It was a long wait to see Chery make a comeback to the Malaysian market and it finally happened last week. The Chinese automaker made a grand re-entry with not one but two models, the Omoda 5 and Tiggo 8 Pro SUVs to the local market.

Also Read: Chery Tiggo 8 Pro launched in Malaysia; check full details

Also, in a recent press conference Shawn Xu, Chery International Vice President confirmed Chery Malaysia’s next inclusion, the Tiggo 7 Pro to the brand's lineup in the country. By next year, the fully-electric Omoda 5 EV will also be making its way to the market.

Enough about Chery and its future plans for Malaysia, it is time now to discuss its products in detail. While we have already discussed the Tiggo 8 Pro in detail, in this article our focus is on the Omoda 5, as promised yesterday.

Also Read: Chery Omoda 5 launched in Malaysia; price starts at RM 108,800

2023 Chery Omoda 5: Buyer’s guide

Dimensions

Length	4,400 mm
Width	1,830 mm
Height	1,588 mm
Wheelbase	2,638 mm
Boot space	378-litre (with trunk cover) 483-litre (without trunk cover)
Wheels	18-inch with 215/55 R18 tyres

Compared to the Honda HR-V (one of its local rivals), the Omoda 5 is 70 mm longer, 40 mm wider, and its height is just 2 mm shy compared to the Honda. As for the wheelbase, Chery’s is 20 mm longer than the HR-V. Therefore, compared to the HR-V, the new Chery showcases a highly-sculpted shape along with loud details.

Platform

Similar to the Tiggo 8 Pro, the Omoda 5 is underpinned by the Modern T1X platform which calls for a spacious cabin along with excellent geometric cross-country abilities like - exit angles, ground clearance, and entry angles.

Design

The Chery Omoda 5 crossover expresses a new level of refinement; with every detail meticulously designed to accentuate its sporty and modern aesthetic. All its elements exude a sense of style and sophistication, helping the car make a bold statement on the road and turn a lot of heads.

 

Part of the setup is -

• LED headlights with daytime running lamps
• LED tail lights
• Red exterior highlights (front lower grille, side mirrors, lower doors, and rear spoiler; limited to high spec trim)
• Sequential signals (limited to high spec trim)
• Front/rear light at start-up (limited to high spec trim)
• Dual colour rim with red stripes (H trim)

Interior

The Chery Omoda 5’s cabin is no less than a word full of luxury and sophistication with several premium and futuristic elements. Open the gates and you will be greeted by a sense of modernity and elegance.

Here is a list of features that makes the crossover redefined one’s perception of automotive design and new standards of sophistication.

• Driver seat 6-way power adjustment (H trim)
• Front row ventilated seats (H trim)
• Power sunroof (H trim)
• 6-/8-speakers
• Faux leather combined with fabric (C trim)/ Faux leather seat cover (H trim)
• Dynamic 64-multi-colour ambient light
• Dual-zone automatic air-conditioning with PM 2.5 filter,
• Illuminated welcome light
• Lighting effect of ceremonial exterior decoration (front & rear headlight; H trim only)

Connectivity

The all-new Chery crossover is very well-kitted, even the base C trim is no less and features a series of advanced features. The dashboard features two 10.25-inch dashboard screens as standard with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and intelligent voice assistant.

Also, part of the kit is wireless charging with the phone resting on an easy viewing angle, 1 USB and 1 Type C fast charging at the front row and 1 USB at the second row and a power outlet in the trunk.

Convenience

The latest crossover leaves no stone unturned when it comes to driver and passengers comfort and convenience and therefore includes -

• Front armrest with cooling storage
• Remote window operation
• Engine start with cooling activation
• All doors with power window
• Acoustic glass
• Driver & passenger sun visor with vanity mirrors
• Sun visor with illuminant (driver+passenger)
• Tilt and telescopic with EPS & STRG mode adjustment
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
• Door mirror heating
• Hands-free power tailgate (H trim)

Powertrain

The Chery Omoda 5 is powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine generating a maximum power output of 156 hp along with a peak torque of 230 Nm. The power is transmitted to the front wheels via a CVT with nine virtual ratios. As for the drivetrain, the SUV offers front-wheel drive with multi-driving modes, including ECO, NORMAL, and SPORT.

The SUV offers a combined fuel economy of 14.5 kmpl.

Braking and Handling

Helping Chery’s latest crossover stop is its capable braking system which includes ventilated disc brakes at the front and rear disc brakes. The setup also includes an electric parking brake (E-PKB) with auto hold which offers the driver more convenience and extra safety.

Further improving the SUV’s driving comfort and calm is its superb suspension setup which includes MacPherson Independent at the front and twin-beam independent suspension at the rear.

Safety

The Chery Omoda 5 is the brand’s first product under the new global OMODA series to be awarded a full five-star safety rating by the stringent Euro NCAP. The crossover performed exceptionally well in Adult Occupant, Child Occupant, Vulnerable Road Users, and Safety Assist categories. Some of its key safety highlights include -

• Acing the Tri-Extreme Tests (conducted in extreme environments, <-40°C & nearly 50°C
• 78% of the body is made of high-strength steel
• Can withstand pressures of up to 1,800 MPa
• Meticulously designed and manufactured body
• No deformation in the event of collisions
• Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) with 16 functions

Further, the setup includes 6 airbags, rearview camera with dynamic guides, and keyless entry with vehicle body anti-theft. It also comes with a bunch of driving and advanced driving assistant features.

The former includes - an anti-lock braking system, electronic brake force distribution, brake assistant system, electronic stability program, traction control, hill descent control, hill-start assist control, tyre pressure monitoring system, and auto central locking door.

As for the Advanced Driving Assistant, the car comes with lane departure warning & lane departure prevention, blind spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control with low speed follow, integrated cruise assist, front collision warning with vehicle identification, autonomous emergency braking, headlamp automatic control, traffic jam assist, speed limit assist/ speed control assist, traffic sign recognition, and 360 degrees HD panoramic camera.

Color options

All-new Chery Omoda 5 colour options include -

For C model: Dark Black, Khaki White, and Phantom Grey

For H model: Phantom Grey with red stripe, Khaki White with red stripe, Dark Black with red stripe, and Khaki White & Black with red stripe.

Price & competitors

The Chery Omoda 5 is offered in two trim options, C and H, which retail for RM 108,800 and RM 118,800 respectively. The prices include a seven years or 150,000-km warranty song with five years of ‘free service’ (alternating, free labor). Also, part of the offering is a whopping 10-year or one million km engine warranty, but only for the first 3000 customers, after which it will be offered for an additional amount of RM 2,000.

There are a bunch of cars the Omoda 5 goes up against in the Malaysian market, one of which is the Honda HR-V.

Also Read: Chery Omoda 5 vs. Proton X50: Spec-to-spec comparison