The Omoda E5 is a serious offering from the guys who once brought you the super-affordable QQ hatchback

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Photos: Augustine Lai, Clifford Chow, Low Jek Ray

Text: Augustine Lai

SINGAPORE

As the market becomes flooded with Chinese EVs, it becomes imperative for a manufacturer to distinguish themselves in order to attract potential buyers. Remember Chery, the guys who brought you the very affordable QQ? Well.. they have created a new brand called Omoda, and with that, they have made a comeback into Singapore with the Omoda E5. Back in 2006, the QQ, when brought to market, was best described as budget transport. However, since then, Chery has made significant strides forward, aiming to produce vehicles that can compete with the rest of the big brands.

Exterior

The Omoda E5 carries its signature ‘’X-Future Tech Front’’ design which features very slim daytime running lights. This sits above the actual headlight cluster. Its gentle-sloping roof, and kicked-up rear-end lends an impression of sportiness and sleekness. On first impressions, I found the car visually quite appealing, and seemingly, I wasn’t alone, as I noticed it drew the attention of several curious onlookers.

Interior

Right-away, you’d notice that the gear lever, window controls and speaker system resemble that of a familiar German automotive brand, which is not that really a bad thing. Interestingly, the upholstery also contributes to a more upmarket feel. There is also some decent focus on tech here. The Omoda E5 houses two 10.25-inch screens, with the infotainment half supporting Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. It also has its own built-in navigation system. All this is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8155 chipset, therefore the E5’s infotainment system is notably quick. However, I experienced difficulties connecting my phone through the wireless Apple CarPlay system. 

Like many competing brands, the Omoda E5 also has a fairly comprehensive list of safety assistance and convenience systems, such as lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring system and door ajar warning. The 540-degree parking camera also exceeded my expectations. But what mattered the most were the ventilated seats, which is an important feature, given our tropical climate here.

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For dressing up the interior, the Omoda E5 boasts 64 colour ambient lighting, while entertainment is taken care-of by an 8-speaker Sony sound system. For keeping your mobile device juiced, there is a 50W wireless mobile charger, which surprisingly, is equipped with built-in vents to keep your device cool.

The automated tailgate here, activates when you stand close to the boot, which has its merits, as compared to most “kick-activation” systems. Cargo room is decent-enough, at 380-litres; which can be further extended to 1,340-litres, by folding down the rear seats. Additionally, there’s the 19-litre ‘frunk’, which, although small, is in my books, great for storing takeaway without introducing odours into the cabin.

The Drive

Behind the wheel, I noticed that the steering leans towards the lighter side, bordering on numbness. The regenerative braking, which can be toggled between low, medium and high, did not perform in the most seamless manner. Over here, there is a significant delay in response, which makes smooth driving quite the challenge.

The driving assistance systems can be too intrusive for the driving experience, therefore I learnt that the best way to drive the Omoda E5 is with them turned off. However, everything has to be deactivated, with each time I get back into the car.

The motor, which drives the front, produces 201hp and 340Nm. This is enough to get the E5 adequately to 100 in 7.6s. The energy comes from a 61kWh BYD-sourced LFP blade battery, which in the E5’s case, provides around 420km of range. Official consumption figures put the E5 at 15.5kWh/100km. However, I managed a slightly better combined 14.5kWh/100km.

With a new badge and a sister brand waiting in the wings, Chery’s return to Singapore does show promise. The Omoda E5 is pretty competent, but in a competitive market, you can bet it is going to be a tough fight.

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2024 Omoda E5 61kWh

Drivetrain type	Full Electric
Electric Motor / layout	Single Motor, Front Drive
Motor power / torque	201hp / 340Nm
Battery type /net capacity	Lithium-ion / 61kWh (net)
Normal Charge Type / Time	9.9kW AC / 8 hours
Max Fast Charge Type / Time	80kW DC / 30 mins
Electric Range	430km
0-100km/h	7.6 seconds
Top Speed	172km/h
Efficiency	15.5kWh/100km
VES Band	A1 / -S$25,000
Agent	Vertex Automobile
Price	S$178,888 with COE and VES
Availability	Now
Verdict:	The Omoda E5 marks a new beginning for both Chery and its local dealership. As a bread-and-butter EV, it comes with a surprisingly long equipment list.

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