INNOVATION, at its simplest form, is simply taking what already works and giving it a new life.
That seems to be Chery Malaysia's strategy with its trailblazing Omoda 5 model, at least on the surface.
Swapping out the internal combustion engine (ICE) to go full electric isn't much of a shocker in today's climate, with almost all car brands having dabbled in the electric vehicle (EV) scene.
But for the Omoda E5, it feels like an entirely different model.
GREEN CARD
The E5 shares the same body frame as the Omoda 5 sport utility vehicle (SUV), making it possible for a swifter implementation of local assembly plan.
One major difference is the X-front design active grille with a variable adaptive shutter that opens and closes depending on the motor's temperature and model's aerodynamic requirements.
The exterior, inclusive of the new face, comes with LED projector headlamps, 18-inch alloy wheels and puddle lamps.
For the E5, its boasts a 61kWh high-capacity lithium iron phosphate blade battery that delivers 201hp and 340Nm of torque.
The three-in-one flat-wire motor is paired with a two-wheel drive (2WD) setup and three leading control systems. This equates to a power consumption of 15.5kwh/100km with a 430km range (WLTP).
The AC charging rate is 9.9kW while it is 80kW for DC charging, allowing it to charge from 30 per cent to 80 per cent in 28 minutes.
The vehicle-to-load (V2L) technology is present in the event that remote powering is required.
The E5's Advanced Driver Assistance System 2.5 (ADAS 2.5) is another high point with 17 functions. They include front collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, multi-collision brake, traffic jam assistant, door open warning, rear cross-traffic braking, integrated cruise assist and rear cross-traffic alert.
The cabin features a dual-tone combination of blue and white-beige as well as black, coupled with the use of high-quality faux leather materials.
The ambience is accompanied by a 24.6-inch curved 2K HD dual-screen, Premium Sony Sound System, dynamic ambient lighting with more than 60 colours to choose from, in-car wireless 50W charger, active cooling system, a central console that is also a cooling storage compartment, and a powered sunroof.
Space is a solid point of the e-SUV. It has a length of 4,420mm, width of 1,830mm and height of 1,588mm, as well as 2,630mm wheelbase. Its boot capacity is 483 litres that comes with powered tailgate access.
The Omoda E5 is available in Aqua Green, Khaki White, Phantom Grey and Dark Black colour options.
It is priced at RM146,800 and comes with a seven-year or 150,000km vehicle warranty, an eight-year or 160,000km battery warranty and an eight-year or 160,000km drive unit warranty that covers the power motor, power motor control unit, power battery management system and the vehicle's control unit.
Chery Malaysia is the first brand to partner with sustainable energy infrastructure solutions provider EVC to provide autocharge services at 474 charging stations nationwide.
The company is also offering a one-to-one exchange if the battery's state of health falls below 70 per cent during the warranty period.
The first 2,000 customers will receive a complimentary wall box charger, V2L charger and charging credits worth RM1,000 at EVC roaming partners.
Maybank is currently offering an all-exclusive 2.08 per cent interest to customers who purchase the E5 during the promotional period (terms and conditions apply).
X SPOT
It is easy to assume that the E5 is merely the electric version of the Omoda 5 at first glance since they share the same body frame.
But depending on taste, the E5 may be the preferred or "neutral" pick if the Omoda 5's diamond-studded grille is too much for you.
The absence of the ICE engine allows carmakers to freely shape the front of a car. It can be highly disappointing when the design falls short or borders on uninteresting.
Even worse is when an EV's charge socket is positioned at the front of the vehicle. Many times, it has felt like the designers had no clue on what to do with this newfound freedom.
But thankfully, it is not so with the E5. This writer wouldn't call it revolutionary but the positioning and design blends it well with the sporty aesthetic.
Drive experience is more localised as well compared to the Omoda 5, especially in the foot pedals. The pedal pressure is what most Malaysians would be accustomed with.
To draw a comparison, the Omoda 5's brakes (at the time of this writer's test) are a lot friendlier to heavy breaking. This means that the pedal needs to be pressed further for the vehicle to come to a full stop. It is a lot more common in Malaysia to have sensitive brakes that react even to the simplest of touch.
The trade for being more heavy on the brakes means less feedback force with sudden braking. Neither is good or bad, merely a matter of characteristic.
Otherwise, depending on your expectations, the E5 is just as competent an EV as any of its rivals.
VERDICT
Neither better nor falling short against its ICE equivalent, the E5 stands as a model with its own identity.
In fact, it shines even more when compared to other brands and their models, instead of being pitted against the Omoda 5.
The E5 is a truly solid EV from Chery Malaysia.