We’ve been impressed by Chery’s carefully planned re-entry into the somewhat troublesome automotive atmosphere. Precise burns are likely to land the Chinese car maker directly on target, and the established retailers are not going to be best pleased. It serves them right. They’re all rested on their laurels for far too long, offering bloated, overpriced, underdelivered blancmanges.

As an example, Japan has had Australia to itself for many decades, with names like Toyota, Mazda, Honda, and Suzuki becoming complacent as they streaked ahead of Ford and Holden. Fearing no competition, Holden refused to meet market and is now as extinct as a Dodo. While some may lament its passing, some cheered, and others saw both a warning, and an opportunity.

Korea usurped the entry level spot once coveted by Japanese brands, but has gone up-market, leaving the entry level segment to the new player, China. That was a huge mistake, with Chinese-made cars now macheting a path through a forest of over-priced dross.

For years we’ve heard decent cars with good looks and the latest gizmos can’t be had under a certain price. China said “FARKU, it SO can”, and with that, waved their magic wands. Over 26,000 Chinese-made cars have been sold during in the first 2 months of 2023. While mainstream car-makers like Tesla have Chinese factories making models which set sail for Australia, the biggest movers are Chinese-owned companies like MG, and GWM (previously Great Wall Motors). That spins 360­­0 back to Chery. Chery previously had a go under the governorship of a gold-toothed, yacht-owning, Kiwi smooth-talker who also imports Maserati, and the venture fell flat on its face.

Chery thinks the antipodes is worth another blat, and has had the longest re-launch in the history of history, by teasing the public with tasty titbits, spy shots, and soft launches. Now we’ve gotten to the meat and potatoes, a drive, and nothing can hide from a thorough seeing-to.

Pricing for Omoda 5 seemed quite unbelievable, and one might have assumed the quality and drive might be a trifle suspect. So, is it?

Video Review: Is Chery Omoda 5 EX the best Cheap Car on the market? FULL Review #gaycarboys

1 Minute Video Review: 2023 Honda HR-V  #short

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ABOVE: 2023 Chery Omoda 5 Video Review

Outside

Looks are a matter of opinion and taste, and Omoda 5 seems to have captured a certain modernity that has been in short supply of recent times. We thought our recently reviewed Honda HR-V too MIA in the looks department.  It is slightly smaller but cost many more shekels, but I’ll go further: Omoda 5 made the HR-V look like a museum piece.

Omoda 5 EX has all the works and jerks, including tasty red touches, snazzy LED lighting, and a sunroof. Keeping in mind the Omoda 5’s $32,990 price tag, a sunroof is utterly astounding.

18” alloys and floating roof give the design an appeal completely absent from Chinese cars of the recent past

Not only that, the massive grille looks like someone roped down an errant star cluster, so like it or not, you certainly won’t miss it. Personally, I think it looks rather smart.

The body is sculptured and faceted so that every angle provides a place for the eye to rest. It is an aggressive look, that uses a play of light to give it its curves and bends, shadows of interest. If it seems that I am arcing on, in an unnecessarily Churchillian bender, it is because I’ve recently come out of a more expensive car that was plainer than unprinted Pyrex. I was bored rigid even before unlocking the door.

Inside:

The design is fabulous in a vehicle of any price.

Having said that, there is no doubting this SUV is built to a price, and although there is a bit of scratchy plastic about, the visual effect of theme lighting is stunning.

Large LCD screens, a fat, high, centre console, and comfortable heated seats, give the impression of an interior that costs more than it actually does.

Seats are covered in a genuine imitation-fake-leatherette that does a good job of feeling like the real thing. The front seats are heated too, and all the controls are exactly where you expect them, more or less.

It may take a minute to get used to the layout.

Almost all controls have been subsumed by the infotainment system, but there is a bare-bones on/off/volume dial on the console. Climate controls appear in both the on-screen menu, and in a touch panel below the main screen.

The 15w Qi pad and fast USB-C chargers compliment the Apple CarPlay/Android Auto system with Sony speakers.

For a smallish SUV, there is oodles of room, and, hoorah, there is a space-saver spare under the floor in the boot. The rear hatch is powered too, just for good measure.

I rather think that a lot of thought has gone into how the Omoda 5 will be used, and if the look and feel doesn’t appeal to thrifty drivers, I’ll walk backwards to Bourke, naked.

The Drive:

The smart key allows easy entry, and push button start gets the day off to a great start.

While making our film, we left the old girl parked in the sun, and as usual in an Australian summer, the cabin was like a pre-heated oven. The climate control took some while to bring things back down to a comfortable level.

As I said, the controls are a little unusual, and things take a bit of getting used to. For example, changing between gears may well leave you stuck in manual. The button on the side of the t-bar-style selector is actually the manual/auto control. It is natural to press the button with your thumb, but doing so locks the CVT into an unnatural mode. As you scream down the street, it takes a second to realise you’ve made a pudding of things. A quick press sets things right.

Steering is light, very light. Electric steering has no natural road feel, so it might as well be as light as possible.

Ride on Macpherson Strut/Multi Link suspension is firm, no doubt tuned for spirited cornering. Speaking of handling, Omoda 5 gets the job done. While it leaves you with no delusions of sporty spins along the Amalfi coast, I can certainly see a buff young couple, with wet suits and other divey-wivey things, at the beach.

In fact, I’m going to leave you with that thought whilst I move swiftly on.

The CVT automatic is not one of my favourite things. It is commonplace, but shouldn’t be. It rather gets the pistons pumping, but those who love a rev, will enjoy the performance. Great Wall has installed a ZF-8-speed in their Haval Cannon ute, and it think would transform the Chery into a peach!

Conclusion:

The reinvigorated Chery brand is going to smash it.

See Specs HERE:  OMODA 5 MY23 – Spec Sheet

Omoda 5 is a peach, not because it is a great car, but because it is a cheap car. It has the looks and comfort one has no right to expect at the entry level, butt (pun intended) here it is, all out and proud.

Will it appeal to gay campers?

Very possibly. Gay buyers who can’t stretch to a Beemer or Merc, will hunt for something practical that not only fits into their garage, but into their wallet. The Chery is pretty in an aggressive kind of way, and if it appeals to me, it is bound to appeal to others. I predict that they will sell as many as they can possibly grapple onto a boat.

Price: $32,990

Engine: 1.5 turbo 4 cyl

Power: 108kw/210Nm

Trans: CVT

Econ: 6.7L/100k

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