Have you taken the Omoda E5 for a spin to see if it is the EV for you
The demand for electric vehicle in Malaysia is moving ‘sideways’ right now and when we say ‘sideways’ we mean; it is a shift to electric vehicles priced below RM180k.
Yes, it seems that some of the early premium electric vehicles priced above RM180k are feeling the sales pinch as urban Malaysians re-evaluate their electric purchase decisions and lean more towards ‘Made In China’ brands that are offering great designs, latest cabin software technology, high safety features and more importantly, a better battery pack and battery software technology.
Well, the heart of any electric vehicle is the battery technology and charging software and more urban Malaysians are learning this and so their purchase decision comes after online research and conversations with professional EV sales consultants.
This is good news for brands like Chery who has been ‘pushing’ to get more Malaysians behind the wheel of their Omoda E5 electric SUV. The E5 is the electric version of the very popular Chery Omoda and this electric version was launched in March 2024. Priced at RM146,800 there is just one variant and that’s all you need in this price segment.
Omoda E5 Powertrain
Let’s look at the stats. This Omoda E5 features a single 204PS electric motor at the front that produces 340Nm which allows this Omoda E5 to accelerate from standstill to 100km/h in 7.6 seconds. Now, some of you will say why is it not faster. Well, this EV is designed to provide longer driving range and NOT super quick acceleration which ‘drains’ battery power.
Omoda E5 Battery
Using a 61kWh lithium-iron phosphate battery that can deliver 430km of driving range, the E5 can be charged using your home based AC battery charger in 8 plus hours (overnight) and will cost you about RM35.00 or so.
When you are driving the E5 on a long interstate drive and your battery is left with 30 percent of juice the available DC fast charger (along the highways) will take about 28 minutes to charge your E5 up to 80 percent.
Omoda E5 Exterior
This Chery the Omoda E5 is sold with LED projector headlamps, 18″ aero-designed alloy wheels, leather upholstery and an electric sunroof. The charging ports are located in the front ‘center’ of the car making it easier to charge at unusual charging station points. You also get a powered tailgate.
Omoda E5 Interior
Inside the E5 there is leather seats, ash grey wood trim, soft touch panels and premium stitch lines around the cabin which all together provides for an upmarket cabin look and feel.
Plus, there is ventilated front seats (to keep front passenger and driver cool) dual-zone climate control, rear air conditioning vents, twin 12.3″ digital screens, (wireless) Apple CarPlay and Android Auto ready infotainment, 50W wireless phone charging pad with a cooling vent (to keep your phone cool) and a 360-degree parking camera.
Chery’s ADAS 2.5 system includes automatic high beams, lead vehicle departure alert, front collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning and prevention, lane keep assist, rear cross traffic alert, tyre pressure monitoring. Type C and USB charging ports are available in front and also in the rear.
Must also mention the 8-speaker SONY sound system that delivers a decent Bass and clear crisp sound even at 80 percent of the volume.
Luggage space in the rear is 483L and this does not include the hidden space under the boot floor that you can hide away your laptop, backpack filled with cash and more. Now, if you want to carry even more ‘stuff’ like camping gear, you can fold the rear seats (70/30) and get 1,075L of space.
A tilt and slide sunroof is provided and this is welcomed by buyers.
Omoda E5 Drive
You get three driving modes. ‘ECO’ to save battery, “NORMAL’ for a little more oomph and then ‘SPORT’ when you are in a hurry. Well, for us we left it in NORMAL for a test period which was spirted enough. On the open road, this E5 is a handsome SUV.
Steering feel, dynamics and road feel is all tuned for spirited driving. In city traffic it is easy to get comfortable with the good all round visibility, great cabin features and comfort for 5 adults. Turning radius in tight situations is good and it is easy to park despite its large dimensions.
On the highway, this E5 shines as its motor pulls this SUV along with minimum fuss. The 204PS may not be the most spirited but among its segment competitors, it’s powerful enough and Illegal speeds on the highway are easily achievable with very little noise entering the well insulated cabin.
It is tough to beat Chery’s warranty package for this E5. It is 8-years/160,000km for the battery and most of the powertrain components, 7 years for most general parts.
Chery Omoda E5 Specifications
Battery Capacity: 61 kWh
Range (WLTP): 430 km
Estimated Charging Time: 8.0 hours to 100% @ AC & 28 minutes 30% – 80% @ DC
Power: 204PS
Torque: 340Nm
Acceleration 0 – 100km/h: 7.2 seconds
Top Speed: 172km/h
Selling Price:RM146,800.00
