Image: Riz Akhtar
Chery is one of the newest and fastest-growing car brands in Australia and has unveiled the pricing of its Omoda E5 electric SUV, which makes it one of the most affordable in the Australian market.
And it does that while packing unique features including a full-size spare wheel, rarity in the EV world.
The Omega will come into the market with two variants, the entry-level BX variant which starts at $42,990 before on-road costs, and the top-spec EX, which is priced from $45,990 before state-specific on-roads.
Some key features of the entry-level BX variant include:
The top-spec EX variant adds a powered sunroof, ambient interior lighting, 360-degree camera and 8-speaker sound system.
According to Chery, the brand has done extensive local testing for this new model to meet ride and handling requirements.
More than 8 months of engineering testing has been undertaken with the Omoda E5 and thousands of kilometres have been driven during this period to ensure the driving dynamics and ADAS system is suited for our road conditions.
Both variants of the Omoda E5 have 430 km of range, thanks to a 61 kWh battery pack. It also includes fast charging with the compatible CCS2 plug located at the front of the car.
With that, DC fast charging at the right charger can get the car from 30-80% in 28 minutes which is comparable to other cars in this segment.
This battery is covered by an 8-year and unlimited-kilometre warranty which is on par with other industry players.
There is a 7-year and unlimited kilometre warranty available for the car itself, along with 7-year capped price servicing and up to 7 years of roadside assistance. This comes just under the new warranty announced by MG which covers its EV models for up to 10 years.
Chery’s first electric model will be available in 5 colours including:
It’s also worth noting that the Titan Green and Lunar White colours can get an optional black roof, giving the car a unique aesthetic when on the road.
“We’re thrilled to introduce our first electric vehicle, a testament to our commitment to innovation and sustainability,” Lewis Lu, CEO of Chery Australia said.
“We’re proud to offer a vehicle that not only delivers outstanding performance and range but also helps reduce our carbon footprint. This launch is a significant milestone in our journey towards a greener and more sustainable future.”
When The Driven asked about the expected sales volume for the E5 compared to the other models in the lineup, Chery told us that it has “fairly modest expectations due to current market conditions,” of its first EV model. The Omoda E5 will form part of an important future for the brand in Australia.
Chery also said that there isn’t any limit to the number of EVs the company could bring to Australia and currently doesn’t see any supply chain problems. This will ensure smooth delivery of the car to customers in our local market.
The brand also touched on its rapid international expansion in other right-hand-drive markets like the UK and NZ along with other parts of Europe in the left-hand-drive configuration. These countries include Spain and Poland.
This expansion could lead to potentially more EV models coming to the Australian market in the coming years.
The Omoda E5 will arrive at local showrooms later this month which is good timing for those comparing it to other compact electric SUVs.
Chery Omoda E5 variants, pricing and respective feature list
BX – $42,990 before on-roads
EX – $45,990 before on-roads adds or replaces:
Riz is the founder of carloop based in Melbourne, specialising in Australian EV data, insight reports and trends. He is a mechanical engineer who spent the first 7 years of his career building transport infrastructure before starting carloop. He has a passion for cars, particularly EVs and wants to help reduce transport emissions in Australia. He currently drives a red Tesla Model 3.
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