Amidst all the fresh metal at the Malaysia Autoshow 2025 are two Chery vehicles, tucked away in one corner of Hall A at MAEPS. The two units, an all-electric Omoda E5 and Tiggo 8 PHEV, are not part of Chery Malaysia’s displays, but rather part of a taxi showcase at the event.
Both the E5, clad in the familiar red and white colour scheme for Malaysian taxis, and the Tiggo 8, finished in blue, are not in service vehicles, but rather evaluation mules being trialled for approval from the transport ministry for eventual use as hired vehicles.
A quick peek inside the cars showed they were set up for the task, with taximeters present in both, the one in the Omoda E5 being a conventionally-styled digital unit mounted on top of the dashboard while the unit in the Tiggo 8 PHEV is a digital fare meter integrated into a rear-view mirror attachment, with a separate receipt generating device.
We asked the folk at Chery Malaysia about the duo and their planned use as hired vehicles, but although it was indicated that the cars were official channel units, no one on the retail side seemed to be aware that there was such an evaluation being carried out, suggesting that this could be a commercial arrangement managed elsewhere.
In any case, a booth next to the display cars, which was unmanned when we dropped by, revealed who was behind the MoT evaluation programme, with a graphic on the booth containing a Big Blue logo and indicating that the vehicle display was very much a showcase for a ‘Rent To Own Taxi’ programme.
The Big Blue name should be familiar to most, as the company, under Big Blue Taxi Services, once operated MPV taxis clad in the same blue exterior scheme as seen on the Tiggo 8 PHEV example. The present plan is not the first time the company has pushed electrification for hired vehicles – back in 2018, it outlined plans to deploy 20,000 EV cabs in the city by 2020, but this did not materialise.
The idea of using EVs across a large-scale taxi programme was also explored back in 2022, when Mysuri Biz Technologies announced a plan to deploy 1,000 EVs under the TeksiKu banner, with the EVs (consisting of MG5 and BYD e6 models) being made available to drivers under a lease-to-own scheme via the Koperasi Jurupandu TeksiKu cooperative. However, no further news was reported about it.
Here’s the timeline – Proton eMas 7 launches with a starting price in the low hundred thousands, BYD Atto 3 goes down by RM26k to match the top-spec eMas 7, Chery Omoda E5 goes down by RM27k to RM120k (for 2024 models).
Now, Chery Malaysia has announced via a Facebook reel that it’s offering the Omoda E5 at RM98,818 – an incredible RM48k off! Just like the earlier RM27k drop, this deal should cover 2024 models only, and you’ll take home an AC wallbox charger worth RM3,500, a vehicle-to-load (V2L) adaptor worth RM500, plus RM1,000 charging credits.
We feeling the heat from the upcoming Proton eMas 5 and Perodua EVs, Chery? Both national EVs are battery-electric B-segment SUVs like the Omoda E5, and should be priced very competitively – Perodua’s, for instance, could begin from as low as RM80k if you choose to lease the battery.
The SUV, launched just over a year ago, is now a whopping RM27,000 cheaper at RM119,818 on-the-road without insurance. That’s significantly cheaper than the new Atto 3 Ultra, although that car does have an additional RM5,000 rebate, meaning that it undercuts the Chery slightly at RM119,500 OTR.
One catch is that the deal only covers 2024 units, with cars manufactured this year still retailing at RM146,818. The good news is that, as per the Atto 3 Ultra, the 2024 Omoda E5 is being offered a free AC wallbox charger worth RM3,500 and a free vehicle-to-load adapter worth RM500, along with RM1,000 in JomCharge charging credits. You’ll also be able to charge your car at Chery dealerships for free.
As a refresher, the Omoda E5 is powered by a single front motor that produces 204 PS (150 kW) and 340 Nm of torque, propelling it from zero to 100 km/h in a claimed 7.2 seconds. Top speed is 172 km/h. Meanwhile, a 61 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery from BYD provides a range of 430 km on the WLTP cycle.
The car can accept up to 80 kW of DC fast charging power, which can top up the battery from 30 to 80% in 28 minutes. The 9.9 kW triple-phase AC charging capability, impressive during the launch, has since been surpassed by the eMas 7’s support for 11 kW charging; even so, charging times should still be short enough.
This latest race to the bottom started when Proton launched the eMas 7 late last year, priced at RM123,800 for the equivalent Premium spec. The launch promotion included another RM4,000 to drop the price to RM119,800, helping to catapult the Malaysian-badged EV to the top of the sales charts. The first 6,000 customers (initially 3,000, before the national carmaker extended it) will be eligible for this deal, and Proton only sold just over 1,000 units in the first two months of the year, so there’s still time.
As part of Chery Malaysia’s year-end promotion campaign, the Chery Omoda E5 is currently being offered with up to RM11,000 in rebates from its list price of RM146,818 on-the-road without insurance.
In addition to the rebate for the Omoda E5, there is also a year-end lucky draw that is ongoing until December 31, 2024. With a prize pool worth over RM150,000, participants can stand a chance to win an Omoda 5, various home appliances, a Nintendo Switch and shopping vouchers.
To take part in the lucky draw, you’ll need to purchase any new Chery vehicle from an authorised Chery dealer or roadshow until December 31 this year, and ensure that their vehicle booking and registration details are registered into the Chery system by the dealer. Prize winners will be selected via random draw, and they will be announced on the brand’s social media platforms within three months once the contest ends.
With the Omoda E5, you’re getting an electric vehicle (EV) with a 61-kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery that is good for 430 km of range following the WLTP standard. The battery powers a front-mounted electric motor rated at 204 PS (201 hp or 150 kW) and 340 Nm of torque.
It, along with the electric drive unit, are covered by an eight-year, 160,000-km warranty, while the standard vehicle warranty is seven years or 150,000 km. The Omoda E5 also comes with ‘ADAS 2.5’ that includes autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, lane centring assist, rear collision alert, blind spot monitoring with collision prevention, rear cross traffic alert with auto brake and auto high beam – seven airbags are also standard.
Chery Malaysia has launched its ‘Great Year-End Lucky Draw’, which offers buyers who register their new vehicle within this month a chance to win prizes worth over RM150,000, including a brand-new Omoda 5 as the grand prize, household appliances, video game consoles and shopping vouchers.
“Many shoppers often look forward to December to shop and celebrate their holidays with friends and family. At Chery we want to add a touch of excitement to their year-end festivities by introducing this special lucky draw,” said Chery Auto Malaysia VP Michael Chew.
Specifically, the Omoda E5 EV is covered by a class-leading warranty package that includes seven years/150,000 km on the vehicle, eight years/160,000 km on the battery and eight years/160,000 km on the drive unit (encompassing the motor, motor control unit, battery management system and vehicle control unit).
Not only that – if the battery’s state of health dips below 70% during the warranty period, Chery Malaysia will offer a one-to-one exchange. Meanwhile, the Tiggo 7 Pro, Tiggo 8 Pro and Omoda 5 all come with a seven-year/150,000 km vehicle warranty and five years’ free labour service.
Take a closer look at these vehicles at your nearest Chery showroom or Chery’s 1 Utama festive roadshow, December 4-15, where test drives are available for selected models.
The Chery Omoda E5 was launched in Malaysia yesterday and is offered in a sole variant priced at RM146,800 on-the-road without insurance. For the money, you’re getting an electric vehicle that is capable of providing 430 km of range following the WLTP standard.
This is made possible by the Omoda E5’s lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery that is sourced from BYD and has an energy capacity of 61 kWh. The battery powers a front-mounted electric motor rated at 204 PS (201 hp or 150 kW) and 340 Nm of torque, enabling the SUV to get from 0-100 km/h in a claimed 7.2 seconds. Top speed is 172 km/h.
The E5 comes with a three-phase onboard AC charger (Type 2) that can handle a peak of 9.9 kW as well as DC fast charging at up to 80 kW, the latter capable of getting the battery from a 30-80% state of charge in just 28 minutes. There’s also a vehicle-to-load (V2L) system that can output up to 3.3 kW if you want to power electrical appliances and devices.
In terms of equipment, the E5 comes standard with LED projector headlamps, 18-inch alloy wheels, a powered sunroof, powered tailgate, puddle lamps, selectable drive modes, leather upholstery (blue and grey two-tone or all-black), ventilated front seats, dual-zone climate control (with PM 2.5 filter and rear vents) and dynamic ambient lighting.
The infotainment system is powered by a Qualcomm 8155 system on chip (SoC) and includes support for both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The system is linked to a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 12.3-inch touchscreen and an eight-speaker Sony system. There’s also a 50W wireless charger with a cooling function to keep your phone cool as it charges.
As for driver assistance systems, there’s a 360-degree camera, automatic high beam, lead vehicle departure alert, adaptive cruise control, front collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning and prevention, lane keep assist, rear cross traffic alert as well as a tyre pressure monitoring system.
At its asking price, the E5 is either RM38,800 or RM28,000 more than its ICE-powered equivalent – the Omoda 5 – depending on the variant compared against. More headline-grabbing is the E5 is a little over RM20k cheaper than the BYD Atto 3 Extended Range which offers similar specifications. The gap reduces to just over RM3k when compared to the entry-level Atto 3 Standard Range.
Moving forward, the E5 could cost less to buy when local assembly (CKD) kicks off in Q2 this year – the first batch of cars are fully imported (CBU) from China. For now, is the E5 a better electric SUV compared to the Atto 3? Is it truly a really good value for money proposition? Well, that’s what Hafriz Shah attempts to find out in his review of the E5. So, give it a watch and let us know which of the two you would go with and why in the comments below.
One last thing to point out is colours. While the car Hafriz tests here is in red, it isn’t an option that is available to customers. Instead, the available hues are Khaki White, Phantom Grey, Dark Black and Aqua Green, the last of which we’ve included a gallery of below.
After a long gestation period, the Chery Omoda E5 is finally launched. The electric-powered sister to the Omoda 5 SUV is priced at RM146,800 on-the-road without insurance, which is significantly under the estimated price of RM160,000 that was announced last month, when order books opened. The first batch is CBU imported from China but local assembly will start in Q2 2024, making the Omoda E5 the first Chinese CKD EV in Malaysia.
There’s only one variant and one powertrain, which has a front-mounted electric motor with 204 PS (150 kW) and 340 Nm of torque, which pushes the SUV from 0-100 km/h in a claimed 7.2 seconds. Top speed is 172 km/h. The battery is a 61 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) unit sourced from BYD, good for 430 km of range in the WLTP cycle. Claimed power consumption is 15.5 kWh per 100 km.
For charging, the ‘e-Future Ranger’ has a three-phase onboard AC charger with a max rate of 9.9 kW, as well as DC fast charging of up to 80 kW; the latter capable of getting the battery from 30% to 80% state of charge in 28 minutes. There’s also a vehicle-to-load (V2L) function that allows the car to deliver up to 3.3 kW to power electrical appliances and devices. The latter is useful for outdoor activities or blackouts.
The EV looks similar to the ICE-powered Omoda 5 from all angles except for the front end, where the E5 gets an active grille shutter that opens and closes depending on the motor temperature and aerodynamic requirements. That also means that the ICE car’s divisive studded grille is no more – is this better for you?
Like the ICE Omoda 5, the E5 is a B-segment SUV that’s 4,420 mm long and 1,830 mm wide, with a 2,630 mm wheelbase. Those figures are 35 mm, 45 mm and 90 mm less than the BYD Atto 3, respectively. Ground clearance is 145 mm and boot volume is 483 litres.
The electric Omoda also comes with one-pedal driving support, a creep function and something called pocket brake, which activates emergency braking when the ‘Park’ button is pressed while driving. Chery says that its EV has safely passed a ‘water wading test’ and ‘bottom scrapping test’.
In the kit department, the Omoda E5 comes with LED projector headlamps, 18-inch alloy wheels, a powered sunroof, powered tailgate, puddle lamps, selectable drive modes, leather upholstery (in a very nice blue and grey two-tone, or all-black), ventilated front seats, dual-zone climate control (with PM 2.5 filter and rear vents), dynamic ambient lighting, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch touchscreen. Sound comes out from an eight-speaker Sony system.
Chery markets the latter as a ‘24.6-inch curved 2K HD dual-screen’. The infotainment system is powered by a Qualcomm 8155 system on chip (SoC) and includes support for both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay (wireless). There’s also a 50W wireless charger with cooling function.
As for driver assistance systems, there’s a 360-degree camera, automatic high beam, lead vehicle departure alert, adaptive cruise control, front collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning and prevention, lane keep assist, rear cross traffic alert and a tyre pressure monitoring system. Chery calls the bundle ADAS 2.5.
If you’re wondering why is there no app support, Chery says that it’s currently developing a completely new app for Malaysia, as the existing app from China has a UI that’s deemed not suitable for Malaysian use.
On to warranty, which is notable. The standard vehicle warranty is seven years or 150,000 km, and you’ll get a separate eight-year or 160,000 km battery and drive unit warranty. The latter includes the power motor control unit, power battery management system and vehicle control unit. By the way, if the EV battery’s state of health falls below 70% while the car is under warranty, Chery will offer a ‘1-to-1’ replacement with no questions asked.
By the way, the first 2,000 bookings will get a complimentary 7 kW wallbox (worth RM3.5k), V2L adapter (worth RM500) and RM1,000 worth of EVC roaming partners credit (including Gentari and ChargEV). There’s an exclusive interest rate of 2.08% from Maybank. Chery says that the early bird package savings are worth RM11k, including interest rate savings. Also notable is complimentary charging at all Chery dealerships.
Click to enlarge spec sheet
Lastly, colours. Choose from Aqua Green, Khaki White, Phantom Grey and Dark Black. Unfortunately, the rather lovely red colour you see in the gallery below is not available. For the interior, it’s either blue-grey or all-black.
What do you think of the package you get for RM146,800? For context, the E5’s price is significantly higher than the RM108,800 to RM118,800 Chery is charging for the ICE O5, but it massively undercuts the BYD Atto 3 Extended Range‘s sticker price of RM167,800. The MG ZS EV, which is now open for booking, has an estimated price of RM129k but the range is lower (320 km) and it looks less fancy/modern.
Having made its way into showrooms late last month, the launch date of the Omoda E5 EV has now been indicated, with a post on Chery Malaysia’s Facebook page stating that the all-electric SUV is due to be officially introduced in Malaysia two days from now, on Wednesday, March 6.
The EV has been shown here in pre-production form before, but the red example in our gallery post last month is the SUV in the exact specs that we will be getting. There’s still no indication of pricing, which is estimated to be in the RM160k region, but that will be addressed in a couple of days.
A quick recap of the vehicle. Similar in look to the ICE-powered Omoda 5 from all angles except for the front end, the Omoda E5 EV is powered by a front-mounted electric motor with 204 PS (150 kW) and 340 Nm of torque, which is good to get it from zero to 100 km/h in 7.6 seconds.
The motor is juiced by a 61 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) unit, which provides the car with 430 km of travel range (WLTP). In terms of charging, the Omoda E5 supports AC charging at a max rate of 9.9 kW, while DC fast charging of up to 80 kW gets the battery from a 30 to 80% state of charge in 30 minutes. The SUV features a vehicle-to-load (V2L) function that allows it to deliver up to 3.3 kW to power electrical appliances and devices.
In terms of equipment, Malaysian buyers can expect LED projector headlamps, 18-inch alloy wheels, a powered sunroof, powered tailgate, puddle lamps, selectable drive modes, leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control (with rear vents), a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch touchscreen. The infotainment system is powered by a Qualcomm 8155 system on chip (SoC) and includes support for both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
As for driver assistance systems, there’s a 360-degree camera, automatic high beam, lead vehicle departure alert, front collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning and prevention, lane keep assist, rear cross traffic alert and a tyre pressure monitoring system. Chery calls the bundle ADAS 2.5. Full details, and pricing, in a couple of days.
GALLERY: Chery Omoda E5 in Malaysia, production spec
Chery has announced that the Omoda E5 EV will be in showrooms nationwide from this weekend, February 24. The order books for the electric SUV are open, with an estimated price of RM160,000. The official launch of the E5 will be in March.
We’ve showed you the Omoda E5 in pre-production form before, but the red car you see here is in the exact specs that Malaysia gets. There will be a sole powertrain with a front-mounted electric motor with 204 PS (150 kW) and 340 Nm of torque, which pushes the SUV fro 0-100 km/h in 7.6 seconds. The battery is a 61 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) unit, good for 430 km of range in the WLTP cycle.
For charging, the Omoda E5 supports AC charging at a max rate of 9.9 kW, as well as DC fast charging of up to 80 kW; the latter capable of getting the battery from 30-80% state of charge in 30 minutes. There’s also a vehicle-to-load (V2L) function that allows the car to deliver up to 3.3 kW to power electrical appliances and devices.
The EV looks similar to the ICE-powered Omoda 5 from all angles except for the front end, where the E5 gets an active grille shutter that opens and closes depending on the motor temperature and aerodynamic requirements. That also means that the ICE car’s trademark studded grille is no more – is this better for you?
The electric Omoda also comes with one-pedal driving support, a creep function and something called pocket brake, which activates emergency braking when the ‘Park’ button is pressed while driving. Chery says that its EV has safely passed a ‘water wading test’ and ‘bottom scrapping test’.
In the kit department, the Omoda E5 comes with LED projector headlamps, 18-inch alloy wheels, a powered sunroof, powered tailgate, puddle lamps, selectable drive modes, leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control (with rear vents), a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch touchscreen.
Chery markets the latter as a ‘24.6-inch curved 2K HD dual-screen’. The infotainment system is powered by a Qualcomm 8155 system on chip (SoC) and includes support for both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
As for driver assistance systems, there’s a 360-degree camera, automatic high beam, lead vehicle departure alert, front collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning and prevention, lane keep assist, rear cross traffic alert and a tyre pressure monitoring system. Chery calls the bundle ADAS 2.5.
Registration of interest for the Omoda E5 has been open since December last year, but we now have an official estimated price of RM160,000. That’s significantly higher than the RM108,800 to RM118,800 Chery is charging for the ICE O5, but it undercuts the BYD Atto 3 Extended Range‘s sticker price of RM167,800. What do you think of the E5’s looks and package?
GALLERY: Chery Omoda E5 in Malaysia, production spec
Ahead of the local launch of the Chery Omoda E5 next month, we’re bringing you a full gallery of the EV version of the Omoda 5 for your viewing pleasure. While previous units of the Omoda E5 we covered were pre-production cars, the one you see here is in the exact specification that Malaysians will get.
First up, the powertrain features a front-mounted electric motor rated at 204 PS (201 hp or 150 kW) and 340 Nm of torque, which is good for a 0-100 km/h time of 7.6 seconds. Powering the motor is a Blade lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery with an energy capacity of 61 kWh.
Chery claims a power consumption of 14.5 kWh/100 km, with a full charge delivering as much as 430 km of range following the WLTP standard. The Omoda E5 supports AC charging at a max of 9.9 kW as well as DC fast charging of up to 80 kW, the latter capable of getting the battery from a 30-80% state of charge in just 30 minutes. There’s also a vehicle-to-load (V2L) system that allows the EV to act like a mobile power bank, delivering up to 3.3 kW to power electrical appliances and devices.
The Omoda E5 comes equipped with an active grille shutter that opens and closes depending on the motor temperature and aerodynamic requirements. It also has one-pedal driving support, a creep function and something called pocket brake, which activates emergency braking when the ‘Park’ button is pressed while driving.
Equipment seen on this Omoda E5 include LED projector headlamps, 18-inch alloy wheels, a powered sunroof, a powered tailgate, puddle lamps, selectable drive modes, leather upholstery, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, dual-zone climate control (with rear vents) as well as a 12.3-inch touchscreen. The infotainment system is powered by a Qualcomm 8155 system on chip (SoC) and includes support for both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
In terms of driver assistance systems, there’s a 360-degree camera, automatic high beam, lead vehicle departure alert, front collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning and prevention, lane keep assist, rear cross traffic alert and a tyre pressure monitoring system.
Registrations of interest for the Omoda E5 have been open since December last year but there’s still no word on official pricing. At present, the petrol-powered Omoda 5 retails from RM108,800 to RM118,800, and we’re expecting the EV to have a higher sticker price. If the price gap between the EV and ICE versions isn’t that wide, the Omoda E5 would compete against the BYD Atto 3 Extended Range that goes for RM167,800.
We know that the Chery Omoda E5 is launching in Malaysia soon, but so far, the official line has been first quarter of 2024, which we are now in. Chery Malaysia has now sharpened the timeline by announcing that the EV version of the Omoda 5 will launch in March 2024.
The company mentioned March when announcing that the Omoda E5 will be the lead car for the Chery Eco Run event. The running event with the theme ‘A new journey to a new green life’ is happening this Sunday, January 7, at Dataran Wawasan in Putrajaya. It’s a non-competitive fun run with 5KM and 10KM categories and Chery is expecting 3,000 participants.
Previewed in November 2023, the Omoda E5 will be sold here as CBU import from China. It packs a 61 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery that’s good for a WLTP-rated range of 430 km. The LFP battery powers a front electric motor with 204 PS (150 kW) and 340 Nm of torque, enabling a 0-100 km/h time of 7.6 seconds.
For charging, the Omoda E5 takes in max 9.9 kW of AC power and up to 80 kW of DC juice. Chery says that it takes 30 minutes to get the battery from 30% to 80% state of charge with a compatible DC fast charger. There’s also a vehicle-to-load (V2L) system that can output up to 3.3 kW to power electrical appliances and accessories.
The feature list includes single-pedal driving, keyless entry and automatic start, LED projector headlamps, 18-inch alloys, black leather seats, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system powered by a Qualcomm 8155 SoC. Like the ICE Omoda, the full ADAS pack is included, with the addition of a driver monitoring system.
Chery has been accepting registrations of interest since December, but there has been no word on pricing. The petrol-powered Omoda 5 is priced from RM108,800 to RM118,800, and the EV should have a a higher sticker price. A comparable EV would be the popular BYD Atto 3, which in Extended Range form is priced at RM167,800. Would the Omoda E5’s price be closer to its ICE sister or the BYD? We’ll know soon.
Chery Malaysia has begun accepting registrations of interest for the Omoda E5, which is expected to be launched in the first quarter of 2024. The fully electric version of the Omoda 5 crossover was previewed late last month and will be sold here as fully-imported (CBU) model from China.
In terms of specifications, the Omoda E5 packs a 61-kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery that is good for a WLTP-rated range of 430 km. The battery powers a front-mounted electric motor that provides 204 PS (201 hp or 150 kW) and 340 Nm of torque, enabling a 0-100 km/h time of 7.6 seconds.
For charging, the Omoda E5 supports an AC input at a max of 9.9 kW as well as a DC input of up to 80 kW. According to the ROI page, it’ll take just 30 minutes to get the battery from a 30-80% state of charge with a compatible DC fast charger.
Equipment we can expect to come with the EV include LED projector headlamps, 18-inch alloy wheels, black leather seat upholstery, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster as well as a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system powered by a Qualcomm 8155 system on chip (SoC).
One-pedal driving is another feature of the Omoda E5, along with keyless entry and automatic start, the latter only requiring the driver to step on the brake to start the car after getting in. There’s also a vehicle-to-load (V2L) system that can output up to 3.3 kW to power electrical appliances and other accessories.
The Omoda E5 matches the regular Omoda 5’s ADAS suite by having lane departure warning and prevention, blind spot detection, emergency lane keeping, rear cross traffic alert, adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, front collision warning and autonomous emergency braking, auto high beam, hill start assist, hill descent control and tyre pressure monitoring. One extra feature for the EV is a driver monitoring system.
No word on pricing for now, but the Omoda E5 should retail for more than the petrol-powered Omoda 5, which currently sells for between RM108,800 and RM118,800 (OTR without insurance). If the price gap between the EV and ICE versions isn’t that wide, the Omoda E5 would be pretty competitive against the BYD Atto 3 Extended Range that is priced at RM167,800.
The BYD EV is comparable in spec to the Omoda E5, with each having their own advantages in various areas, as detailed in our preview post. If you’re keen on the Omoda E5, register your interest now and tell us why you would pick it over the Atto 3.
Chery Malaysia today previewed the Omoda E5, which is the fully electric version of the Omoda 5 crossover that the company launched back in July this year. Set to go on sale in Q1 2024, the Omoda E5 will be offered as a fully-imported (CBU) model from China – no word on local assembly (CKD) for now. This unit is one of only two pre-production right-hand drive (RHD) units (note the untextured plastic panels) currently in Malaysia, with the other being loaned to the ministry of investment, trade and industry (MITI).
We’ll get right to the most important question on the minds of potential buyers: how much will the Omoda E5 retail for? Unfortunately, we’re not getting a finalised or even an expected figure/range today, but given the specifications, we expect it to compete with the similarly-sized BYD Atto 3 Extended Range that goes for RM167,800.
For context, the petrol-powered Omoda 5 currently sells for between RM108,800 and RM118,800 on-the-road without insurance across two variants. We don’t expect the price gap between the EV and petrol-powered version of the Omoda 5 to be that wide, which could give the Omoda E5 a price advantage over the Atto 3 ER.
With the Omoda E5, you’re getting up to 430 km of range (WLTP standard) from a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery with an energy capacity of 61 kWh. The battery powers a front-mounted electric motor rated at 204 PS (201 hp or 150 kW) and 340 Nm of torque, which enables a 0-100 km/h time of 7.6 seconds.
For charging, the EV supports AC charging at a max of 9.9 kW, while DC fast charging goes up to 80 kW – the latter will get the battery from a 0-80% state of charge in just 35 minutes with charger capable of that output. Vehicle-to-load (V2L) technology is also available with an output of up to 3.3 kW to power appliances and other electrical accessories.
In terms of standard equipment, we were told that what we’re seeing on the preview car is close to what we’ll get on the Malaysian-spec Omoda E5. This includes LED projector headlamps, 18-inch alloy wheels, black leather seat upholstery, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster as well as a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system powered by a Qualcomm 8155 system on chip (SoC).
One-pedal driving is another feature of the Omoda E5, along with keyless entry and automatic start, the latter only requiring the driver to step on the brake to start the car after getting in.
As for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), the Omoda E5 matches the regular Omoda 5 by having lane departure warning and prevention, blind spot detection, emergency lane keeping, rear cross traffic alert, adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, front collision warning and autonomous emergency braking, auto high beam, hill start assist, hill descent control and tyre pressure monitoring. One upgrade here is a driver monitoring system.
Design-wise, the Omoda E5 is differentiated from the petrol-powered Omoda 5 by its face, which features a closed-off grille that has the brand script (instead of a logo) above the charge port door. On the inside, both SUVs are familiar similar, except the centre console in the EV version has more stowage space and no gear lever. You put the car in drive via a stalk to the right of the steering wheel, like in some Mercedes-Benz and old Tesla cars.
The exterior dimensions are similar to the Omoda 5 that measures 4,400 mm long, 1,830 mm wide, 1,590 mm tall and with a wheelbase that spans 2,630 mm. We mentioned the Atto 3 earlier as a competitor to the Omoda E5, and that BYD EV crossover is 4,455 mm long, 1,875 mm wide, 1,615 mm tall and has a wheelbase of 2,720 mm.
Comparing powertrains, the Omoda E5 has more torque than the Atto 3 (340 Nm versus 310 Nm) but shares the same peak power of 204 PS (201 hp or 165 kW). The century sprint time favours the Atto 3 ER by 0.3 seconds, but the Omoda E5 claws a win back in terms of range by 10 km, likely due to its slightly higher battery capacity (61 kWh versus 60.48 kWh).
Comparing charging capacities, the Omoda E5’s peak AC input of 9.9 kW is also more than the Atto 3 ER’s 7 kW, but both have the same maximum DC input of 80 kW (the Atto 3 Standard Range can handle 70 kW) – V2L is also part of the Atto 3’s kit list.
So, now that you know a bit more about the Omoda E5 destined for Malaysia, what do you think of it? Would you pick it over the comparable Atto 3? How much do you expect the Omoda EV to be priced at? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
According to a report by Autonetmagz, the Chery Omoda 5 EV (also known as the Omoda E5) is expected to be launched in Indonesia in February next year in conjunction with the Indonesia International Motor Show (IIMS).
For now, it’s not mentioned if the Omoda E5 for Malaysia will eventually become a CKD model. It’s also not known if the EV will be imported into our country from China or Indonesia, the latter being where we first saw the model in right-hand drive guise during the Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS).
In terms of specifications, the Omoda E5 features a front-mounted electric motor rated at 224 PS (221 hp or 165 kW) that draws electricity from a 61-kWh lithium-ion battery mounted in the vehicle floor. Chery claims the SUV will offer a 0-100 km/h time of 7.8 seconds consumes as little as 15 kWh per 100 km of energy.
Fully charged, the battery is said to deliver 450 km on a single charge based on the CLTC standard, which differs from the NEDC and real-world WLTP. As for charging, a 0-80% state of charge can be achieved with just 35 minutes of DC fast charging.
Chery Malaysia has announced that the first units of Omoda E5 has arrived in Port Klang and will soon be previewed to the media ahead of the model’s launch. This isn’t much of a surprise as a few units of the electric vehicle (EV) in right-hand drive guise were spotted being transported on a trailer earlier this month.
In an official release, the company didn’t state a launch date for the Omoda E5 but it previously confirmed that this will happen in 2024. Unlike the Omoda 5 that is locally assembled (CKD) in Malaysia, the Omoda E5 will be offered as a fully-imported (CBU) EV, although it isn’t known if it will eventually go the CKD route.
This is thanks to its lithium-ion battery with an energy capacity of 61 kWh, which powers a front-mounted electric motor rated 224 PS (221 hp or 165 kW) for a 0-100 km/h time of 7.8 seconds. The Chinese carmaker claims the powertrain consumes as little as 15 kWh/100 km and the battery can be recharged from 20-80% in just 30 minutes.
As for specifications, the Malaysia-spec Omoda E5 will be equipped with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) that includes 16 functions, which include blind spot monitoring, autonomous emergency braking and rear cross traffic alert. Chery Malaysia also points out that the EV will be available in seven exterior colours as well as three interior colours.
The Omoda E5 is differentiated from the petrol-powered Omoda 5 by its face, which features a closed-off grille that has the brand script (instead of a logo) above the charge port door. On the inside, both SUVs are familiar similar, except the centre console in the EV version doesn’t have a gear lever and has more stowage space.
The Omoda 5 currently retails from RM108,800 to RM118,800 across two variants. How much do you expect its EV sibling, the Omoda E5, to go for? Leave your guesses in the comments below and stay tuned as we bring you more details from the upcoming media preview.
