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2024 Chery Omoda 5 GT AWD review (video)

You couldn’t ask for better market conditions for cheaper car makers to enter the Aussie market. Chinese brands, like Chery, are making themselves known with new, value-packed models during a cost-of-living crisis. A period where we are more likely to break from brand loyalty or overlook the odd quality issue to save a few thousand dollars.

A good case in point is the Chery Omoda 5. After less than a year on sale, it already sold 5000 units by the end of 2023, according to VFACTS. And that was with a lineup of just two variants – the BX and the EX – using one front-wheel drive 1.5-litre three-cylinder ‘1.5T’ engine.

In 2024, the range expanded with the GT, with 2WD and AWD options – both of which inherit a more powerful ‘1.6T’ 1.6-litre turbo engine. But does the quality versus value-for-money equation tilt one way? After spending a week with the 1.6T GT AWD, we dig into the details to find out.

2024 Chery Omoda GT AWD-rear

2024 Chery Omoda 5 GT AWD: Specifications

Engine: 1.6-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder
Output: 137kW@5500rpm / 275Nm
Gearbox: Seven-speed dual-clutch auto
Drive type: All-wheel drive
Wheels: F & R: 18×7.0, 215/55
ANCAP: Not tested (FWD 5 star)
Tare weight: 1535kg
Power-to-weight: 11.20:1 (kg:kW)
Official consumption: 7.4L/100km
Our consumption: 8.7L/100km
Fuel tank/Fuel type: 51L/95 RON
Power efficiency: 18.51kW:L/100km
0-60km/h: 4.08 seconds*
0-100km/h: 8.47 seconds*
60-110km/h: 5.69 seconds*
1/4 mile: 16.31 seconds at 143.7km/h*
Max acceleration: 0.570g*
100-0km/h braking: 41.90m in 3.21s*
Max deceleration: -1.085g*
Decibel at idle: 41*
Peak decibel at 60-100km/h: 83*
Starting price (drive-away): $40,990

*Figures as tested by Driving Enthusiast on the day. Manufacturers’ claims may be different

2024 Chery Omoda 5 GT AWD: How much does it cost?

The cheapest Omoda 5 BX retails for $33,990. Then for another $7k, the top-spec GT AWD costs $40,990 (drive-away).

If you compare the top-spec variants of all its competitors in the small SUV category that specifically offer AWD, the Suzuki Vitara AWD is the only one that is fractionally cheaper, at $40,490 (excluding on-roads).

The Subaru Crosstrek 2.0S costs a similar $41,490, the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Exceed AWD comes in next at $43,490, then Suzuki S-Cross ALLGRIP Prestige sells for $44,490, the Kia Seltos GT-Line retails for $45,270, the Mazda CX-30 Astina AWD sells for $47,540, and the Volkswagen T-Roc 140TSI R-Line sets you back $47,990.

Other competitors like the MG ZST, the Toyota Corolla Cross, C-HR, ASX, and Honda HR-V are either offered only as front-wheel drive or are more expensive hybrids.

In terms of maintenance costs, all Cherys are backed by a 7-year, unlimited kilometre warranty, 7 years of free roadside assistance, and 7 years of capped and competitively priced servicing. Services are required every 15,000km or 12 months. The first five services are capped at $280, the sixth costs $516.60, and the seventh is set at $287.84.

2024 Chery Omoda 5 GT AWD: Interior & packaging

A surprising first impression when hopping inside is the quality feel of the doors. They feel solid, well cushioned, and difficult to slam when closing – one of our anecdotal measurements to assess build quality. Once inside, the interior presents appropriately, given it is the highest spec variant. Modern design elements, patterned mood lighting, and premium-feel materials have you fooled for a more experienced and upmarket brand.

It goes with a high-rising centre console with underneath storage to hide your mess, large door pockets, and bottle holders to match. Room in the front is aplenty, but legroom in the rear is probably more adequate for shorter trips due to the sloping roofline. Given it is a top-spec model, the driver’s seat needs and should come with lumbar adjustment – you only get the six ways of movement. But there are some surprising creature comforts, like heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and air vents for rear passengers.

Further back and the boot size is sensible for the small SUV market. It officially swallows 360 litres of luggage, or 1075 litres when the rear seats are folded down. You also get a cargo cover, a 12-volt socket in addition to one in the front row, and an electric tailgate – not usual inclusions on small SUVs.

In-cabin tech is impressive, with all trending features incorporated. That includes a 50-Watt wireless phone charger, an eight-speaker Sony-branded sound system, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, USB-A and -C charging ports, a touch sensitive air-con control panel, 360-degree surround view monitors, and a 10.25-inch fully digital instrument cluster and centre touch-screen.

There are some usability issues in our opinion. There is no volume control except on the steering wheel (and voice command), and dash messaging is not up to the standard of established carmakers. The ELK (Emergency Lane keeping) feature repetitively chimes whenever there is a change in lane detection status rather than just when it intervenes. The feedback chime is overkill. The “Front car drived away” warning needs a spell check, also, transitioning through different menus is more delayed than other manufacturers.

There is a myriad of safety tech included in all models. 17 all up to earn it a five-star ANCAP safety rating. They include important items like blind-spot detection, autonomous emergency braking, intelligent headlamp control, rear cross-traffic alert and braking, a rather overbearing driver monitoring system, lane departure warning and prevention, adaptive cruise with traffic jam assist, and more.

Behind the wheel, some of the systems are overzealous, and don’t quite feel as refined and accurate as established players. Especially the adaptive cruise and driver monitoring system.

2024 Chery Omoda 5 GT AWD: Powertrain & handling

The only gain from the EX to GT is the boosted powertrain and suspension. So, all eyes are on them. Under the bonnet lies a 1.6-litre turbo four-cylinder petrol engine that produces 137kW and 275Nm. It’s a lively, free-revving engine that packs punch when you demand it. At 1525kg, the OMODA 5 is fairly light, so it feels like it has a spring in its step. We timed 0-100km/h in 8.47 seconds, which is about average for this type of vehicle and this level of power.

That power spreads to all four wheels with AWD on-demand, assisting with traction during slippery conditions. There’s also a sporty seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that transitions through the gears faster than a conventional auto would. But gentle take-offs are almost impossible as there is a lot of twang and sluggishness during take-up.

Fuel consumption is poor when compared to industry averages. The official average is 7.4L/100km. But our testing over 550km on varied road types produced a much worse average of 8.7L/100km. Unlike the base 1.5-litre engine, this one requires the more expensive 95 RON petrol. Among today’s standards, this aspect is a big deal.

One of the fuel-saving features that does not seem to help with the efficiency woes is the common engine start/stop feature. Compared with other cars, when stopped, the delay to resume is horrendous in this one. By the time you let your foot off the brake, the engine starts with the conventional starter-motor and first gear is selected, enough time has ticked past to get beeped to move on from the driver behind.

GT models also gain an upgraded multi-link rear suspension rather than a torsion beam setup on non-GT models. This has the GT feeling decently solid around corners with bumps, but there is some negative body roll to content with. Grip is the weakest link in the handling aspect, as these cheap tyres give out during intense cornering.

The brakes are also beefed up in the GT models; from 283mm to 308mm at the front, and 263mm to 313mm at the rear. We did the 100-0km/h emergency stop in 41.90m, which is about 2m above average for this type of vehicle.

2024 Chery Omoda 5 GT AWD: Key attractions/reasons to buy

  • Competitively priced: Considering you get AWD and the extensive feature list, the Omoda 5 GT AWD is one of the cheapest in the small SUV category.
  • Spritely engine: When pushed, the 1.6L turbo engine packs the right amount of punch for a sports-oriented model. It’s also nice to see the GT getting a unique package over lesser variants.
  • Interior presentation and tech: Interior design is surprisingly elegant. The touch sensitive climate control panel, 360-degree surround view monitors, a vivid 10.25-inch screens make this a modern contender.

2024 Chery Omoda 5 GT AWD: Key considerations before you buy

  • Menus and vehicle messages: There are notable English translation, menu layout, and driver feedback improvements to be made. Local testing is evidently lacking.
  • Fuel consumption: Sub-par fuel averages when compared to industry trends these days.
  • Start/stop feature: Its woefully slow to start the engine, select first gear and take off when the traffic lights go green.
  • Brand trust and loyalty: Chery is a fairly new Chinese brand on Aussie shores. Its tempting to wait for it to establish itself, iron out any faults first, and stick to the brands that you know.

2024 Chery Omoda 5 GT AWD: Video

How does it rate against its rivals?
  • Price
  • Quality look & feel
  • Interior tech
  • Powertrain performance
  • Ride & handling
  • X factor (does it stand out in its class?)
3.5

Final word

You can’t argue with the price, feature list, sharp looks, practical interior, and dynamic feel of the Omoda 5 GT AWD. But you can argue about its menu layout and feedback shortcomings, sloppy DCT operation, and heavy fuel consumption. All evidence that testing is not quite complete, in our opinion. There is also that little chestnut that it is from a brand that started out with a frightening safety record. In the 2010s, with the J1 and J11 models, Aussies decided that Cherys were too unsafe. Can we trust it again?

Mark Davis

Mark's fascination with cars originated long before he was allowed to get behind the wheel himself. To him, cars are more than just a mode of transport; especially the ones that adopt purposeful innovations while preserving the joy of driving. With a master's degree in IT, he brings a tech-savvy perspective to our car reviews, particularly as the automotive industry embraces digital advancements. Mark joins Driving Enthusiast as a road tester after more than a decade at PerformanceDrive.

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