Chinese brand Omoda has continually improved its C-segment crossover contender, the Omoda 5. Jonathan Crouch takes a closer look.
Ten Second Review
The Omoda 5 has been continually evolved since its original launch here in 2024, most recently by the addition of a Hybrid derivative. The idea with this contender in all its forms is to offer something just a little different for customers seeking a compact family hatch or smaller crossover SUV. There's a choice of combustion or EV powertrains, striking design and a strong value proposition. If you like the looks, it might be tempting.
Background
The Chery Group clearly listens to feedback. Just 18 months after launching this Omoda 5 model in both combustion and E5 electric form in the UK in 2024, the car was updated. Then in early 2026, its proposition was further enhanced by the introduction of a full-Hybrid version. The Chinese move fast.
So many new Oriental brands have been launched here in the last year or so that you might have forgotten about the Omoda 5, which has sold quite well in the UK since its original introduction, despite less than glowing initial reviews. A quick reminder then: Omoda is part of the Chery group, probably the biggest Chinese automotive player you've never heard of. Chery is China's biggest car exporter, which is quite an achievement when you consider the other heavyweight manufacturers based there - names you might be more familiar with like BYD, the SAIC corporation's MG marque, GWM, Leapmotor, Jaecoo and Geely.
Omoda is a name derived from two sources; 'O' is for 'oxygen' (supposed to give an enviro-vibe) and 'moda' denotes fashion, apparently keynote for a marque that aims to focus on trendiness. As before, in both its forms the Omoda 5 is a car sized and pitched to appeal to customers of both family hatchbacks and light compact crossovers. So is it now worth taking a chance on this Oriental newcomer?
Driving Experience
If it's an Omoda 5 you want, then you might well feel that the version you should choose should be the SHS-H full-Hybrid model. There's a cheaper unelectrified 1.6-litre petrol version and a 61kWh all-electric E5 model, but it's the SHS-H which seems to provide the best combination of mechanical virtues.
So let's start with that. The SHS-H 'Super Hybrid System - Hybrid') set-up in use here comes from parent group Chery's parts shelf and pairs a turbocharged 1.5-litre four cylinder petrol engine with a compact electric motor energised by tiny 1.83kWh battery pack.
This Omoda 5 uses a conventional Toyota-style full-Hybrid system with the engine and motor working in tandem to power the front wheels. That power works through the Cherry Group's own three-speed 'DHT' auto gearbox ('Dedicated Hybrid Transmission') optimised to work with petrol/electric powertrains. Combined power output is rated at 204bhp, with 0-62mph requiring 7.9s en route to 108mph.
If you can't quite stretch to an SHS-H variant, then there's the entry-level petrol Omoda 5, which uses an old-tech 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine that originally developed 190PS but more recently was restricted to 147PS in a (largely fruitless) effort by Omoda to improve efficiency. 0-62mph takes 10.1s but there's an eager 275Nm of torque. This base petrol unit comes paired with a Getrag-sourced 7-speed dual clutch auto gearbox, though on the road you'll find that this transmission's indecisiveness sometimes hurts the drivetrain's general driveability and it tends to hunt around its ratios. There are various drive modes provided: obviously, to get anywhere near to the quoted efficiency stats, you'll need to spend most of your time in the 'Eco' setting.
The final '5' option is the E5 electric variant, which uses a single front-mounted 211PS motor and pairs it with a 61kWh CATL battery offering a 267 mile range figure. A heat pump is standard-fit in order to preserve range during colder months.
Handling across the line-up was developed in Europe and benchmarked against what the brand sees as this car's closest rival the Hyundai Kona. The suspension, steering and anti-roll bars have all been re-tuned over the Chinese market model to cater for differing European tastes. Since launch, Omoda has revised the front suspension geometry and introduced new front wheel hubs and a new electric steering set-up to improve handling. Even so, don't expect cutting-edge handling or particularly feelsome steering but the drive dynamics are reasonably class competitive.
Design and Build
Fashionable design remains a major selling point of this car and you'd be unlikely to mistake the Omoda 5 for anything else. Certainly not the two competitors this 4-metre-long compact family crossover is primarily pitched against in Europe, the Nissan Qashqai (which is slightly longer) and the Hyundai Kona (which is a little shorter). The 5 certainly visually stands apart from rivals like those, with its rakish profile and blanked-out C-pillar. The silhouette's quite slippery too, with a drag factor of 0.281Cd. With the combustion versions of this car, the main visual talking point is its huge, strikingly intricate grille, which disappointingly gets replaced by a rather boring bluff front end in the EV version incorporating a wide flap that rises to reveal the charging point.
Inside, where everything is of surprisingly high quality for a mainstream brand, there's a high-mounted 10.25-inch infotainment screen. And a digital instrument cluster of the same size built into a single wide panel mounted on top of the dashboard. You're going to need to like smudge-worthy gloss black-trimmed panelling, but everything is decently screwed together and the things you interact with regularly are soft to the touch. Plus there's adjustable ambient lighting that varies itself with the selected drive mode.
What else? Well you might think the general lack of physical buttons is good; we don't. The driving position seems a touch high-set and we found that unless you position the squared-off wheel unnaturally high, you can't see the whole of the instrument screen. But otherwise, the ergonomics seem fine and the sculpted seats are quite comfortable.
Despite the gently sloping rear roofline, there's plenty of headroom in the back, even with a sunroof fitted. And decent leg room for six-footers too. Out back, there's a 430-litre boot (but no kind of spare wheel). The trunk area lacks bag hooks but gets a low loading lip, so it's easier to slide heavy items in.
Market and Model
Unlike its Chinese counterpart BYD, Omoda isn't immediately trying to match prices against the established players in this segment. The Omoda 5 petrol model in base 'Knight' form costs from just under £24,000, with a further £3,500 required for the plusher 'Noble' version. The SHS-H Hybrid model starts from just under £26,000 in 'Knight' form or around £29,000 in 'Noble' spec. The E5 EV variant starts at around £33,000 with base 'Knight' spec, with 'Noble' trim another £1,500.
You might expect a new aspirational electrified brand to be selling online, with agency models and subscription services. But no: Omoda sells its cars here via traditional dealerships, which cover most major UK centres and you can find your nearest one by going to omodauk.com. The brand has lent heavily on advice from its partner Jaguar Land Rover for its establishment in the UK; Omoda parent company Chery handles local Chinese production of various JLR models for that Far Eastern market.
As you'd hope, there's lots of equipment included as standard across two Omoda 5 trim levels. Base 'Knight' spec includes 18-inch alloy wheels, full LED lighting, dual 12.3-inch digital displays, wireless 'Apple CarPlay' and 'Android Auto', intelligent voice control and plenty of driver assistance and safety systems. Top 'Noble' spec builds on this with a 540-degree surround-view camera, an 8-speaker SONY audio system and ambient interior lighting, plus heated and ventilated front seats.
Cost of Ownership
Despite the combustion engine improvement made here, you shouldn't have particularly high expectations for efficiency when it comes to the base 1.6-litre petrol turbo Omoda 5. This four-cylinder engine manages very unremarkable figures which are very little different from those of the original model; 31.1mpg on the combined cycle and 170g/km CO2. Which might encourage you to find the extra the brand wants for the SHS-H full-Hybrid version. This manages 53mpg on the combined cycle and 120g/km of CO2.
If it's an EV you want, the all-electric E5 variant uses a 61kWh CATL battery with a claimed range of 267 miles. It charges at up to 130kW and will replenish itself from a DC public charger from 30 to 80% in 28 minutes. The AC charging rate is a modest 10.3kW, so if you're AC charging from home using a conventional 7.4kW garage wallbox, a full charge from empty will require around 11 hours. When charging via an 11kW wallbox from a three-phase supply, the charging time will improve to around 8 hours.
Most new brands offer comprehensive warranties and this one is no different. Omoda includes a 7 year/100,000 mile warranty with all its cars. Servicing needs are quite frequent; for all powertrains, garage visits are needed every year or 10,000 miles, whichever comes first. Affordable servicing plans are available though, at point of purchase and servicing turnround times will be aided by a UK parts warehouse established in cooperation with DHL. There's 24/7 RAC roadside assistance too, which renews with each service up to the end of the warranty.
Summary
This is a Chinese idea of what an aspirational compact family hatch should be, rather than a European one. Nevertheless, if you're up for trying an unknown manufacturer and don't mind the slightly chintzy interior finishing, there's quite an interesting proposition on offer here. And it certainly looks like the brand will look after you. Chinese owners are often referred to as 'Omoders' and get access to a special 'O-Club', a social platform for 'brand experiences' that will be replicated in Europe.
In summary, if you're after something that's just a little bit different from the Qashqai or Kona-class compact family SUV that everyone else in your street has; and all you really want is a fully equipped, well-warrantied, decently built and metronomically reliable little family second car, we can see why you might consider an Omoda 5, were you to be acquainted with the fact that it existed in the first place. True, there are clearly more polished products out there in this segment. But arguably, not too many more interesting ones.
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