Chery Omoda 5 Will Debut in the UK as One of the Cheapest Available Crossovers

Sales will kick off in February 2024. The Omoda 5 is going to the United Kingdom as the newly formed brand's first of several models. It is one step further that Chery (not a spelling mistake, but the actual name of the Chinese brand) is making toward global expansion.

The internal combustion Omoda 5 will arrive in the Kingdom with a price tag of 24,000 pounds ($30,000), which will make it one of the cheapest cars in the segment.

The Omoda 5 is powered by a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that develops 183 horsepower (186 PS) and is mated to a dual-clutch seven-speed automatic gearbox. The version that is sold in China is slightly more powerful at 194 horsepower (197 PS), because it does not have to comply with such strict emissions regulations.

The entry-level trim will bring along 17-inch alloy wheels, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connections, a dual-zone climate control, and adaptive ambient lighting. There is a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster providing all the relevant information regarding driving, plus a touchscreen of the same size.

The range-topping Noble trim starts at 27,000 pounds ($33,875). For the extra money, owners are getting a heated steering wheel in leather, a sunroof, and bigger alloy wheels of 18 inches.

There will also be an electric version, but there is no word on the pricing of the EV just yet. It will reportedly be powered by a front-mounted electric motor that will generate 198 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. A 64-kWh battery pack will store energy for a 280-mile range according to the WLTP testing cycle. That means that the electric crossover should drop as a rival for Nissan’s Ariya, Volkswagen's ID.4, Hyundai's Ioniq 5, and Kia's EV6.

According to Autocar, Chery is China’s most prolific brand in terms of exports. The company sold 450,000 vehicles in Asia, Australia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East and is now taking the first steps in the British market.

The name of the model is a reference to the brand’s focus on fashion ('moda' in Italian), with the 'O' standing for – the brand claims – "the bio element we need," whatever that is supposed to mean.

Chery is targeting bold sales figures: 10,000 Omoda 5s per year in the UK, in the shape of ICEs, plug-in hybrids, and electric cars.

The next model to be launched in the UK will be the Jaecoo 7, a larger SUV to compete with the Hyundai Tucson, as Autocar reports. The lineup will include ICEs and PHEVs. Chery is planning to build up a network of 40-50 dealers before it launches in the UK in February.