We street check the all-new, all-electric Omoda E5 household SUV…
Omoda is a brand new model to the UK and is owned by Chery, one of many largest automotive producers in China.
The Omoda 5 is a mid-sized household SUV, out there with both a 1.6-litre petrol engine or an EV (badged Omoda E5).
The previous is pitched as a rival to the Kia Sportage, MG HS and Nissan Qashqai. Beginning at simply £25,235, it represents a variety of automotive for the cash.
My focus right here is on the electrical model (branded E5), which is priced from a really aggressive £33,055 and has a claimed vary of 257 miles.
The Omoda E5 has the likes of the Volkswagen ID.3, Hyundai Kona Electrical and Kia Niro EV firmly in its sights, together with its fellow Chinese language imports, the BYD Atto 3 and MG ZS EV.
The Omoda 5 siblings will be distinguished by their grilles. The E5’s is properly smoothed off, whereas the 5 sports activities a outstanding mesh.
Aside from that, it’s a high-riding SUV which seems to be most much like a Qashqai. In reality, it’s about the identical dimension too.
There are two trim ranges – Consolation and Noble. Inside, the Omoda E5 will get a 12.25-inch infotainment system alongside a high-definition instrument cluster show with important driving info.
It really works effectively sufficient, however as with many rivals, there’s far an excessive amount of happening within the centre touchscreen and never sufficient bodily buttons.
Different highlights embrace a heated, artificial leather-based multi-function steering wheel, six-way energy adjusted driver’s seat and built-in headrests as normal.
Noble variants add fake leather-based sports activities seats with four-way adjustment for the entrance passenger. All fashions get an eight-speaker Sony audio system, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and a 50W wi-fi charger conveniently positioned within the centre console.
The suite of ordinary security and driving help options contains Lane Change Help, Lane Departure Warning and Prevention, Blind Spot Detection, Ahead Collision Warning, Autonomous Emergency Braking, Rear Cross Site visitors Brake, and Door Open Warning.
Extra importantly, the Omoda E5 is powered by a 150kW (204bhp) electrical motor and a 61kWh BYD ‘Blade’ battery, and due to a comparatively svelte kerb weight of 1,710kg (for an EV) it’ll do 0-62mph in 7.2 seconds.
Gasoline effectivity is a claimed 3.8 miles/kWh which ought to give a real-world vary of 234 miles. I’d must drive it for per week or so to seek out out for myself, however it actually appears lifelike after a day of driving on combined roads.
Whereas the quickest charging pace is simply 80kW on a speedy charger, that’s nonetheless sufficient for a 28-minute top-up from 30-80% in a good 28 minutes. That mentioned, the charging port is within the nostril, which makes life easy at public chargers.
The very first thing I observed when coming into the Omoda E5 is that the seating place is on the excessive facet for me. Consequently, visibility is fairly good and even the place it’s restricted (the chunky rear pillars and small hatch window), there are cameras and sensors that can assist you manoeuvre.
Mushy-touch surfaces and the overall high quality of supplies within the cabin is nice. House for rear passengers is ample, however the ground is excessive so it’s not essentially the most pure seating place. Baggage capability is an inexpensive 380 litres, increasing to 1,075 litres with the again seats flipped down.
And it’s the boot that homes one of many E5’s greatest surprises – a full-size spare wheel for that additional peace of thoughts, and unprecedented in an electrical car the place each kilo counts!
On the street, the journey is on the agency facet. You possibly can really feel a variety of lumps and bumps on the street, and on poor surfaces it’s potential to get jostled round within the cabin. On the plus facet, physique lean is effectively managed in tougher corners.
I drove it primarily within the rain, and whereas grip typically is nice, it’s simple to spin the entrance wheels in case you’re too heavy together with your proper foot when pulling away from junctions. Oh, and it’s swift, with out being stupidly quick like some EVs today.
At increased speeds, wind and street noise are extra noticeable, particularly across the door mirrors. Aside from that, it’s as refined as some other EV.
The steering is pretty exact, and there are two weight settings. Brake regeneration goes one higher (low, medium or excessive) and it’s potential to regulate the brake sensitivity (excessive or low).
The one challenge is that each one these settings are adjusted by way of the centre touchscreen. For me, steering wheel paddles to regulate the brake regen can be a godsend, as an example.
There are three drive modes (Eco, Regular and Sport). Sport is okay for brief bursts, however you’ll in all probability keep in Regular as a result of it’s simpler and it’s a very good stability of energy and effectivity.
General, driving the Omoda E5 is unlikely to place a smile in your face, however it’s a superbly respectable EV to drive, at its finest cruising on the motorway or quick A roads.
Lastly, the Omoda E5 comes with peace of thoughts since you get a tempting seven-year, 100,000-mile guarantee, plus an eight-year, 100,000-mile guarantee for the primary battery.
Verdict: The Omoda E5 is first rate debut automotive from a brand new model to the UK and undoubtedly price a check drive. Effectively-equipped, protected, nice to drive, and with a good real-world vary, the E5 is nice worth for cash and comes with a beneficiant seven-year guarantee.
Omoda UK
