Chery Omoda 5 vs Chery Omoda5

What's the difference?

Finding a half-decent small SUV for less than $30,000 has become quite challenging in the past couple of years. But as mainstream brands march further upmarket, some Chinese manufacturers are happy to grab sales at the lower end of the market.

One such brand, Chery, re-emerged with the Omoda 5 compact crossover about 18 months ago with keen pricing and loads of standard features.

Further pushing the value point, Chery recently added a new base grade of the Omoda 5, the FX. It sits under the Omoda 5 BX and EX with the same powertrain and it only loses a handful of features from the BX.

At $27,000 drive-away, it looks like a steal on paper. But how does the new cut-price Omoda 5 handle urban duties? And does this small SUV offer more than just a solid standard features list?

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.