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.
The Toyota Corolla Cross launched back in 2022 as a lifted crossover SUV version of one of the most iconic cars ever. It helped bridge the gap between the Corolla and the RAV4.
Three years on and it’s now mid-life facelift time. There are new looks inside and out, as well as some new tech and bling to catch your attention.
Competition is continually heating up in the small SUV segment, especially for those with hybrid engines, but is the updated Corolla Cross the pick of the bunch?
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 Corolla Cross is still an incredibly sensible car if you’re needing to buy a car, but you’re not a car person. Everything is intuitive and easy, allowing you to focus on driving.
This update has helped make this car stand out a bit more, but it’s still a bit vanilla. The Hyundai Kona, for example, offers more character. Also the asking price, especially at the top end, is creeping eerily close to RAV4 territory.