More than a match for Proton X50? Here are the confirmed specs for CKD Chery Omoda 5
Sanjay · Jun 27, 2023 10:26 AM
0
0
The brand and logo may be the same from yesteryear's QQ and Alado we had here, but today's Chery is so far removed from those days it seems like a totally different brand. At least that's the (palpable) motivation behind the Chinese carmaker's resurgence into Malaysia, headlined by the locally-assembled (CKD) Omoda 5 and Tiggo 8 Pro.
Confirmed specs for Omoda 5 in Malaysia
At a recent media event held in Kuala Lumpur, Chery Malaysia shared confirmed specifications for the aforementioned models. For the Omoda 5, there'll be two variants (C and the higher-end H); though the difference between them will be more on aesthetics.
In Malaysia, the CKD Omoda 5 will be sold with these basic specifications:
1.5-litre, 4-cyl turbocharged, 156 PS/230 Nm
CVT with 9 virtual ratios
Front-wheel drive (FWD)
18-inch wheels (H gets two-tone)
Full-LED head- and tail-lights, DRLs
Acoustic glass
20.5-inch dual-screen for infotainment, digital instruments
Android Auto, Apple CarPlay
A full array of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) will also be thrown in, encapsulating these features:
Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
Blind Spot Detection (BSD)
Emergency Lane Keeping (ELK)
Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
Adaptive Cruise Control with Low Speed Follow (ACC w/ LSF, 0-180 km/h)
Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)
Lane Departure Prevention (LDP)
Integrated Cruise Assist (ICA)
Traffic Jam Assist (TJA)
First impressions
Despite its relative simplicity, don't discount the aesthetic touches
We finally got some quality time behind the wheel of the Omoda 5, but while the drive around the block was a little short for a comprehensive review, it gives us a little taste of what's to come.
Build quality and interior aesthetics are certainly par for the course of a contemporary model - but we can see how some may term it a bit too simple, particularly in the centre stack. Nonetheless it all feels quite OK in where it matters, especially in the quality of the screens and build.
If there's one minor niggle, it's that the plastic switchgears may not feel the most top-shelf, but perhaps that's where cost comes into play (the Tiggo 8 Pro's feel better, and so are its interior accountrements). Take note that we didn't term them as low-quality. Just adequate.
The expanse of legroom at the back is welcome, and despite the sloping roof, 175 cm me didn't have any problems with that. Thankfully the roof liner is beige; the airier colour aids in not making the cabin feel claustrophobic.
Also kudos goes to the Chery team for going the extra mile to port the indicator stalk to the right side. It is a relatively simple thing, but a lot of carmakers who predominantly sell cars in left-hand drive markets usually don't go this far in catering to local needs.
A widespan driving review will have to wait until we get a press loaner; early thoughts are it leans more into a sporty tact, given its relatively firm suspension setup, and bucket-style seats. In other words, pretty interesting to think about...
Conclusion
Note that the Chery Omoda 5 hasn't yet launched in Malaysia, so indicative pricing and aftersales packages are still kept under wraps. Other parts of Chery's local plans though have been shared before - and they're leaving no coin uninvested as they seek to make Malaysia their local production hub.
Nonetheless, the full low-down of everything will happen in just a week's time, so stay tuned for the brand's relaunch here on 6-July 2023.
With humble beginnings collecting diecast models and spending hours virtually tuning dream cars on the computer, his love of cars has delightfully transformed into a career. Sanjay enjoys how the same passion for cars transcends boundaries and brings people together.
