Omoda 5 review

Interior:

Dashboard & tech

The Omoda 5’s dashboard looks very similar to many other Chinese offerings on the market with a dual-screen layout with minimal buttons for a cleaner look.

All models come equipped with a 12.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system that includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. However, having fewer buttons makes the 5’s interior ergonomics not as user-friendly as some of its European counterparts.

Comfort

The 5 struggles out on the open road which is largely due to its poor ride quality and the soft damping of the suspension.

On a twisty road, the car’s sloppy setup means that it has a tendency to feel wallowy and unrefined, with lots of the competition such as the Kia Sportage providing better comfort.

Quality

Chinese cars have come a long way in recent years and the Omoda 5 has caught up with Korean, Japanese and European SUVs when it comes to quality.

The interior features lots of soft-touch materials and the design itself feels very premium, though the Omoda’s cabin doesn’t feel built to last, and the door closing doesn’t give a reassuring thud.

Practicality & boot space:

Interior space

Space isn’t too bad for occupants up in the front, and despite the sloping roofline, room isn’t at a premium for rear-seat passengers.

A middle-seat passenger will find it cramped due to the narrow seat and small transmission tunnel, but that’s a similar issue with a lot of the 5’s rivals.

Boot space

The 5 packs a 370-litre boot capacity, which is only average for a car in this class, with the Hyundai Tucson providing 620 litres and the Nissan Qashqai has 455 litres.

The rear seats fold down to transform the 370 litres into just over 1,000 litres, which makes it one of the smallest boot capacities in its class. Furthermore, there’s no clever false floor for any other additional storage.

Versatility

There are plenty of cubby holes dotted about the cabin in the 5 with front-seat passengers receiving large door bins, a massive cut-out under the floating centre console, a glove box and storage under the centre armrest.

Driving:

Driving experience

The Omoda 5 lacks the finesse of some of its rivals when it comes to the driving experience.

The steering is vague, while the car leans in the corners, making it feel nervous at speeds. The car’s poor ride setup also makes it pitch and dive under braking, and the chassis doesn’t feel as though it’s been set up for British roads.

Put your foot down, and the petrol engine roars into life, with the soundtrack being noisy and uncouth.

Performance

You can get the 5 with a pure petrol engine, which develops 145bhp and 275Nm of torque, which can take the car to 60mph in 9.9 seconds and will reach a top speed of 121mph.

There has just been the addition of a regular hybrid model that’s been added to the range too, producing 221bhp and 295Nm of torque, while it can accelerate from 0-60mph in 7.7 seconds and will top out at 108mph.

Running costs:

Fuel economy & CO2 emissions

Running costs should be kept to a minimum with the entry-level petrol model averaging a claimed 31mpg and emitting 170g/km of CO2, putting it at a fixed tax rate of £195 a year in road tax.

The fuel-saving hybrid model is even more efficient, managing a claimed fuel economy figure of up to 53mpg on the combined cycle and pumps out 120g/km of CO2.

Value for money

Value for money is where the Omoda 5 begins to surge ahead of the competition, as it’s one of the cheapest cars in its class.

All models come with a bucket load of kit as standard, including dual 12.25-inch infotainment displays, a reversing camera, a wireless smartphone charger and a six-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat.

Prices when new start at £23,990, which is nearly £7,000 less than the most basic Kia Sportage.

Meanwhile, second-hand prices are even more affordable with a 2025 model on the used market for just £18,290.

Reliability & warranty

Omoda is too new as a brand to be featured in the JD Power customer satisfaction survey; however, there are several owners forums which suggest that build quality is showing its weaknesses with loose trim, fluid leaks, condensation in taillights and poor interior trim finish.

All Omoda 5s come with the firm’s seven-year or 100,000-mile warranty, which matches rivals such as the Kia Sportage when it comes to customer peace of mind.

Safety:

Safety features

In terms of safety, the Omoda 5 scored the maximum five-star Euro NCAP safety rating and was awarded both 87 per cent for adult and child occupant safety.

All models come with a lot of driver safety assist systems such as lane departure warning, traffic sign recognition, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a driver monitoring system and rear cross traffic alert.

Trims & engines:

Whether you’re looking at a new or used Omoda 5, there are just three trim levels in total to keep things simple.

Trim levels

• Comfort: The entry-level model is fitted with an abundance of kit such as LED headlights, power-folding door mirrors, keyless entry and front and rear parking sensors.
• Knight: The entry-level model from a recent update, which includes dual 12.25-inch screens, an electrically adjustable driver’s seat and a reversing camera.
• Noble: The flagship model boasts many extras such as an electric sunroof, a Sony eight-speaker premium audio system and a powered tailgate.

Engines

The petrol-powered Omoda 5 comes fitted with a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine that develops 145bhp and 275Nm of torque.

The new hybrid variant is equipped with a smaller 1.5-litre turbocharged unit with an electric motor to make 221bhp and 295Nm of torque.

All models are hooked up to an automatic transmission with no manual option available at this stage.