wheel design is gorgeous – although within the base grade it’s not leather-based or leatherette wrapped, simply squishy plastic which feels a bit rental-spec.
Piano black materials 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 – finest to maintain a rag within the glovebox.
The sporty material and leatherette-clad seats are manually adjusted within the entry grade, however that’s tremendous within the scheme of issues. They’re 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 on lengthy journeys. In contrast to another Chinese language-branded automobiles, there’s higher under-thigh assist from the lengthy base cushion, which fits a good distance.
Now whereas these shows I discussed earlier look schmick when the automotive isn’t shifting, they’re not fairly as slick in operation. The design and interface could be very budget-Benz, however the display is laggy to the purpose the place issues nearly ‘tick’ as they animate, and the motive force’s cluster doesn’t have a extra standard dial view like in petrol automobiles.
Fortunately, the wi-fi Apple CarPlay labored usually effectively throughout our testing, although there was the odd event the place identified blackspots would trigger a disconnection after which a buggy reconnection – or no connection in any respect.
Chery Australia has additionally eliminated native satellite tv for pc navigation from the E5 vary, certainly one of few adjustments made throughout the rebrand. So, these CarPlay quibbles generally is a little bit of a problem when you’re utilizing your cellphone to navigate someplace and it immediately disconnects and you may’t get it again on-line.
Construct high quality feels sturdy, and the design is extra up to date and cohesive in contrast than an MG ZST or GWM Haval Jolion. There’s respectable storage too, when you have a behavior of carrying free objects like wallets and bottles.
The E5 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 the sloping window line may imply you knock your head on the way in which in – talking from expertise right here…
Knee room is a bit comfortable behind these chunky entrance seats, however in any other case 6″1′ me may sit behind my most well-liked driving place. Headroom is okay, although my voluminous hair was brushing the headliner within the again.
Your children can be tremendous within the again supplied the entrance seats don’t hinder their view an excessive amount of, and there are facilities like rear air vents, USB-A and USB-C cost ports (new for the up to date mannequin), 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 top-tether baby seat anchor factors are current as you’d count on.
Additional again, the Chery E5’s boot capability takes a success in comparison with petrol fashions. It’s quoted at 300 litres with the rear seats in play and 1079L with them folded. By comparability, the Chery C5 presents 370L in five-seat configuration.
One spotlight that’s fairly uncommon – particularly for an EV – is the presence of a full-size spare wheel beneath the boot ground. Props to Chery for going towards the trade pattern on this one.
| Dimensions | Chery E5 |
|---|---|
| Size | 4424mm |
| Width | 1830mm |
| Top | 1588mm |
| Wheelbase | 2610mm |
| Boot area | 300L-1079L; 19L ‘frunk’ |
To see how the Chery E5 traces up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability instrument
What’s beneath the bonnet?
All variations of the E5 are powered by a front-mounted electrical motor making 150kW/340Nm, fed by a 61.1kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack – and there’s a 19-litre ‘frunk’.
| Specs | Chery E5 |
|---|---|
| Drivetrain | Single-motor electrical |
| Battery | 61.1kWh LFP |
| Energy | 150kW |
| Torque | 340Nm |
| Pushed wheels | Entrance-wheel drive |
| Weight | 1776kg – kerb |
| 0-100km/h (claimed) | 7.6 seconds |
| Energy consumption (claimed) | 15.5kWh/100km – WLTP |
| Energy consumption (as examined) | 17.0kWh/100km |
| Claimed vary | 430km – WLTP |
| Max AC cost charge | 6.6kWh – single part 9.9kWh – three part |
| Max DC cost charge | 80kW |
To see how the Chery E5 traces up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability instrument
How does the Chery E5 drive?
The petrol Omoda 5 (now C5) is a bit hit or miss in my expertise, relying on the drivetrain, so I used to be eager to see if the torque-rich nature of electrical motoring can be a marked enchancment within the E5.
Pictured: MY24 Chery Omoda E5 BX
Typically I discover that drivetrain refinement in petrol-powered Chinese language-branded automobiles wants a bit work to actually be aggressive with legacy manufacturers from Europe and Asia, however within the EV area it’s a way more degree taking part in discipline.
Naturally, the E5 begins in full silence, and setting off isn’t met with clumsy lurching like outdated Omoda 5 automobiles fitted with the dual-clutch computerized have been vulnerable to. It’s additionally very quiet, and the elevated driving place provides you a commanding view of the highway forward and makes this really feel like a bigger, extra substantial automobile.
Whereas straight-line acceleration is easy and responsive, supplied you don’t mash the throttle and light-weight up the entrance tyres, there’s a little bit of a disconnect between the drivetrain and dealing with.
That massive automobile really feel I discussed earlier interprets a bit an excessive amount of to the steering and dealing with, with very gentle weighting and minimal suggestions, sometimes making the E5 really feel a bit obscure and ponderous.
It’s fairly softly sprung too, so there’s a little bit of physique lean in corners, which mixed with the tall driving place can exacerbate the top-heavy feeling behind the wheel. That stated, it’s solely actually a downside when you’re a eager driver, and that is priced to be economy-class zero-emissions transport.
Pushed with a extra measured strategy in metropolis and suburban environments, the E5 is a fairly comfy and quiet runabout. It’s an excellent measurement for city residing too, with comparatively compact dimensions, entrance and rear parking sensors and a good reversing digital camera – you want the flagship Final for the superb encompass cameras.
Outward visibility is nice out the entrance and sides, although the rising belt line and slim rear window means the aforementioned sensors and digital camera come in useful, as does customary blind-spot and rear cross-traffic screens.
Issues settle properly on the open highway too, with the E5 providing good sound insulation regardless of the absence of a combustion motor, and a settled experience that’s solely ever upset by sharp floor imperfections like growth joins on the nationwide freeway restrict – not helped by the bigger 18-inch alloy wheels shod with 215/55 Kumho rubber.
Whereas it’s principally a good if not good exhibiting, Chery’s driver help applied sciences nonetheless require some work. This can be a grievance I’ve had about almost each one of many firm’s automobiles I’ve pushed.
In equity, it’s primarily the Built-in Cruise Help, which mixes adaptive cruise management and energetic lane holding tooffer semi-autonomous freeway driving, that’s not fairly there.
The lane-centring operate nonetheless can’t precisely maintain the E5 centred in its lane, usually jerking the steering wheel left because it dislikes the driver-side lane markings. Now and again it’ll wrestle you in the direction of the automobile subsequent to you or a concrete barrier if it may possibly’t appropriately detect the lane markings, which will be fairly unsettling.
Chery’s driver monitoring system can also be deserving of a typical gripe made towards Chinese language manufacturers, usually chiming too eagerly even when you’re simply doing a head-check or glancing over on the infotainment show.
To see how the Chery E5 traces up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability instrument
What do you get?
The Chery E5 vary stays a two-variant mannequin household in Australia, although the outdated BX and EX trims are actually referred to as the City and Final.
2025 Chery E5 City gear highlights:
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Kumho PS71 215/55 R18 tyres
- Full-size spare wheel
- Eco, Regular and Sport drive modes
- LED headlights
- LED entrance fog lights with cornering operate
- Automated high-beam
- Proximity entry with push-button begin
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Heated, power-folding exterior mirrors
- 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
- 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Wired and wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- DAB digital radio
- Voice assistant
- 50W wi-fi cellphone charger
- 6-speaker sound system
- Cloth upholstery with leatherette bolsters
- Folding rear armrest with cupholders
- Twin-zone local weather management with rear air vents
- Gloss woodgrain impact trim with darkish chrome accents
- Tilt and telescopic steering wheel adjustment
- 3 x USB-A shops (1 x sprint, 1 x higher windscreen, 1 x rear)
- 2 x USB-C shops (1 x entrance, 1 x rear)
- 2 x 12V shops (1 x entrance, 1 x boot)
E5 Final provides:
- Sequential rear indicators
- Energy sunroof
- Acoustic entrance door glass
- Rear privateness glass
- Energy tailgate
- Leatherette-wrapped steering wheel
- Heated steering wheel
- Leatherette upholstery
- 6-way energy driver’s seat
- 4-way energy passenger seat
- Heated entrance seats
- Heated outboard rear seats
- Color-adjustable ambient lighting
- 8-speaker Sony sound system
Is the Chery E5 protected?
The Omoda E5 has the identical five-star ANCAP security score as its petrol-powered siblings, primarily based on 2022 take a look at standards.
| Class | Chery C5 + E5 |
|---|---|
| Grownup occupant safety | 87 per cent |
| Baby occupant safety | 88 per cent |
| Weak highway consumer safety | 68 per cent |
| Security help | 83 per cent |
The exams have been performed by Euro NCAP, however when awarding the electrical model the identical five-star score, ANCAP confirmed further testing was performed on the E5 to find out the integrity and security of the E5’s battery and high-voltage electrical system.
Normal security gear consists of:
- 7 airbags
- Adaptive cruise management
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Driver consideration monitoring
- Lane-keep help
- Emergency lane-keep help
- Built-in Cruise Help
- Visitors Jam Help
- Parking sensors – entrance, rear
- Rear cross-traffic help
- Secure exit warning
- Velocity restrict data
- Multi-collision brake
- Reversing digital camera
- Tyre stress monitoring
Final provides:
To see how the Chery E5 traces up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability instrument
How a lot does the Chery E5 value to run?
As with the broader Chery lineup, the Omoda E5 is roofed by a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee, with the high-voltage battery in EV fashions coated by a prolonged eight-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee.
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| Servicing and Guarantee | Chery E5 |
|---|---|
| Guarantee | 7 years, limitless kilometres – automobile 8 years, limitless kilometres – EV battery |
| Battery guarantee | 8 years |
| Roadside help | As much as 7 years – service activated |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 20,000km |
| Capped-price servicing | 7 years |
| Complete capped worth service value | $1586 |
To see how the Chery E5 traces up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability instrument
CarExpert’s Tackle the Chery E5
Since I drove this automobile in MY24-spec, Chery has made a considerable change to the retail pricing which helps the worth equation by some margin.
An entire $6000 drop – even when there have been sharp drive-away offers on the time of testing – is nothing to sneeze at, and the bottom City’s new $36,990 sticker places it within the firm of a wide range of legacy-branded combustion-powered SUVs.
For an inexpensive electrical crossover it drives effectively sufficient, it’s geared up effectively sufficient, and it’s arguably styled to look dearer than it’s. Eager drivers like me may discover it underwhelming or boring on the highway, but it surely’s tremendous for what it’s.
The finicky driver help tech stays a grievance, however that is frequent to the majority of Chery’s lineup together with even its new Omoda Jaecoo portfolio. It’s an space the place BYD and MG have made fairly good strides – although their equal fashions value extra.
Whereas it might lack among the polish of the equally sized BYD Atto 3 and MG S5 EV, the Chery E5 is hundreds extra inexpensive and presents extra vary than its Chinese language rivals. That alone can be a key promoting level for a lot of.
CarExpert can prevent hundreds on a brand new Chery E5. Click on right here to get an excellent deal.
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