Name: Omoda E5 (2024 – present) | Expert Rating | The Car Expert
Item: Omoda E5
Rating: 61.0

Summary

The Omoda E5 is a medium-sized SUV/crossover and the first model to be launched by new Chinese brand Omoda. There is also an Omoda 5 petrol version, which we cover separately.

The 5 and E5 arrived in the UK in late 2024, with about 60 Omoda dealers already lined up to sell the new models.

The Omoda E5 is a Nissan Qashqai-sized vehicle, so Omoda is aiming right at the heart of the family car market. This model has already been on sale in China and some other international markets for a couple of years, where it’s usually called a Chery Omoda C5.

Reviewers generally prefer the electric E5 to its petrol-powered sibling. Our own editor at The Car Expert, Stuart Masson, says it has “a much better driving experience and nicer interior”, while CJ Hubbard at Car agrees that “there’s a general sense of additional polish”.

However, the overall feeling is that the E5 belies its budget background a little too much. Darren Cassey at Carwow laments that “alternatives outshine it in almost every other measure”.

As of December 2024, the Omoda E5 holds a New Car Expert Rating of C, with a score of 61%. It scores highly for its five-star safety rating and zero tailpipe emissions, while running costs should be good as well. But its poor media review scores drag the overall rating down dramatically.

Key specifications

Body style: Medium SUV
Powertrain: single electric motor, front-wheel drive

Price: Approx. £35,000 (pricing and specs TBC)
UK launch: May 2024

Image gallery

Media reviews

Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

The Car Expert+

Score: 6.2 / 10
“The all-electric Omoda E5 is better than its petrol-powered twin, with a much better driving experience and nicer interior. Pricing is similarly keen, but it doesn’t have the same feeling of quality you get in more established brands.”
Author: Stuart Masson
Read review

Auto Express+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“There are still some refinements that could be made to the powertrain, and a Hyundai Kona Electric offers better value for money on a finance deal, but beyond a slightly punchier bottom line it wouldn’t take much to make the E5 a credible alternative to the class best.”
Author: Alex Ingram
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Auto Trader+

Score: 7 / 10
“The Omoda E5 has a sleek external design and is well equipped for the price, however it lacks some finesse compared to well-known rivals.”
Author: Catherine King
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Car+

Score: 6 / 10
“The Omoda E5 makes a better case for itself than the combustion alternative. The driving experience is better, the drivetrain tech feels good value for the price, and there’s a general sense of additional polish. But if you’ve got the extra funds available, it is not truly competitive with the alternatives offered by established brands, and there’s far more to get annoyed about than to commend.”
Author: CJ Hubbard
Read review

Carwow+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“The Omoda E5 gets impressive tech at an affordable price, but alternatives outshine it in almost every other measure.”
Author: Darren Cassey
Read review

Driving Electric+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“Omoda’s debut on the UK’s EV market is a pretty promising one.”
Author: Shane Wilkinson
Read review

Electrifying.com+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 5 / 10
“My advice would be to test drive it first though, as a lot of the showroom appeal disappears once on the road as it doesn’t have the polish of a European rival – especially around the dynamics and infuriating tech.”
Author: Vicky Parrott
Read review

Parkers+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“The Omoda E5 wouldn’t be our first choice if we were shopping for an electric SUV – family buyers will be better served by the Renault Scenic E-Tech, Skoda Enyaq or the Hyundai Ioniq 5. However, for the price, we can totally see why it might be tempting to cash buyers on a budget.”
Author: CJ Hubbard
Read review

Regit+

Score: 7 / 10
“The biggest hurdle Omoda will face here in the UK is buyers’ fear of change, along with brand snobbery. Despite its bargain-basement pricing, only time will tell whether or not the British public will be swayed into adventuring into something very new.”
Author: Maxine Ashford
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The Sunday Times+

Model reviewed: Range overview (including petrol 5)
Score: 7 / 10
“A promising first attempt”
Author: James Fossdyke
Read review

Top Gear+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 4 / 10
“A family crossover by numbers. Too much of a cliche and not individual. Battery and motor tech shows promise though.”
Author: Paul Horrell
Read review

Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

Overall score: 5 stars
Date tested: November 2024
Read the full Euro NCAP review

Adult protection: 87%
Child protection: 87%
Vulnerable road users: 68%
Safety assist: 88%

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

The petrol Omoda 5 (known as the Chery Omoda 5 at the time) was originally crash tested by Euro NCAP back in 2022 and awarded a five-star rating. This rating was extended to the electric Omoda E5 in November 2024 as Euro NCAP was satisfied that it performed equally well in every emergency situation.

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

No eco rating

As of December 2024, the Omoda E5 has not been tested by Green NCAP. Check back again soon.

Reliability rating

Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

No reliability rating

As of December 2024, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Omoda E5 to generate a reliability rating.

The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using workshop and extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy, sourced from both official dealerships and independent workshops.

As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the Omoda E5, we’ll publish the results here.

Running cost rating

Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data

Battery range	Average	Score	Variation	Score
EV models	257 miles	B	257 – 257 miles	B – B

Electrical efficiency	Average	Score	Variation	Score
EV models	4.2 m/KWh	B	4.2 – 4.2 m/KWh	B – B

Insurance group	Average	Score	Variation	Score
All models	35	C	34 – 35	C – C

Based on the limited data we currently have available, the Omoda E5 should be a reasonably affordable car to own and run. Electrical efficiency (the EV equivalent of miles per gallon in a petrol or diesel car) is good, which helps give the E5 a decent battery range.

We’ll update this further once we have full five-year servicing and maintenance costs.