Omoda 5 BEV: The Door Opener

Chery wants to finally gain a foothold in Germany and it’s betting big on the Omoda 5 BEV. A bold move, especially in Europe’s most hotly contested SUV class.

To say Chery’s German launch has been underwhelming would be putting it mildly. By the end of August, the Federal Motor Transport Authority had recorded just 42 new registrations. In words: forty-two. That’s a sobering figure for a company that set out to storm the European market. Now, with sub-brands like Omoda, Jaecoo, and later Exlantix, Chery hopes to turn the tide.

The Omoda 5 BEV is meant to be the door opener: A compact electric SUV aimed directly at German showrooms. But it enters the ring with one hand tied behind its back: it’s offered exclusively as a fully electric model. And it has to fight in a crowded arena against the VW Tiguan, Kia EV3, and Hyundai Kona. Chery’s pitch? Modern design, solid technology, plenty of standard equipment, and a starting price below €40,000.

Surprisingly small battery packs and modest performance

The Omoda 5 comes with a 60.1 kWh battery, delivering a WLTP range of 402 kilometers. That beats the VW ID.4 Pure with its 52-kWh pack but falls short of the Škoda Enyaq 60 and Kia EV3 Air, both of which push further on a charge.

At the charger, Chery makes progress: 130 kW DC means 30 to 80 percent in about 28 minutes, a clear step up from the sub-80 kW niche many Chinese rivals occupy. AC charging remains at the familiar 11 kW.

With 155 kW / 211 PS, the Omoda 5 won’t set speed records, but its 0–100 km/h in 7.7 seconds and 175 km/h top speed are perfectly acceptable for the class. More importantly, consumption sits at a respectable 16.5 kWh/100 km.

Driving modes, Eco, Normal, and Sport, are announced in German and offer tangible differences. Most of the time, “Normal” does the job; Eco makes sense in city traffic. Comfort is clearly a priority: the suspension is soft, soaking up bumps with ease. That said, it still lags half a step behind the chassis finesse of a VW ID.4 or Škoda Enyaq. Steering is fine, but braking feels synthetic and lacks feedback.

Conservative layout in the cockpit

Chery resists the temptation of oversized screens. Instead, there are two 12.3-inch displays under one glass panel, supported by a head-up display. Crucially, physical shortcut buttons remain, at least for for drive modes, defrost, and recirculation. making the car user-friendly even for non-digital natives. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are on board as well.

The materials feel premium, the cockpit layout is clear, and overall build quality is solid. Space is reasonable for a 4.38-meter SUV with a 2.62-meter wheelbase. Adults fit in the rear, though headroom gets tight above 1.85 meters. Luggage space is 314 liters, expanding to 1,075 liters with folded seats, while a 35-liter frunk adds extra practicality.

Outlook: What’s next for the Omoda 5?

With its blend of design, tech, and value, the Omoda 5 BEV could easily surpass those 42 registrations once it lands in Germany in the fourth quarter of this year. At a projected price of around €45,000, it undercuts many European rivals while offering more equipment as standard.