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.
GAC might still be a new name to a lot of Aussie new car buyers, but the Emzoom Luxury isn’t here to quietly blend in. It’s sharply styled, keenly priced and carries just enough attitude to turn a few heads - which is a good start in a crowded small SUV segment.
It also keeps things simple. There’s just the one trim level on offer locally, and it comes in swinging against some well-established rivals like the GWM Haval Jolion Premium, Kia Seltos Sport+ and MG ZS Vibe Turbo.
But standing out on paper is one thing, backing it up with enough personality to stay interesting over time is another.
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.
GAC isn’t messing around with the Emzoom Luxury. It’s undeniably eye-catching, priced well and carries just enough of a premium aesthetic to draw attention.
Is it the best small SUV I’ve driven? No. It does enough to avoid being overlooked, but it’s not quite reinventing the wheel.
What it does well is deliver a comfortable, easy urban runaround with strong equipment for the price. However, the safety calibration and overall breadth of systems feel like areas that still need attention.
All up, it gets a lot right for the money, but doesn’t quite land a knockout punch.