First look at the Chery Omoda 5 in Malaysia, the HR-V and X50's more stylish and powerful rival

Less than 6 months since the Chery Omoda 5 went on sale in China, the new B-segment SUV has now landed in Malaysia.

In China, the Chery Omoda 5 is priced between RMB 92,900 (~RM 60k) to RMB 126,900 (~RM 82k), undercutting the Honda XR-V 1.5 NA there (sold here as the Honda HR-V, priced between RMB 132,900 to RMB 152,900) by 20 to 43 percent, depending on variant.

The Omoda 5 is part of Chery’s preview event held recently, giving us a sneak peak of Chery’s most eye-catching model to-date. It is worth noting that this is a pre-production unit and may not be representative of the official units that will go on sale in the near future.

Also Read: Malaysia-bound 2022 Chery Omoda 5 open for bookings in China - export markets to follow

Although the Omoda 5 was present at the preview event, the model is for static display only; there was no driving this time around.

That said, we did manage to get up close and personal with the Omoda 5 and our initial impressions are rather positive.

Right off the bat, the most noticeable bit is the Omoda 5’s front fascia. It features a massive front grille with thin LED daytime running lights (DRLs) at the top edge, creating an unmistakable look. Pay close attention and you’ll also notice tiny inserts nestled within the grille, giving the Omoda 5 an upmarket appeal.

Also Read: Chery to establish CKD operations in Malaysia, Tiggo Pro SUVs to be priced competitively against Protons

Round the sides, the Omoda 5 previewed here is fitted with 18-inch rims wrapped in 215/55R18 GitiComfort F50 tyres. While the glossy black wheels seen here are similar to the ones offered in China, it remains to be seen if our local units feature contrasting highlights.

As for the rear-end, the Omoda 5 features vertical lighting elements housed within its full-width LED tail light. The Chery branding can be found emblazoned across said tail light.

Also Read: Malaysia-bound Omoda 5 launched in China; 7 variants, 1.5T 156 PS/ 1.6T 197 PS, priced from RM 61k

The interior is also a rather nice place to be in. There are dual 10.25-inch screens, one for the digital instrument cluster and the other for the infotainment system.

Also Read: Not the Eastar you remember, Chery returns to Malaysia with Omoda 5, Tiggo 4 Pro, Tiggo 7 Pro and Tiggo 8 Pro Max

Speaking of infotainment system, the Omoda 5 features wireless support for both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The wireless treatment is also extended to the phone charging capability, as evident from the Qi charging pad on the centre console.

Build quality, as well as fit and finish, based on our initial impressions are rather positive. Despite being a pre-production unit, the interior feels well put-together and there’s no visible ill-fitted bits. Touchpoints are also on-point (sorry for the pun), hinting that Chery has put lots of thought when developing the Omoda 5.

In terms of powertrain, the Omoda 5 is offered with two powertrain options in China. The first is a turbocharged 1.5-litre 4-cylinder that churns out 156 PS and 230 Nm, mated to a CVT-type automatic. This is the powertrain option that was previewed here.

The other engine is a turbocharged 1.6-litre 4-cylinder that does 197 PS and 290 Nm. The latter is mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic.

For reference, the most powerful Honda HR-V does 181 PS and 240 Nm, while the top-spec Proton X50 does 177 PS and 255 Nm.

While the 1.5-litre models are front-wheel-drive (FWD)-only, the more powerful 1.6-litre model can be had as an all-wheel-drive (AWD) model. It remains to be seen which powertrain combination will be offered here.

Now, the Chery Omoda 5 isn’t officially on sale in Malaysia just yet. Prices and final specifications are also unknown at this point of time.

Chery Malaysia, the newly-established company behind today’s event, did not mention when the Omoda 5 will go on sale here just yet, but said model has been spotted in Malaysia, albeit fully draped in camouflage.

Also Read: Spied: Chery Omoda 5 spotted in Malaysia with Stellantis plates, what's going on?

Do you think that the Omoda 5 will pose a serious threat to the Proton X50 and Honda HR-V? Let us know in the comments section.