2023 Chery Omoda 5 price and specs: New small SUV from $29,900 plus on-road costs

Chinese car maker Chery has confirmed pricing for its first model after an eight-year absence, a small SUV priced head-on with its fellow Chinese rivals.

• 2023 Chery Omoda 5 pricing and specifications
• Chinese brand returns after eight years with small SUV
• Two models at launch with 1.5-litre engines, front-wheel drive
• Priced from $29,900 plus on-road costs

The 2023 Chery Omoda 5 – the first model from the returned Chinese car-maker after an eight-year absence – will be priced from about $32,000 drive-away when first deliveries commence in late March.

The relaunched Chery brand’s first new vehicle for Australia is a small SUV similar in size to a Mazda CX-30 – and launches with a 1.5-litre petrol engine and front-wheel drive, ahead of more powerful versions later on.

Chery Australia initially announced the base-model Omoda 5 would start from less than $40,000 drive-away – but did not say how much cheaper than $40,000 it would be.

It has now confirmed the entry-level Omoda 5 BX will be priced from $29,900 plus on-road costs – or $31,990 to $32,690 drive-away depending on state and territory.

This price puts the Chery head-on with top-of-the-range rivals from China, the MG ZST and GWM Haval Jolion – and wears a sticker similar to, or less than base-model versions of established Japanese and South Korean rivals, including the CX-30, Subaru XV (Crosstrek) and Toyota Corolla Cross.

A better-equipped Omoda 5 EX model costs $32,900 plus on-road costs, or $35,190 to $35,890 drive-away – $1100 to $1900 dearer than its flagship Chinese competitors, but fitted with some features its rivals don’t offer.

As reported by Drive in recent days, pre-orders for the Chery Omoda 5 have now opened, ahead of first customer deliveries and showroom arrivals scheduled for late March 2023.

Buyers who place a $500 refundable deposit down before 23 March 2023 will receive complimentary premium paint for their vehicle (valued at $500), and either the first scheduled service (about $250 to $300), or floor mats for free.

Chery Australia told media last month it planned to offer national drive-away pricing – however this will no longer be the case, and drive-away prices vary by up to $700 between states and territories.

Vehicles will be sold through a network of approximately 40 dealerships around Australia – initially focused in capital cities – ahead of a broader expansion later on.

Chery cars in Australia will be supported by a seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty – matching MG and GWM Haval – with seven years of roadside assistance. Customers will be able to opt for Chery vehicle finance through its dealerships.

Service intervals are 12 months or 10,000km for the 1.5-litre turbo models, with each service for the first five years estimated to cost between $250 and $300.

The two Chery Omoda 5 variants available at launch share a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine developing 115kW and 230Nm, matched to a continuously-variable automatic transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive.

Claimed fuel consumption is rated at 6.9 litres per 100 kilometres, with 91-octane regular unleaded fuel supported. Chery claims a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 9.9 seconds.

Standard features in the base Omoda 5 – referred to as the BX – includes 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, dual 10.25-inch interior displays, leather-look seat trim, a rear-view camera, sensor-key entry, front and rear parking sensors, and a power-adjustable driver’s seat.

All models are fitted with a full suite of advanced safety technology, which includes autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and traffic sign recognition, plus seven airbags.

The Omoda 5 has earned a five-star safety rating from independent safety body Euro NCAP overseas – but an equivalent for Australia and New Zealand is yet to be announced by ANCAP (which has similar test protocols to Euro NCAP).

It is a significant change from Chery’s first entry into Australia, which was marred by poor safety ratings – contributing to its exit from the market in 2015, alongside an asbestos recall.

Opting for the dearer Omoda 5 EX adds a power tailgate, sunroof, heated steering wheel and front seats, power-adjustable passenger seat, 360-degree camera, puddle light projection, red brake calipers, and other extras.

The Omoda 5 EX is $1100 to $1900 dearer than a top-of-the-range GWM Haval Jolion Ultra or MG ZST Essence (both $33,990 drive-away nationally).

However, the Jolion (the better equipped of the two) is not available with a power-adjustable passenger seat, power tailgate, heated steering wheel, front parking sensors, reach adjustment for the steering wheel, eight-speaker stereo (six speakers in the GWM), or a widescreen digital instrument display (7.0-inch, vs the Chery’s 10.25-inch).

But compared to the Chery, the Jolion Ultra is equipped with a panoramic sunroof (rather than the single-pane sunroof in the Chery), a head-up display, anti-glare rear-view mirror, and a larger touchscreen (12.3-inch vs 10.25-inch).

A full list of standard features is below, along with a price list, and the exterior colours available. Most colours are deemed premium finishes, and cost $500 extra.

The 2023 Chery Omoda 5 is now available to pre-order, ahead of first local deliveries due in late March, pending any further delays.

2023 Chery Omoda 5 Australian list pricing

• Omoda 5 BX FWD – $29,900 plus on-road costs
• Omoda 5 EX FWD – $32,900 plus on-road costs
• Omoda 5 EX+ FWD – $TBC, due late 2023
• Omoda 5 EX+ AWD – $TBC, due late 2023

Drive-away pricing by state below:

Variant	NSW	Queensland	SA	Tasmania	Victoria	WA	ACT	NT
Omoda 5 BX	$32,190	$32,190	$32,290	$32,390	$32,690	$32,390	$31,990	$32,190
Omoda 5 EX	$35,490	$35,490	$35,490	$35,590	$35,890	$35,690	$35,190	$35,390

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2023 Chery Omoda 5 BX standard features:

• 18-inch alloy wheels with space-saver spare
• Dusk-sensing LED headlights with auto high beam
• LED tail-lights with scrolling indicators
• 10.25-inch digital instrument display
• 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen with wired/wireless Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, Bluetooth, voice control
• Rear-view camera
• Eight-speaker Sony audio system
• Dual-zone automatic climate-control air conditioning
• Keyless (sensor-key) entry
• Push-button start
• Wireless smartphone charger (15 watt)
• Synthetic leather-look seat upholstery
• Front sports-look seats
• Six-way power driver and four-way manual passenger seat adjustment
• 60:40 split-folding rear seats with armrest
• Synthetic leather-look steering wheel (tilt and reach adjustment)
• First-row ambient LED cabin lighting
• Two USB-A, one USB-C and multiple 12-volt outlets
• One-touch power windows (all four)
• Power-folding side mirrors with heating
• Electronic gear shifter and parking brake
• Seven airbags (dual frontal, front-side, curtain and front-centre)
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Autonomous emergency braking
• Adaptive cruise control with traffic-jam assist
• Lane-keep assist
• Lane following assist
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic alert with braking
• Traffic sign recognition
• Driver attention monitoring
• Tyre pressure monitoring (individual pressures for each tyre)

2023 Chery Omoda 5 EX adds (over BX):

• Power tailgate
• Power-operated sunroof
• Heated steering wheel
• Heated front seats
• Four-way power-adjustable passenger seat
• Illumination for sun visors
• Red brake calipers
• 360-degree camera
• Rear-seat ambient cabin lighting
• Puddle light projection
• Welcome lighting effect for headlights, tail-lights

Available colours are expected to include:

• Titan Green (no cost, both models)
• Lunar White ($500 extra, both)
• Space Black ($500 extra, both)
• Saturn Silver ($500 extra, both)
• Mercurial Grey ($500 extra, both)
• Jupiter Blue ($500 extra, both)
• Midnight Blue ($500 extra, both)
• Lunar White with black roof, red accents ($500 extra, EX only)
• Saturn Silver with black roof, red accents ($500 extra, EX only)
• Mercurial Grey with black roof, red accents ($500 extra, EX only)

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Ford cars could repossess themselves if you miss your payments

Ford has been busy at work preparing new technology for its future vehicles, including a system which could allow a car to repossess itself.

Ford has filed patents in the United States for a vehicular repossession system whereby the car could autonomously drive itself away from a house, should its owner default on loan repayments.

The patent documents have been with the United States Patent Office since August 2021, but were formally published in February 2023 and unearthed by US publication, The Drive. They describe ways for “Systems and Methods to Repossess a Vehicle”.

The patent details new ways in which a car can communicate with third parties, such as repossession agents or financial institutions, to act on the repossession of a vehicle if its owner has not – or cannot – continue loan repayments. This would remove the necessity for a tow truck to physically pick-up the repossessed vehicle at odd hours, as is often the case.

These systems could be incorporated into any future Ford vehicle, according to The Drive, with models featuring a data connection able to “[disable] a functionality of one or more components of the vehicle”. This is presumably a first step in the repossession process and could mean disabling anything from the engine to the infotainment system and beyond.

For Fords with autonomous driving technology, the system could “move the vehicle from a first spot to a second spot that is more convenient for a tow truck to tow the vehicle… move the vehicle from the premises of the owner to a location such as, for example, the premises of the repossession agency,” according to patent documentation cited by The Drive.

Furthermore, if the lending agency deems “financial viability of executing a repossession procedure” to be too expensive, it could even direct the vehicle to drive itself to a junkyard. The legality around such as system is not detailed within the patent filing, though the patent itself is simply an expression of an idea.

According to documentation, the system mightn’t necessitate fitment of new parts; “the vehicle computer may be configured to perform some, or all, functions of the repossession system computer.” Essentially, if a Ford is enabled with internet communication, such as for receiving over-the-air updates for example, this vehicle repossession system could take over the software.

Ford already offers a substantial amount of connected vehicle technology – you only have to look as far as the FordPass app to see how integrated your Ford car can be with the internet.

It’s not the only innovative patent the US-based car maker has been working on recently. Scraping the underside of your car door on a kerb could be a thing of the past, thanks to new technology patented by Ford.

CarBuzz has found a US Patent and Trademark Office filing which depicts an automatic door control system which is designed for the car to protect itself against scrapes and dents suffered when opening a low-slung car’s door to the kerb.

According to the patent, cars such as the Ford Mustang may be equipped with exterior-mounted sensors which can detect when a door is about to be opened onto a kerb, and to stop a tragedy from taking place. In doing so, the cameras are said to inspect the surrounding area – as well as the weight of approaching vehicle occupants (taking into account spring compression) – and subsequently calculate whether the vehicle should open the door or not.

The tech isn’t solely limited to eliminating scraped doors on kerbs, it’ll also keep an eye out for walls, signs, and even other cars. If these objects are expected to be in the way of the car door’s opening, the system will simply refuse to open the car door.

Such a system is predicated around having power-opening doors.

While it might sound like an overreach of technology, much like the aforementioned vehicular repossession system, the automatic door tech could prevent many car door dings and damage to others’ property.  

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Further details emerge of hybrid turbo Toyota GR86 – report

The current Toyota GR86 and Subaru BRZ may only be about two years old, but unconfirmed reports out of Japan continue to claim an all-new GR86 will be revealed in 2025 – this time with turbocharged hybrid power.

Information about a third-generation Toyota GR86 continues to trickle out of Japan, with a Japanese magazine publishing a new unsubstantiated report about the sports car’s next iteration being unveiled in 2025.

Respected Japanese publication Best Car – which has a strong track record of reporting top-secret plans from Toyota – claims a new GR86 is being developed using a 1.6-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine found in the GR Yaris, with a hybrid system.

If accurate, it would give the life cycle of the current GR86 – and its Subaru BRZ twin – of just four years internationally, compared to the 10-year span of the original 86 and BRZ twins.

Despite the second-generation Toyota GR86 being unveiled in April 2021 – a few months after its BRZ twin in late 2020 – Best Car claims upcoming fuel economy standards in Japan are the catalyst for the all-new model, as originally reported in October 2022.

The publication claims the 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine will be mated with a hybrid system borrowed from other Toyota cars – including the recently-unveiled Crown sedan – boosting performance to 220kW while improving fuel economy and tailpipe emissions.

The third-generation GR86 reportedly uses a modified version of the chassis found under the Lexus IS sedan – which is now a decade old – adapted for a shorter wheelbase.

Giving further weight to the possibility of a new model is that the current GR86 is due to be removed from sale in Europe after July 2024 as it will no longer comply with laws for advanced safety technology.

It’s said the windscreen in the current GR86/BRZ is too low to be fitted with traffic sign recognition cameras used by electronic speed limiters – a future requirement for all new cars sold in the region.

MORE: High-performance 2024 Toyota GRMN86 in development

Above: Artist’s impression of the 2025 Toyota GR86, supplied by Best Car Magazine.

Furthermore, new cars sold in Australia after March 2025 will be required to have autonomous emergency braking (AEB) as standard – a safety feature currently lacking from GR86 and BRZ models optioned with a manual transmission.

Given the second-generation GR86/BRZ was largely a major facelift of the first generation – with new body panels, cabin, and a different engine – developing a third-generation model so soon could be a way for Toyota and Subaru to extend the life of the chassis by another five or six years and help amortise manufacturing costs before having to start from scratch.

So far, Best Car is the only publication known to have received information from Toyota insiders with knowledge of the new GR86, but the outlet admitted in October to being sceptical before claiming to have successfully corroborated the plans.

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2023 GWM Ute ‘Off-Road’ flagship edition set for Australian showrooms

Chinese brand Great Wall Motors (GWM) is preparing to go hunting for the Toyota HiLux GR Sport and Nissan Navara Pro-4X Warrior with a new version of its GWM Ute.

The 2023 GWM Ute is set to gain an off-road-oriented flagship variant to rival top-of-the-range Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger, Mitsubishi Triton, Nissan Navara and Volkswagen Amarok, government documents reveal.

The company has certified a new version of the dual-cab GWM Ute for sale – provisionally dubbed ‘Off-Road’ – with upgraded suspension, off-road bumpers and side steps, and taller all-terrain tyres.

GWM Haval Australia has been contacted for comment on launch timing for the new model, however the company typically introduces vehicles three to six months after they are certified for sale, if history is a guide.

Already on sale in China, the flagship GWM Ute gains off-road side steps, a snorkel, new front and rear bumpers with tow hooks, black wheel-arch flares, a black metal sports bar, and black 18-inch wheels with larger 265/65 R18 all-terrain tyres (vs 265/60 R18 on standard versions).

Ground clearance is listed as 34mm higher (now 228mm), while there is upgraded suspension with increased wheel travel, and 28mm-wider front and rear wheel tracks.

Specifications in China list approach and departure angles of 30 and 26 degrees respectively without a towbar, a 700mm wading depth, and 40 per cent maximum climb grade.

Features in China are listed as front and rear differential locks, multiple off-road driving modes, a front-mounted winch, and a ‘tank turn’ function that brakes the inner rear wheel to reduce the turning circle on loose surfaces.

There is also additional underbody protection, Cooper or BFGoodrich all-terrain tyres, nitrogen-filled shock absorbers, red-painted brake calipers and coil springs, steel front and rear bumpers, and roof racks.

Chinese models also gain a unique black and red interior, but it is unclear if this will be available in Australia.

There are no changes to the engine, which remains a 120kW/400Nm 2.0-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder, with an eight-speed automatic transmission and part-time four-wheel drive. Four-wheel disc brakes remain.

Unlike key off-road rivals such as the Nissan Navara Pro-4X Warrior, Volkswagen Amarok W580X and inbound Mitsubishi Triton Xtreme – as well as the upcoming Toyota HiLux GR Sport – the GWM Ute Off-Road edition is expected to arrive in Australia fully-built from the factory in China, with no additional modifications required at an external facility in Australia.

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NSW introduces fines for petrol and diesel cars parked in electric-car charging bays

New South Wales is among the first Australian jurisdictions to impose fines on drivers of petrol and diesel cars who block electric vehicles from charging.

The New South Wales Government has discreetly introduced a new law which could see drivers of petrol and diesel vehicles fined up to $2200 for parking in an electric-car charging bay.

Nicknamed ‘ICEing’ – referring to the internal-combustion engine (ICE) powering petrol and diesel vehicles – the practice leaves electric-car drivers unable to charge at dedicated locations, potentially forcing owners on flat batteries to wait for long periods until the charging bay is no longer blocked.

Electric-car publication The Driven reports petrol and diesel car drivers can be fined up to $2200 for stopping in a parking area which has been allocated for charging electric vehicles – indicated by the signs below.  

The most recent amendment to the NSW road rules – made in November 2022 – states a driver must not stop in a parking area which is designated for the charging of an electric car unless they are driving an electric vehicle which they intend to charge.

The maximum penalty for breaking the new law is 20 ‘penalty units’, which are worth $110 each in NSW.

While it does not accrue demerit points, the monetary fine for parking in an electric-car charging space is the same as being caught driving at up to 45km/h above the posted speed limit in NSW.

According to the NRMA, Victoria and Queensland are believed to be the only other Australian jurisdictions which fine non-electric-car drivers for parking in a charging bay. 

Since December 2022, blocking an electric-car charger in Victoria has carried a minimum penalty of $99. In Queensland, non-electric-car drivers have faced $55 fines for the practice since February 2022.

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Opinion: If I ran Polestar… I’d start building fast Volvos again

Volvo’s electric-car spin-off Polestar is finding early success in its pursuit of market leader Tesla, but it risks infringing on the turf of its sibling brand. Why not embrace its origins?

“If I ran the company…” The Drive team play ‘fantasy football’ with the automotive industry and take turns in the top seat of the big brands. What would we do if we ran the show? This time, Alex takes over Volvo-backed electric-car upstart Polestar.

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Polestar – the electric-vehicle (EV) brand owned by Volvo and its Chinese parent company, Geely – is on something of a collision course with its sibling. To explain, let me recap.

Polestar began as a Volvo racing team in the late 1990s – under a different name – but by the mid-2010s, it had become Volvo’s official performance tuner churning out hot versions of Volvo road cars, before being acquired by its parent in 2015.

But come 2017 the script had flipped. Polestar was spun off to become its own brand building standalone ‘electrified’ performance cars distinct from existing Volvo models – though admittedly using Volvo architectures and technology.

Polestar 3.

Polestar’s first two standalone vehicles – the plug-in hybrid Polestar 1 coupe, and electric Polestar 2 sedan – were both revised versions of recent Volvo concept cars, on adapted Volvo petrol and hybrid-car platforms, albeit powered by drivetrains specific to Polestar (at the time of their launch).

When Polestar was spun off, the picture contemporary reports painted was for Polestar to be the pioneering electric-car brand – with a focus on performance – while Volvo would gradually move away from petrol power as it rolled out its own electric vehicles.

But since then, Volvo has announced plans to cease sales of petrol vehicles globally in 2030 – or in Australia four years earlier – and has accelerated its electric-car plans to the point that it already has a larger range of electric vehicles than its EV-only sister brand.

Polestar 2.

Executives say cars from the two companies will stand on their own, and will be differentiated through performance and styling. But their latest models, the Polestar 3 and Volvo EX90, share electric motors and batteries, and although they wear unique bodywork, look rather similar for brands trying to tread their own paths.

Future Polestar cars due from 2024 are set to be based on the company’s own underpinnings, move further away from Volvo design, and take a step up in performance.

But nonetheless, the company will increasingly find itself in an odd spot competing on the same turf as Volvo and vying for a similar buyer – without one of its main differentiators of an electric-only model range.

The solution? Steer back towards Polestar’s roots as Volvo’s speed shop.

The model I’m proposing is very similar to that of Volkswagen’s Spanish subsidiary Seat, which spun off its 20-year Cupra performance division into a standalone brand in 2018 – to great success.

This would mean a showroom comprised of Polestar’s standalone electric models – which would compete in sportier segments that Volvo doesn’t play in – plus a host of high-performance versions of electric Volvos.

Whereas Polestar today is attempting to start fresh and build its own identity – but perhaps remaining a bit too close to Volvo – my Polestar of the future would embrace its Volvo roots, while doubling down on performance as its unique selling point.

As part of Polestar’s remodel, all top-of-the-range, high-performance versions of Volvo’s current electric cars would ditch Volvo badging – becoming the Polestar XC40, C40, EX90, etc – leaving the Volvo range to consist of cheaper, less potent versions.

It’s the same strategy that sees Seat’s Volkswagen Golf sibling in Europe, the Seat Leon hatchback, sold as the Cupra Leon in high-performance trim, and hot Fiat 500 hatchbacks marketed as Abarth 500s.

Yes, it will technically make the most powerful models with Volvo badges slower, as the previous flagship models would become Polestars.

But if the Swedish marque aspires to be a top global luxury carmaker, I’d argue it still needs a proper BMW M or Mercedes-AMG rival to sprinkle the fairy-dust on standard models in its range – even as the world moves to electric cars.

What a Polestar EX90 could look like… (illustration by Drive).

How will the Volvo-based Polestars be distinguished? In the same way as any M or AMG car – more power, stiffer suspension, larger brakes, sharper dynamics, and a sportier look, including the company’s hero Rebel Blue (later Cyan Racing Blue) paint.

Volvo’s current electric cars have one or two electric motors – and power up to 380kW – but the top models in the repositioned Polestar line-up would need closer to 500kW to rival Tesla’s fastest offerings, which could be delivered by three or four electric motors.

Don’t think Polestar would stop developing its own standalone cars. There’s still room for Polestar cars that don’t have a Volvo equivalent, on two criteria – they don’t cannibalise sales of equivalent Volvo models, and they’re offered primarily in high-performance trims.

So there’s a future for the Polestar 3 and 4 SUVs – which are lower and sleeker than equivalent Volvos – and the upcoming Polestar 6 roadster that’s gunning for the Porsche 911.

However, executives may need to choose between the upcoming Polestar 5 and Volvo ‘ES90’ sedans, and consider rebranding entry-level, single-motor versions of the Polestar 2 sedan as the Volvo ‘ES40’.

Unlike Polestar’s current strategy, which guns for Porsche, these new cars would compete at the level of German rivals Mercedes-Benz, Audi and BMW. Geely already has the Lotus brand as its challenger for the maker of the 911.

Polestar’s ‘Optimisation’ packs for existing Volvo petrol and hybrid cars – which are essentially software tunes that boost power and torque – can stick around to complement the new electric range.

New Zealand’s Australian V8 Supercars and US IndyCar star Scott McLaughlin beside a Volvo S60 Polestar, taken when Volvo raced in V8 Supercars.

If there’s money left in Geely’s bank accounts, why not consider a proper return to motorsport? Perhaps not another entry into Australia’s V8 Supercars series, but if Mercedes-Benz, Audi, BMW and Porsche race in a mix of Formula One and GT sports cars, surely there’s a suitable race series out there for Polestar?

My vision for Polestar would also see it change the way it sells its cars.

I would take Mercedes-AMG and BMW M’s lead in fostering a network of joint Volvo-Polestar showrooms – which cordon off a section of Volvo dealers for Polestar cars, with their own look and feel, and Polestar-specialised sales staff.

Polestar’s current retail shopfronts – known as Spaces – are good for a standalone brand, but if Polestar cars are to be repositioned as hot Volvos, vehicles from the two brands should be sold alongside each other.

Whether Polestar in its new form would still use the fixed-price, non-negotiable ‘agency’ sales model is up for debate, but it would likely stick around, given Volvo is already trialling the model in the UK and Sweden (though it isn’t planned for Australia for now).

Would this new strategy work? With only one model in showrooms, Polestar sold about 51,000 cars last year – compared to Volvo’s 615,000 – with 40 per cent of those cars delivered in the final 25 per cent of the year. That’s a solid result.

BMW M’s best-selling car last year was the i4 M50 electric vehicle, and sales of performance cars in general are on the up across the big three German luxury brands – so more choice in Volvo showrooms for fast-car buyers would only be a good thing.

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2023 Chery Omoda 5 pre-orders open, first deliveries due March

Chery – the Chinese brand returning to Australia after eight years – has opened pre-orders for its Mazda CX-30 rival ahead of first deliveries due late next month.

Chinese car maker Chery – which returns to Australia next month after an eight-year hiatus – has opened pre-orders for its first new model, the 2023 Chery Omoda 5 small SUV.

Buyers can now place a $500 refundable deposit on Chery’s website (click here) to “secure their spot” in the queue, ahead of the Omoda 5’s official on-sale date on 23 March 2023, when orders are slated to open formally.

Pricing is yet to be confirmed, however Chery Australia confirmed earlier this month the entry-level Omoda 5 would cost less than $40,000 drive-away.

It is unclear how much cheaper than $40,000 the Omoda 5 base model will be – however as a guide, rival small SUVs from other Chinese brands with similar levels of standard features cost less than $35,000 drive-away.

According to a Facebook post by Chery Australia, buyers who pre-order will receive an upgrade to premium paint (valued at $500) and the first scheduled service (about $250 to $300), or a free premium paint upgrade and complimentary floor mats.

MORE: 2023 Chery Omoda 5 priced below $40,000 drive-away, key details released

The company has “steady influx of interest and confirmed pre-orders,” Chery Australia brand manager Andrew Haurissa said in a statement to Drive.

The Chery Omoda 5 – a rival for the likes of the Mazda CX-30, Subaru XV, MG ZST and GWM Haval Jolion – will initially be available in two model grades, with 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engines and front-wheel drive.

Due in the second half of 2023 are two further variants, with more powerful 1.6-litre turbo engines, and a choice of front- or all-wheel drive.

As previously reported, Chery cars in Australia will be sold with a seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, through a network of 40 dealerships – focused initially in capital cities – with national drive-away prices.

For more details on the 2023 Chery Omoda 5 for Australia, click here to read Drive’s earlier story. Pricing information is due closer to first showroom arrivals in late March.

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