The Omoda 5 EV is the electric half of Chery's newest global export brand, Omoda — a sister marque to Jaecoo built specifically to sell outside China. Marketed as the Omoda E5 in the UK, most of Europe, and across Southeast Asia (and as the Omoda C5 EV in Thailand), this compact crossover pairs a 58.9 kWh LFP battery with a 155 kW (211 PS / 208 hp) front motor and undercuts most Western and Korean electric SUVs on price. It has already reached more than 40 countries since its 2023 China debut, from Indonesia and Malaysia to the UK, Italy, Spain, and Australia, with a five-star Euro NCAP and ANCAP safety rating backing up the value pitch. In the UK, where pricing and specs are best documented, the Omoda 5 EV starts at £33,055 (about $44,100) for the Knight trim.
Performance & Specs
A single permanent-magnet synchronous motor drives the front wheels, putting out 155 kW (211 PS / 208 hp) and 288 Nm (212 lb-ft) of torque — enough for a 7.2-second 0-100 km/h time (0-62 mph) per Omoda's own UK spec sheet, and a 170 km/h (106 mph) top speed. There's no all-wheel-drive option; the Omoda 5 EV is FWD only across every market it's sold in. It's a straightforward, unhurried setup rather than a performance play, which matches the car's positioning against value-focused rivals like the Hyundai Kona Electric and MG ZS EV rather than anything sportier. Earlier China-market cars used a 61.06 kWh FinDreams LFP pack with 150 kW (201 hp) and 340 Nm; the current 58.9 kWh CATL LFP pack reviewed here, standard in the UK and most export markets since 2025, trades a little torque for the extra power.
| Powertrain | Single-motor FWD BEV |
|---|---|
| Power | 155 kW (211 PS / 208 hp) |
| Torque | 288 Nm |
| 0–100 km/h | 7.2 s |
| Battery | 58.9 kWh usable (60.9 kWh gross) |
| Range | 430 km WLTP / 505 km NEDC |
| POWERTRAIN TYPE | Battery-electric (BEV) |
|---|---|
| HORSEPOWER | 211 PS / 208 hp (155 kW) |
| ACCELERATION | 0-100 km/h in 7.2 s |
| TOP SPEED | 170 km/h (106 mph) |
| DRIVETRAIN | FWD |
| BATTERY | 58.9 kWh usable / 60.9 kWh gross, LFP |
| ELECTRIC RANGE | 430 km (WLTP) / 505 km (NEDC) |
| COMBINED RANGE | — (BEV, no combustion backup) |
Dimensions & Practicality
| Length | 4,424 mm |
|---|---|
| Width | 1,830 mm |
| Height | 1,588 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,630 mm |
| Ground clearance | 140 mm |
At 4,424 mm long, the Omoda 5 EV sits in the same compact-crossover bracket as the Renault Scénic E-Tech, Kia Niro EV, and MG ZS EV — roomy enough for five, with rear-seat space that reviewers describe as adequate rather than class-leading. Boot capacity is 370 litres with the seats up, expanding to over 1,000 litres with the rear bench folded, though there's no frunk under the bonnet since the motor bay is fully occupied. Curb weight lands at 1,710 kg, and Omoda quotes a modest 750 kg towing capacity for the electric version. The dual 12.3-inch displays, heated seats front and rear (Knight trim and up), and a panoramic sunroof on the Noble trim all point to a cabin that punches above its price point on equipment, even if some interior plastics feel obviously cost-cut in reviews.
| LENGTH | 4,424 mm |
|---|---|
| WIDTH | 1,830 mm |
| HEIGHT | 1,588 mm |
| WHEELBASE | 2,630 mm |
| CARGO VOLUME | 370 L (1,000+ L seats folded) |
| FRUNK | Not offered |
Charging & Battery
The 58.9 kWh usable CATL LFP pack (60.9 kWh gross) supports 11 kW three-phase AC charging, good for a full charge in roughly 6.5 to 8 hours depending on the onboard charger and wallbox used. DC fast charging tops out at 80 kW, with Omoda quoting a 30-80% top-up in about 28 minutes — UK reviewers have noted that's a 30-80% window rather than the more common 10-80% benchmark, so a true 10-80% charge takes closer to 40 minutes in practice. That 80 kW ceiling trails newer rivals like the Kia EV3 (102 kW) and Volvo EX30 (132 kW), making the Omoda 5 EV better suited to overnight home charging than frequent long-distance road-tripping. LFP chemistry does bring upsides, though: strong thermal stability, tolerance for regular 100% charges without accelerated degradation, and an eight-year/100,000-mile battery warranty that matches the vehicle's own seven-year/100,000-mile cover.
| BATTERY | 58.9 kWh usable / 60.9 kWh gross, CATL LFP |
|---|---|
| AC CHARGING | 11 kW three-phase (0-100% in ~6.5-8h) |
| DC FAST CHARGING | 80 kW max |
| DC 30-80% TIME | ~28 min |
Design & Interior
Omoda's design language leans toward sharp, angular surfacing rather than the smoothed-off look common on many budget EVs — slim split headlights, a blacked-out floating roof effect, and a faceted front grille panel (functional on the petrol Omoda 5, sealed on the EV) give the car more visual presence than its price tag suggests. Omoda badging replaces any Chery lettering on the exterior and the steering wheel boss, part of the brand's push to stand on its own outside China. Inside, the dashboard is dominated by the twin 12.3-inch displays angled toward the driver, finished in a mostly black cabin with contrast stitching and, on the Noble trim, ambient lighting strips and acoustic glass for a quieter cabin. Seat upholstery is synthetic leather across the range, with the Noble adding electrically adjustable, heated front seats and a 50W cooled wireless phone charger. It's a cabin clearly built to look and feel more expensive than the car's asking price, a common strategy among newer Chinese export brands trying to win over skeptical Western buyers.
Technology & Features
Both trims get wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto across the dual-screen setup, along with dual-zone climate control, automatic lights and wipers, and a rearview camera. The Noble trim adds the 360-degree camera system, a powered tailgate, and a heated steering wheel on top of its extra comfort kit. USB charging ports are positioned on the passenger side of the dashboard for rear-seat convenience. Omoda hasn't published details of a companion smartphone app or over-the-air update program for the 5 EV specifically, and there's no LiDAR or advanced highway-assist system on offer — this is a value-focused feature set built around covering the basics well rather than chasing flagship tech.
Safety & ADAS
The Omoda 5 EV shares its five-star Euro NCAP rating (tested 2022, shared across the Omoda 5 range) with scores of 87% for adult occupant protection, 87% for child occupant protection, 68% for vulnerable road user protection, and 88% for safety assist; Australia's ANCAP independently awarded the same five-star result. Standard safety kit includes seven airbags, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and an eCall emergency alert system, built around a body structure that's 78% high-strength steel (up to 1,800 MPa in places). Adaptive cruise control is standard on both trims, while the 360-degree camera arrives only on the Noble.
| ADAS LEVEL | L2 (Omoda ADAS suite) |
|---|---|
| ADAS FEATURES | AEB, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, rearview camera (360° camera on Noble), eCall |
Available Versions
| VERSION | POWER | TORQUE | 0-100 | TOP SPEED | DRIVETRAIN | BATTERY | EV RANGE | COMBINED RANGE | PRICE | KEY DIFFERENCES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knight | 208 hp | 288 Nm | 7.2 s | 170 km/h | FWD | 58.9 kWh | 430 km | — | $44,100 | Entry trim: wireless CarPlay/Android Auto, dual-zone climate, adaptive cruise, heated front & rear seats, V2L, 18-in alloys |
| Noble | 208 hp | 288 Nm | 7.2 s | 170 km/h | FWD | 58.9 kWh | 430 km | — | $46,100 | Adds 360° camera, powered/heated front seats, acoustic glass, ambient lighting, panoramic sunroof, heated wheel, powered tailgate |
Pricing & Availability
Omoda 5 EV pricing varies sharply by market. UK buyers pay £33,055-£34,555 (about $44,100-$46,100) for the Knight and Noble trims. In Europe, Italy lists it from €36,490 (about $41,600) and Spain from €37,900 (about $43,200). Pricing is markedly lower where Chery has built out local assembly or distribution: Malaysia lists the car from roughly RM146,800 (about $34,500), Indonesia's Omoda C5 EV from around Rp488.8 million (about $30,900), and Thailand's Omoda C5 EV range from approximately THB 649,000-699,000 (about $18,700-$20,100). The car first reached export markets in Indonesia in February 2024, followed by Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Australia later that year, with Brazil and further European markets joining through 2025. Preliminary, unofficial pricing circulating for the UAE (around AED 85,000, about $23,100) and Saudi Arabia (around SAR 105,000, about $28,000) has not been confirmed by Omoda as of September 2026.
How It Compares
Within freshmotors' own catalog, the Omoda 5 EV's closest power match is the Volkswagen ID. ERA 9X (201 hp, $41,318, 550 km) and Rox Adamas (201 hp, $36,891, 400 km) — both land close to the Omoda's UK price and beat or match its 430 km WLTP range, which is the Omoda's weakest spec relative to this power class. The BYD Sealion 05 undercuts it on price by nearly $18,000 while offering slightly more power and range, a reminder that the Omoda's UK/EU pricing carries a premium that its Southeast Asian pricing doesn't. That gap matters for context: at its roughly $30,000-35,000 Southeast Asian price points, the Omoda 5 EV looks like sharp value against this same set of rivals; at UK/European pricing with import duties and market positioning baked in, it's competing more on five-star safety, warranty, and equipment than on outright range or charging speed.
- Five-star Euro NCAP and ANCAP safety ratings with a strong standard ADAS suite, unusual for a budget-focused newcomer brand
- Well-equipped cabin for the segment, with dual 12.3-inch displays, heated front and rear seats, and V2L standard even on the entry Knight trim
- Sharply lower pricing in Southeast Asian markets makes it a genuine value play where Chery has built out local distribution
- 80 kW peak DC charging trails newer rivals like the Kia EV3 and Volvo EX30, and Omoda's own 28-minute figure is measured 30-80%, not the more common 10-80%
- UK and European pricing sits close to $44,000-46,000, eroding the value advantage the car enjoys in its home region and Southeast Asia
The Omoda 5 EV is a competent, safety-first entry from a brand-new export marque, and its five-star crash ratings plus a genuinely well-equipped cabin make it easy to shortlist against pricier badges in markets where it's priced aggressively. The catch is that its 430 km WLTP range and 80 kW charging ceiling look merely adequate, not exciting, next to newer rivals at similar UK and European price points — this is a car that makes its strongest case on value, not outright capability. For buyers in Southeast Asia, Australia, or anywhere Omoda has priced it closer to $30,000-35,000, it's a smart, low-risk pick. For UK and European buyers paying closer to $44,000-46,000, it's a reasonable but not class-leading choice.
