Omoda E5 (2024) International Launch Review
The Omoda E5 is on its way to South Africa and should arrive in our market before the end of 2024. We headed to Omoda’s HQ in Wuhu, located in China’s Anhui province, to drive the electric small crossover.
The Omoda E5 is an electric version of the fashionable C5 small crossover and it’s confirmed for South Africa. Omoda and Jaecoo are the 2 brands in the China-based Chery Group’s O&J subdivision.
Whereas Chery is positioned as the mainstream family SUV brand, Omoda is aimed at the younger, tech-driven buyers and Jaecoo, of which the J7 recently debuted in SA, caters for trendy urbanites who crave vehicles that combine a distinct off-roader look with a modicum of off-road capability.
The first O&J model that arrived in Mzansi was the Omoda C5 (in 2023) – a futuristically-styled small crossover that offers a lot for its price; now we can look forward to the arrival of an all-electric variant.
The Omoda E5 battery-electric vehicle can be distinguished from the C5 by a smoother, minimalist front end, which replaces the latter’s striking grille. Also, it features aerodynamically optimised wheel covers instead of alloy rims, which helps to minimise the vehicle’s air resistance, thereby maximising its range.
At first glance, the Omoda E5’s cabin mostly resembles that of the standard C5. However, on closer inspection, you’ll notice the lack of a transmission lever – it has been transformed into a steering-column stalk! The lack of a transmission tunnel facilitates a cleaner and minimalist interior layout, with just a few basic climate control and drive-mode buttons taking space on the elevated central console “bridge”.
While the spec of the SA-bound Omoda E5 has not been finalised – or rather we’ll only be informed of what it entails at a later date – we expect that local units will have an array of standard features, such as a sunroof, a head-up display, a premium audio system (sourced from Sony), auto lights and -wipers, a 360-degree panoramic camera and semi-autonomous safety features (emergency braking etc).
Electric Powertrain
The Omoda E5 has a front-wheel-drive setup and its electric motor produces peak outputs of 150 kW and 340 Nm. This is enough to see the E5 scamper from a standstill to 100 kph in a claimed 7.2 seconds and on to a top speed of 172 kph. Equipped with a 61 kWh-capacity battery, the claimed WLTP range is 430 km. Some markets get a smaller (50 kWh) battery, but it’s not clear what will be offered in Mzansi.
As far as charging is concerned, the E5 can support 80 kWh DC (fast) charging and 9.9 kWh AC charging. Interestingly, the Omoda E5 is one of the very few EVs with a nose-mounted charging port, as opposed to the traditional location on the flank towards the rear (perhaps this – now novel – position will become the norm?). Omoda says the battery can be recharged from 30% to 80% in about 30 minutes.
What’s more, the E5 supports V2L (Vehicle to Load), which means that the car can be used to power certain pieces of equipment and appliances – which effectively renders it a “battery on wheels”. For example, if you’re camping, you could use your car to power a coffee machine! Arguably the biggest benefit of V2L is that you can charge another EV, in a pinch. The Omoda E5 has a 3.3 kWh V2L output.
What’s it like to drive?
Like most test drives in this part of the world, we sampled the E5 on a vast, open parking lot, which the Chery Group had kindly booked out for us. To be fair, after witnessing the sheer volumes of traffic and erratic driving behaviour (in this region of China, anyway) we were relieved to drive on a closed circuit.
We have some experience with the C5 (you can watch Ashley Oldfield’s video review of the Omoda C5), so switching to its electric sibling wasn’t a radical departure. However, for first-timers, the E5’s digital interface and user experience are intuitive and fairly straightforward. The raised seating position offers decent all-round views out of the cabin and the interior has a premium build quality and smart finishes.
As expected, there are a few drive modes to choose from. Eco, for example, optimises the power delivery and regeneration in favour of obtaining the maximum range; Sport, in turn, ramps up the eagerness of the powertrain and delivers that instant responsiveness that some have come to love about electric cars.
We tested the vehicle’s acceleration only and, while the E5’s on-paper outputs are more conservative than those of the admittedly more upmarket EVs we’ve driven, the E5’s performance is not deficient.
I expect the Omoda E5 will surprise some test drivers with its ability to produce instant urge, but its real strength will come to the fore on the daily commute. Hard accelerations can cause some wheelspin, so be mindful, but in the E5’s defence, our test drive took place in drizzle and cooler ambient conditions.
Pricing?
At the time of writing, Omoda South Africa could not provide pricing info for the E5, because the firm was still preparing the model for its local debut. Given the pricing structure of the C5 line-up, the E5 will easily be the priciest Omoda in our market, but other models are coming. Given the higher taxation and import tariffs the Government levies on electric vehicles, the Omoda E5 will cost, well, more than it should…
We think Omoda SA will do well if manages to position its first local EV under the R800k barrier, thus undercutting its most direct rival, the BYD Atto 3 Extended Range and the upcoming Mini Aceman.
Summary
Our first taste of the Omoda E5 was fleeting, but the Chinese-made all-electric small crossover made a positive first impression. It’s not the fastest or the most thrilling-to-drive electric car we’ve experienced, but that’s not the model’s role. Huge power outputs and rapid acceleration figures are tantalising vanity metrics – but they can play only limited roles in establishing EVs as everyday modes of transport in SA.
This author would much rather sacrifice a few seconds to 100 kph in favour of practicality and increased range. If the EV uptake is to gain notable momentum in our country, improved affordability will be critical (government incentives and leasing schemes will help in that regard). The Omoda E5 is likely to make a new EV more accessible to new-car buyers; we look forward to spending more time with it on local soil.
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Further Reading
Tony Liu discusses Chery’s past, present & future, plus product plans for SA