DESIGN & STYLING
The Omoda E5 has an inoffensive design that blends in with the crowd of other crossovers on the market. While it looks sleek and modern, it also lacks a unique identity, borrowing styling cues from various car brands. Its size is comparable to the Nissan Qashqai, and it competes with similar family cars like the Nissan Juke. The overall appearance is smart, but some trim elements can look tacky, and the touch-sensitive buttons on the steering wheel can be difficult to see in certain lighting conditions. The Omoda E5 does have a full-size spare tire, which is a welcome feature, and it offers plenty of equipment.
INTERIOR FEATURES
The Omoda E5 aims for a more upmarket feel, taking inspiration from Hyundai and Kia. However, there are some details that come across as tacky, such as the chrome speaker covers and wave pattern on the plastic trim. On the positive side, the car features a double wireless phone charging pad with a cooling vent to prevent overheating. There are also convenient screen brightness controls next to the steering wheel and a large 12.3-inch touchscreen display on the dashboard. Although the touchscreen software may feel slightly dated compared to competitors, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard. Rear passenger space is adequate, but headroom is slightly limited and foot space is minimal. The boot has a claimed capacity of 292 liters, which may not be impressive for a family crossover but should still accommodate a decent amount of luggage. Additionally, there is a small frunk for storage.
PERFORMANCE
The Omoda E5 is a front-wheel drive vehicle with a 201bhp motor on the front axle. With a kerbweight of 1710kg, it offers decent acceleration and refinement. It achieves a 0-62mph time of 7.6 seconds without excessive tire scrabbling or torque steer. The car is generally smooth and easy to drive, delivering punchy performance when needed. However, the brake regeneration pedal response can be jerky, and there is no regeneration control on the steering wheel. The Omoda E5 also lacks an intuitive one-pedal mode and adaptive settings.
RIDE & HANDLING
The Omoda E5 delivers confident handling and reasonable refinement. Its higher clearance gives it an SUV-like feel, resulting in noticeable body lean during cornering. The steering is very light, which may feel disconnected in the default mode, but Sport mode provides more weight. The low-speed ride can be a bit lumpy and busy on rough roads but smoothes out at higher speeds. Overall, the driving experience is satisfactory, without any standout brilliance or major flaws.
RANGE & CHARGING
The Omoda E5 uses BYD’s ‘Blade’ lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, with a total capacity of 61.4kWh and a usable capacity of 60.4kWh. This setup, combined with the 201bhp electric motor, provides a WLTP range of 257 miles. During a brief test drive, the car demonstrated a real-world range of 228 miles, even on predominantly faster roads. Charging speeds of up to 80kW allow for a 10-80% charge in approximately 40 minutes at a rapid charger.
CONCLUSION
The Omoda E5 offers great value for money and adequate driving dynamics, making it a formidable competitor to the MG4. Despite some shortcomings like the fiddly touchscreen interface and busy low-speed ride, the Omoda E5’s attractive pricing and generous equipment make it a strong contender in the budget electric car segment. With its reasonable range and comfortable driving experience, it has the potential to challenge MG for the title of the best affordable electric car.