What's the difference?
Okay, this is getting crazy. It feels like barely a week of 2024 is going by without another value-focused, pure-electric SUV hitting the Australian new-car market.
And this is the latest, the Chery Omoda E5, a compact, five-seater with the performance and range to challenge some other relatively recent arrivals.
It joins the internal combustion Omoda 5, variations of which have proliferated in the roughly 18 months it’s been on sale here.
This is CarsGuide’s first look and we’ve assessed everything from value and practicality to safety and driving performance. So, stay with us to see if this EV could be your entree into the world of battery-electric SUVs.
The Chery Tiggo 7 Pro Elite is a part of the brand relaunch for Chery and it showcases the brand's commitment to safety with its five-star ANCAP rating, awarded in 2023.
The medium SUV market is well and truly saturated with options and the Tiggo 7 Pro has rivals like the GWM Haval H6, Hyundai Tucson and MG HS which offer affordable packages for families in an expensive economy.
So, does the newest offering from Chery hold its own? In this review I'll unpack what my little family of three thought after a week with the mid-spec Elite model. (And why I suddenly have a hankering for Cherry Ripes).
The Chery Omoda E5 gets solid ticks for value, practicality, performance, efficiency and a great ownership promise.
But its suspension compliance isn’t in line with class standards and some of its safety assist features aren’t as refined as they should be. Both of which matter in a car likely to be used by families day-to-day. Its price and specification are strong drawcards and that will get it over the line for many. But we think this Omoda E5 would still benefit from some judicious fine-tuning.
Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with travel, accommodation and meals provided.
The Chery Tiggo 7 Pro Elite has been a very surprising car for me. Its premium features, stylish design and practical space don't match the affordable price tag! But I'm all for it because you definitely get bang for your buck. The technology needs to be improved but everything else more than makes up for it. This medium SUV is a solid all-rounder.
My son likes the red paintwork and how much space he has in the back seat.