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Meet the 2025 Chery C5, previously the Chery Omoda 5, only this one has had a proper glow-up for its mid-life refresh.
Gone is the confusion of multiple trim levels. Now, there’s just two to choose from: the well-equipped Urban, and the fully loaded Ultimate you’re looking at here. Simple. Sensible. And, honestly, it makes the buying process refreshingly easy.
First thing you’ll notice? That grille. It’s the latest take on Chery’s signature diamond pattern, only it’s way more refined this time – classy, even. It adds visual polish without losing that distinct Chery flavour – no pun intended. I especially like the LED light signature up front.
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On the Ultimate, you also get these great looking gloss black 18-inch alloys, enhanced by those striking red brake calipers behind them. It gives the C5 more polish without trying too hard.
None of those questionable red plastic accents that adorned the previous iteration, either.
Boot space has grown too, up to 370 litres with the second-row seats in place and nearly triple that when folded. More than enough to cater for busy lifestyles or loading up for family getaways.
But here’s where it really gets interesting: multi-link rear suspension has been added. That’s usually something you see in premium cars. What it means here is more composed handling and a more comfortable ride – especially when tackling speed pumps and uneven surfaces.
And the old CVT? That’s gone too. Replaced with a far more sophisticated six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
And that alone changes the drive completely – it’s smoother, more responsive, and noticeably quieter. You feel more connected to the car. It actually makes it feel more premium than its price point might suggest.
For the daily commute you can leave it in the default ‘Normal’ mode, but when you want to get moving with a tad more urgency, just tap the conveniently positioned drive mode button on the console for ‘Sport’. There’s even a nice rorty engine note.
The engine’s still a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol four-cylinder, which always had some welcome punch, but with the new gearbox power delivery is now more linear and even more immediate for a noticeably improved driving experience. It feels less strained on the steeper inclines, too, especially around town.
It’s a very easy SUV to get comfortable with, given the light and easy steering weight, making it a cinch to park in tight and tricky spots.
On the fuel-efficiency front, Chery claims 6.9L/100km on 91 RON standard unleaded, so you won’t be stretching the budget at the fuel bowser either.
Inside, there aren’t any big changes – but honestly, there didn’t need to be either, given it’s still one of the most visually striking cabins in the small SUV segment, with big screens, plenty of soft-touch materials, and a premium look and feel that punches well above the price points.
And thankfully, Chery’s exceedingly comfortable seats haven’t changed either – just have a look at the level of detail that’s gone into the design of these sumptuous chairs with contrast piping, which really impressed me on the previous model – and in fact in every Chery model I’ve driven to date. Softly cushioned, supportive, and a standout factor on longer drives.
Tech-wise, it’s also generously stacked. You get dual 10.25-inch screens, wireless and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto that pairs in seconds, and voice control that works a treat.
Just say “Hello Chery” and you can get all four windows to open or close automatically, along with loads more commands that make it just so liveable.
Standard kit across the C5 lineup includes auto LED headlights, cornering fog lights, intelligent high-beam, heated folding mirrors, configurable ambient lighting that’s especially good (and this extra light bar reminds me of BMW’s ultra-lush iX), along with keyless entry and start with remote window control – even on the base Urban.
Oh, and all four windows are one-touch open and close. Make no mistake, these are properly premium features.
Step up to the Ultimate and you unlock more premium kit, like the 360-degree camera, power tailgate, sunroof with retractable shade, heated and synthetic leather-trimmed seats, dual-zone climate, even a frameless auto-dimming mirror. It’s all there and then some.
Even the centre console looks top-shelf with a snazzy gear shift lever and two wireless phone pads. And there’s a schmick, flat-bottom, three-spoke steering wheel that feels great to the touch and with plenty of shortcut functionality to it, too.
Safety’s fully sorted too. There a five-star ANCAP rating and a full suite of driver assists, including adaptive cruise, lane keeping, autonomous emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, and the very handy walk-away locking and walk-up unlocking for the ultimate convenience.
So what’s the verdict?
Well, it drives better, feels more resolved, and still undercuts the competition on price, even though it’s loaded with premium features.
But here’s the real kicker. The Urban is yours for $29,990 drive-away, or it’s $34,990 drive-away for the Ultimate. That’s properly sharp value.
When you factor in Chery’s seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, seven-years of capped-price servicing and up to seven years of roadside assist, it’s the bargain of the year.
If you’re looking for a small SUV that quietly nails the brief and looks and feels genuinely premium – and boasts excellent comfort, loads of features, the highest safety rating, and a drive that’s stepped up – this new Chery C5 is guaranteed to win you over.
For more information, or to spec your own Chery C5, head to Cherymotor.com.au
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