Could the 2024 Chery Omoda 5 double its sales and beat some of the biggest small SUVs in Australia? The Toyota Corolla Cross, Subaru Crosstrek and Mitsubishi ASX are on notice!

Chery emerged as a force in the Australian new-car market in 2023 with just one model, and the Chinese brand reckons the Omoda 5 is on track to double its sales in 2024.

Returning to Australia in March last year following a short-lived stint in the early 2010s, Chery's first offering was the Omoda 5 - a model that landed right in the thick of the ultra competitive small SUV segment.

Granted, the Tiggo 7 Pro medium SUV also launched in 2023, but it was very late in the year, so it was the Omoda 5 that led the brand's charge.

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From March to the end of December, Chery sold 5370 examples of the Omoda 5 in Australia.

While that might not seem like a huge number, it is when you consider the brand is largely unknown, and the fact that it beat some heavy hitters in the segment.

The Omoda 5 outsold the Honda HR-V (2182), Toyota C-HR (4786) and Suzuki Vitara (2016), and it wasn't that far behind the Nissan Qashqai (6614).

The Omoda 5 GT gains a slightly more potent engine, as well as a dual-clutch transmission and independent rear suspension.

Those sales came from just two model grades - the BZ and EX, both powered by a 115kW/230Nm 1.5-litre turbocharged engine.

Chery has this month doubled the number of Omoda 5 grades on offer with the introduction of the GT in front- and all-wheel-drive guise.

The GT is powered by a slightly more powerful 137kW/275Nm 1.6-litre turbocharged unit paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and it gains independent rear suspension over the regular Omoda 5. It is priced from $38,990 drive-away (FWD) or $40,990 (AWD).

With four grades now available, Chery could increase its market share in the segment in a big way this year.

With four grades now available, Chery could increase its market share in the segment in a big way this year.

When asked by CarsGuide if the Omoda 5 could crack 10,000 sales in 2024, Chery Australia Managing Director Lucas Harris said "absolutely".

"I think we could do that. You know, really, we would love to see it."

Those sales came from just two model grades - the BZ and EX, both powered by a 115kW/230Nm 1.5-litre turbocharged engine.

While adding the caveat that sales predictions can often be wrong, Harris said sales will grow as more Australians get to know the brand.

"I think that the car is good enough and it's a great value proposition that, with a bit more brand awareness, and we've got more dealers coming on board all the time, we would really like to see this model up around 1000 units a month.

"And the feedback we get from existing customers is very positive. And so I think that that's a fairly achievable number."

From March to the end of December, Chery sold 5370 examples of the Omoda 5 in Australia.

If Chery hits the five-digit club by the end of 2024, it could well outsell models like the Qashqai, Mitsubishi ASX and Eclipse Cross, Subaru Crosstrek, Toyota Corolla Cross and Volkswagen T-Roc - based on 2023 figures.

But keeping the 2023 numbers in mind, it might not be enough to overtake its Chinese compatriots like the top-selling MG ZS (29,258), or GWM Haval Jolion (11,252) in the busy small SUV segment.

Harris said the dynamic feel of the two engines is quite different, despite only a small bump in power and torque outputs, and added that he expected there to be an even 50/50 split between 1.5L grades and the 1.6L GT.