What's the difference?
This is the new Chery C5.
Not a Chevy C5 Corvette, Citroen C5, Sinclair C5 city trike or even a Lockheed C-5 Galaxy bomber, but a facelifted Omoda 5, with a fresh nose and a few (largely) welcome upgrades underneath.
But do they address the old model’s flaws? Which, for many reviewers, made it difficult to recommend, even against other equally cheap and cheerless small SUV rival alternatives, including the previous-shape MG ZS and GWM Haval Jolion.
Read on to find out.
Visit Chery’s website, click on the Omoda 5 GT and you’ll find references to its “dynamic personality”, “distinctive face” and “cinematic elegance”.
Is this a show-stopping movie star or a new, sporty compact SUV? Maybe in the context of our video review of the car it can be both?
Either way, it extends the still fresh Omoda 5 line-up from two grades to four, adding the option of all-wheel drive at the same time.
It’s aimed at premium versions of small SUV favourites like the GWM Haval Jolion, Hyundai Kona, Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross and Subaru Crosstrek, expanding the new challenger brand’s scope in this intensely competitive segment.
So, read on to see if the Omoda 5 GT has the star quality required to enhance your urban life.
Can a new name, fresh face and suspension update save Chery’s sleek SUV coupe from the ignominy of being one of the least pleasant options in its ultra-competitive class?
Sadly, not enough has been done for us to recommend the new C5.
As an affordable, stylish, roomy and zoomy SUV, the Chery definitely provides showroom appeal, especially given the decent warranty.
But, with lots of little niggles still present to distract and frustrate, the C5 is far from A1. Plus, with prices now creeping up, it doesn’t even have the cheap pricing of the old Omoda 5 to get it over the line.
Heading into 2026, Chery still needs to do better than this.
The GT AWD successfully adds a performance spark to the city-sized Chery Omoda 5 SUV formula. It’s sprightly and stacks up well in terms of value and practicality. It’s also space-efficient, safety’s great and the ownership package is hard to beat.
That said, despite the shift to a multi-link rear suspension, ride comfort and the steering could be better. But overall, no rotten tomatoes here. This is a worthy contender that shows how far and how quickly Chery has progressed.