The Euro NCAP test results, released on November 13, were closely followed by ANCAP’s endorsement the next day.

In comprehensive crash tests, including additional frontal-offset and oblique pole assessments, the E5 secured impressive scores – 87% for Adult Occupant Protection, 88% for Child Occupant Protection, and 83% for Safety Assist. 

The E5’s body structure, featuring 78% high-strength steel, is engineered for safety. Strategic reinforcements in the front-end and side structures absorb and dissipate impact forces, ensuring cabin integrity.

The airbag system, coupled with child seat interfaces, exemplifies attention to passenger safety.

On the active safety front, the Omoda E5 excels with its Advanced Emergency Braking (AEB) system. Designed to detect and respond to vulnerable road users across a broad speed range, this technology significantly reduces collision risks.

Since its inception, Omoda has expanded to 32 countries, establishing over 1,000 showrooms and garnering a user base of 370,000.

The brand’s “born global” philosophy emphasizes localized strategies to meet diverse market demands.

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This EV doesn’t break new ground, but that’s precisely the point. It’s designed to be familiar to folks who are used to ICE cars, yet offer them a new form of propulsion underneath.

A familiar face in a crowded field

The Omoda E5 has all the telltale design cues of a modern electric crossover; sharp lines, a streamlined profile, and that unmistakable smooth, grille-less front.

It has that blend of Asian-inspired sharpness mixed with a bit of crossover universal appeal, so much so that you might mistake it for something more established like a Toyota or Lexus.

Its styling won’t make you stop and stare, but it’s modern and in tune with today’s design language. Subtle and safe.

High on features, light on leather

The Omoda E5’s cabin has a posh feel to it, with stitched, leather-look materials on the dash and doors. There are metallic accents around the backlit speaker grilles, a bit of faux-wood garnish here and there, and an overall upscale vibe.

Is it real leather or wood? Nope. But from a glance, it certainly looks the part, and at this price, it’s hard to complain.

You’ve got physical buttons for the basics like demisting, screen dimming, and lighting, but some driver assistance settings are locked behind the touchscreen. While the software is relatively intuitive, it might take some getting used to.

Of course, there’s a virtual assistant to keep you company. It’s always online, constantly updating, and becoming smarter. Or at least, that’s the idea. The Sony hi-fi system is a real crowd-pleaser, delivering high-quality audio that rivals some premium setups.

If you’re using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, there’s a 50W wireless charging pad to keep your phone topped up while navigating. And when you’re backing up, the 360-degree camera array kicks in, giving you a crystal-clear view of your surroundings.

Room for everything (mostly)

Space-wise, the E5 does well. The front seats are ventilated and fully adjustable, and while the backseat is comfortable enough for adults, I do wish the sunroof extended to the rear seats to brighten things up a bit more.

The boot is a tad smaller than you’d expect for a crossover, but it’s got a full-size spare tyre under the floor, a rarity these days.

Under the bonnet, there’s a “frunk” (front trunk), just large enough for your charging cables and maybe a few other small items.

A decent drive, but keep it civil

The Omoda E5’s powertrain is detuned slightly to fit within Singapore’s Cat A COE limits, offering 99kW of power and 340Nm of torque. Thanks to the 1,710 kg kerb weight, it’s got enough pep for daily drives. The 0-100 km/h sprint takes 11.1 seconds, which may sound sluggish on paper, but for most folks, it’s plenty.

Like many front-wheel-drive EVs, the E5’s wheels can spin if you’re heavy on the throttle, especially around tight bends or on wet roads. Fortunately, the traction control system steps in swiftly, keeping things in check.

The E5 is generally composed at moderate speeds, with absorbent handling that keeps it comfortable over bumps. Push it harder, though, and it reveals some chinks in the armour. Rough patches make the car feel slightly unrefined, with a bit of bounce and body roll in tight corners. Steering feedback is light, and the brakes could use a firmer touch for confidence.

On the regeneration front, it’s serviceable but lacks the strong one-pedal feel some EV enthusiasts appreciate. It’ll help slow you down, but you’ll still be using the brakes regularly. 

Peace of mind

The Omoda E5 comes packed with safety features. However, some of these systems are a bit too proactive. The lane-keeping assist can feel a tad overeager, especially on narrow roads.

On busy expressways, you’ll get bings and bongs for everything from forward collision alerts to lane departure warnings, each sound nudging you toward the display screen to see what’s going on.

Turning these systems off involves navigating through a few screen menus. At least the car will remember your settings, saving you from having to disable features every time you start the car.

A good deal for the price

At its core, the Omoda E5 is feature-rich, reasonably spacious, and offers good value, for those who want a well-equipped EV without the premium price tag.

Sure, it has a few quirks and could use some refinement, but it’s a strong attempt from Omoda in the SUV EV arena.

Technical Specifications

Omoda E5 Electric (99kW)

Engine: Single Electric Motor
Drivetrain: Front-Wheel Drive
Power: 99 kW (133 bhp)
Torque: 340 Nm
Transmission: Single-Speed (Automatic)
0-100km/h: 11.1 seconds
Top Speed: 172 km/h
Battery Capacity: 61 kWh

Price: S$168,888 with COE (accurate at the time of this article)
Contact: Omoda Singapore

Photos By: Sean Loo (@auto.driven)

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It seems that new EVs are launching faster than we can quantify nowadays, and this is a new entry from a new brand here in Singapore – the Omoda E5. This is your standard small-to-mid-size electric crossover, and it doesn’t exactly reinvent the wheel. Not that it is a bad thing.

The market is packed with these crossovers now, and the E5 comfortably sits among its peers like the MG ZS EV, BYD Atto 3, Kia Niro Electric, Hyundai Kona Electric, and Peugeot E-2008 without making a lot of noise.

Omoda’s big claim? Loads of equipment at a reasonable price. No surprise here – it’s a Chinese brand under the Chery group, known for their ambitious offerings.

Wait, Chery?

Yes, the same Chery that brought us the infamous QQ, is back in Singapore. The Omoda E5 makes its entry alongside its sister brand Jaecoo, which is set to launch models later this year.

So, how does the E5 fare against its competition?

Subtle Is The Name Of The Game

Standing out in the sea of crossovers is no easy feat, and it seems the creators of the Omoda E5 were aiming for familiarity rather than distinctiveness. They wouldn’t mind if you mistook it for a Toyota or Lexus – it has traces of those sharp, Asian-inspired edges.

It’s on-trend with the swoopy, sharp design cues that dominate today’s crossover family cars. But it also feels a bit like a melting pot of design elements from various brands.

Still, the details in the lights, especially the rear, and the intricate wheel designs do add a touch of flair, even if the wheels seem a tad small.

Other territories are being offered a petrol variant, but Singapore-bound E5s are all electric, denoted by the smooth nose with a central charge flap.

It looks modern and stylish enough to appeal to a broad audience, without being too polarizing. It’s a safe bet in a market that often rewards familiarity.

Feature Packed

The cabin actually feels posh; the dash and doors are adorned with stitched, soft-feel leather-look material, and there are metallic surfaces, including backlit speaker grilles, complemented by a touch of woody garnish.

Interestingly, none of this is real leather, metal, or wood. But, it sure looks the part, doesn’t it?

Practicality hasn’t been entirely overlooked. Useful physical buttons are in place for essentials like demisting, screen dimming, and lights. However, the driver assist functions are conspicuously absent from this list, relying instead on the not-so-intuitive touchscreen software.

The software can be updated over-the-air (OTA), so there’s hope that these minor annoyances could be resolved in the future. For now, at least the touchscreen responds reasonably quickly and boasts pleasant graphics.

Of course, there’s a virtual voice assistant, constantly online and theoretically getting smarter over time. More immediately gratifying is the Sony hi-fi system, which delivers good sound.

The satnav is pretty clever too, showing live charger points and their availability. If you prefer, you can use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, with your phone resting comfortably on a 50W quick charging pad.

You also get crisp and clear 360 views when you’re reversing, with a camera array that can take on even premium brands on the market.

What About Space?

Up front, the seats are ventilated and electrically adjustable. In the back, there’s enough space for a pair of adults to fit comfortably, though I wished the sunroof extended to the rear as well, flooding more natural light in.

The boot is more hatchback-sized than crossover-sized, but it does come with a full-size spare tyre below the floor – a rarity in today’s world of tyre patching kits. Under the bonnet, there’s a small frunk, perfect for storing the charging cable and a few other odds and ends that you’d rather not have rolling around the boot.

A standout feature when parked is the vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability. This means the charge port can provide up to 3.3kW of mains-equivalent power, perfect for powering your campsite or any other outdoor activities.

Take It Easy, Champ

With 201bhp and 340Nm from its single motor and a fairly trim kerb weight of 1,710kg (for an EV), performance is certainly not a concern for the Omoda E5.

This electric crossover can rock the century sprint in a respectable 7.6 seconds. Whether you’re pushing it to the limit or cruising gently, power delivery remains relatively smooth throughout.

Now, being a front-wheel-drive vehicle, you might experience a fair bit of wheelspin if you get too enthusiastic with the accelerator, especially in sharp bends or wet conditions. Good thing the traction control system kicks in rather quickly.

The multi-link rear suspension design promises a decent ride quality. On normal roads at moderate speeds, the E5 indeed delivers, with an absorbent ride and steering that avoids being overly twitchy.

However, push it a bit harder, and the car starts to reveal some rough edges. Sharp bumps send a clang through the body, and the vehicle tends to float over undulations if you’re going too fast. There’s noticeable body roll in corners, but at least it stays fairly stable on straight roads.

The steering, unfortunately, feels too light to provide any real feedback, and there’s no adaptive setting either.

The brakes lack a positive feel, and while you can adjust the regeneration level, the range is limited and not strong enough for one-pedal driving, making the transition from regen to braking somewhat awkward.

Overall, the E5’s driving experience is adequate; keep it civil, and the car gets you around without much hindrance. It’s not going to win any awards, but it’s not going to disappoint either.

Safety Systems Abound

The Omoda E5 comes equipped with a full suite of driver assistance features, including lane centring for the active cruise control and traffic jam assist.

However, as with many modern cars, the warning and prevention systems can be a bit heavy-handed and intrusive. Yes, it’s a family crossover, and no, you probably won’t be indulging in any tyre-smoking antics, but there will be times when you want to switch off some of these systems.

On a narrow section of expressway, the lane assist tugs at the wheel – one beep. The forward alert gets nervous – another bong. You might not immediately know what’s binging or bonging, leading you to glance at the gauge cluster, which then triggers the attention warning – beep.

Navigating through several layers of screen menus to turn off these alerts can be a bit of a chore, by which time the attention warning might indeed have a point. Nevertheless, the plethora of sensors and warnings contribute to the E5’s five-star crash safety rating, giving you some peace of mind.

And thankfully, the E5 can remember your preferred ADAS settings, mitigating the need for extensive pre-flight checks each time you head out for a drive.

Stretching Your Dollar Far

For the money, it’s a well-rounded vehicle that meets the needs of most drivers. Feature-packed, spacious and looks rather nice, so I’m sure most buyers will look at it and go: why not?

It may have some quirks, but it’s a decent first attempt from Omoda. With the right pricing, Omoda could potentially challenge other EV manufacturers for the budget family EV crown.

Technical Specifications

Omoda E5 Electric

Engine: Single Electric Motor
Drivetrain: Front-Wheel Drive
Power: 150kW (201bhp)
Torque: 340Nm
Transmission: Single Speed (Automatic)
0-100km/h: 7.6 seconds
Top Speed: 172 km/h
Battery Capacity: 61 kWh

Price: S$178,888 with COE (accurate at the time of this article)
Contact: Omoda Singapore

Photos By: Sean Loo (@auto.driven)

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After a spell of anticipation heightened by teasers, Chery Automobile has officially marked its return to Singapore. This re-entry was spearheaded under the familiar guidance of Vertex Automobile.

The curtains were lifted on the evening of Tuesday, 23 May 2024, at the new Omoda-Jaecoo showroom at 3 Ubi Road 4. This event, attended by media members and select customers, also celebrated the launch of Chery’s first new model in Singapore after ten years – the all-electric Omoda E5.

The newly inaugurated facility is Chery’s ambitious drive for a substantial global presence through its two promising brands: Omoda and Jaecoo.

Serena Wong, General Manager of Vertex Automobile Singapore, highlighted that this showroom is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia dedicated to these brands, crafted to reflect the Omoda-Jaecoo brand ethos.

The design of the showroom is a nod to the future, with its digital walls and expansive open spaces, designed to resonate with the youthful spirit both brands embody.

While Jaecoo is gearing up to attract adventurers with rugged SUVs suitable for off-roading, Omoda will likely charm the urbanites with its sleek, city-ready vehicles.

Focusing on the Omoda E5, this vehicle exudes a design philosophy dubbed ‘Art in Motion’, which Chery claims is visually manifested through its sleek lines and innovative lighting.

Its interior sports a 24.6-inch curved screen that dominates the dashboard, offering twin 10.25-inch displays for both the infotainment system and driver’s instruments.

The Omoda E5 is equipped with an electric motor that delivers 201bhp and 340Nm of torque, allowing it to go from 0 to 100km/h in just 7.6 seconds. It’s supported by a 61kWh battery that promises up to 430km of range on a single charge, making it both efficient and practical.

Stay tuned for the reveal of more models, including the anticipated Jaecoo J7. With doors now open to the public, the Omoda-Jaecoo showroom at 3 Ubi Road 4 is ready to welcome anyone curious to explore what Chery has to offer.

The starting price for the Omoda E5 stands at $179,888, inclusive of COE (at the time of writing).

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