Tackling the Hyundai Kona Electric
The Chinese car giant Chery has so far ignored our continent, but those times are almost over. We also have to go to Chery, they say at the head office in Wuhu. As an appetizer, they have prepared an electric variant of their compact crossover for us. We taste the Omoda E5.
Today we not only drive a new model, but also a new brand. At least for us, because in other corners of the planet Omoda has been a fairly well-known name for some time, whether or not as a type designation of a model under the Chery flag, a name that may say something to you. But perhaps not, because the flood of Chinese newcomers has so far been devoid of products from this stable. In one of the next issues we will discuss Chery’s plans in our country in detail, so for now a short introduction.
Chery is a relatively young car manufacturer from Wuhu, a Chinese metropolis somewhere halfway between Shanghai and Wuhan. The company started building a copy of the first generation Seat Toledo in 1998 and in a quarter of a century has grown into China’s ninth largest car manufacturer, with an annual production of 1.2 million passenger cars and commercial vehicles. At the same time, Chery is China’s largest car exporter, especially to South America, Indonesia and Russia. The brand gradually thought it was time to also explore Western Europe and it wants to embark on that adventure with the car we are driving today at its home base in Wuhu. The model with a combustion engine has been around for a while in China and the export countries, but the fully electric version that we are introduced to is also fresh from the knife in China.
The Omoda E5 is a compact crossover that we feel is mainly in the same boat as the MG ZS EV and the BYD Otto in its own market. When we ask which models Chery has in mind with this car, the Chinese do not give us an answer, but in the evaluation form that we receive in the evening, we are asked again and again how we use the Omoda. experience compared to the ‘all new Kona Electric’, so draw your conclusions.
Omoda E5
Fresh appearance
The Omoda E5 is certainly a fresh, contemporary appearance and certainly an improvement over the version with a fuel engine, which is hidden under a ridiculously large grille with a motif that seems to have been stolen from an overpriced ladies’ bag. The EV has instead been given a smooth, closed nose with very flat light units that, together with a black, lettered strip, separates the hood of the frunk from the fenders. The side windows slope towards the rear almost coupe-like, where two sharp bends in the shoulders and roof give the car its own, recognizable side view. Graceful rear light units that are connected to each other by a strip over the tailgate, together with the large roof spoiler, mark the stern.
Omoda E5
Nice finish
The interior of the Omoda surprises with its tranquility, clarity and, above all, beautiful finish. All instruments are housed in a large, slightly curved screen, which takes up just over half of the dashboard and is supplemented by the standard head-up display. Apart from the screen, the dashboard is virtually empty, with only four ventilation grilles that are incorporated in a black strip and are therefore barely noticeable. The center tunnel is wide and high and, apart from six buttons for vital functions, just as empty as the dashboard. The steering wheel is almost BMW-like small and thick, making it very comfortable to hold. A flattened bottom gives it an extra touch of sportiness. The seats feel sturdy and can be adjusted quite low. Unfortunately, the view to the rear is on the narrow side.
Omoda E5
This also applies to the headroom in the back, while the legroom is quite nice. You can fit 360 liters in the trunk, which is not excessively large in this segment. Here the price is paid for a sporty looking stern. Chery will build the Omoda E5 with two battery sizes. The Short Life does 300 km on a charge, for the Long Life Chery claims 450 km WLTP. Fast charging is possible with a maximum of 110 kW. Chery is not yet making any announcements about the AC performance.
Omoda E5
Loss of control
The E5 moves smoothly from its spot, but immediately afterwards suffers from loss of grip. For a second or two the Hankooks scramble for grip on the neatly dry asphalt, but once they have found it, the car pulls along nicely again. The steering is very light and numb, but nevertheless precise and precise enough. As long as you don’t go too far, because on the slalom you feel that the front wheels have difficulty maintaining grip and the carriage quickly tends to slide over the front wheels understeered.
The feeling under the right foot is good. The engine responds cheerfully and smoothly to what you do and even in Eco mode there is more than enough life in it. The brakes take a little more getting used to, because the pedal does not respond completely linearly. For a moment it does little, then suddenly it does a lot; We suspect that the transition between regenerative and conventional braking still needs some work. Because mind you: we are driving a prototype that still needs some work. It is not without reason that a member of the management walks up to me halfway through and asks me in detail what I think still needs to be done to satisfy customers in our part of the world.
Omoda E5
Fifteen dealers
The Omoda E5 should appear on our roads in April next year. To this end, a network of fifteen dealers is currently being set up. No pop-up stores or experience centers as we increasingly see with newcomers in particular, but real dealers with a workshop and qualified staff, as Derek Du (in the photo above), the man who is setting all this up, promises us. These dealers will have to do their best for the first six months, but in September 2024 the Omoda E5 will be reinforced by the Jaecoo 7, a medium-sized SUV that, like the E5, will only be available in a fully electric version in our country.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl