While the old Chery Omoda 5 definitely had people talking, not all of that talk was positive. Sure, it looked fantastic, came packed with features, and offered plenty of showroom appeal for the money, but once the honeymoon period wore off, some cracks started to show.
It was one of those cars that made a brilliant first impression, but didn’t always leave the strongest second one, and that’s why this new Chery O5 matters.
This isn’t just a simple name change or a light cosmetic refresh. Yes, the Omoda 5 is now called the O5, but more importantly, Chery has actually gone back and improved the bits that needed improving.
There’s a new transmission, a new rear suspension setup, some small but meaningful refinements, and overall, the O5 now feels like a far more complete product than the one it replaces.
That alone makes this one worth taking seriously. So, is the 2026 Chery O5 finally good enough to stand toe-to-toe with segment heavyweights like the Proton X50 and Honda HR-V? After spending time with it, the answer is yes — but not without a few caveats.
Design
Let’s start with what the Chery O5 still does best, which is looking somewhat more expensive than its actual price tag of RM116,900.
Even in 2026, this remains one of the best-looking compact SUVs you can buy in Malaysia if your priorities include style, presence, and making your neighbours slightly uncomfortable with their life choices.
The O5 has always looked like a concept car that somehow made it into production mostly intact. The sharp front end, aggressive grille design, slim lighting signature, dramatic body creases, floating roof effect, and coupe-ish silhouette all come together to give it an undeniably youthful and premium vibe.
Love it or hate it, you cannot accuse it of being boring. And in a market where many B-segment SUVs still look like they were designed by committee during a lunch break, the Chery O5 at least has a bit of personality.
That’s important because design still sells, especially in this segment. A lot of buyers shopping for a crossover in the RM100k to RM130k range aren’t just looking for transport.
They want something that feels aspirational, something that looks modern, and something that doesn’t feel like a compromise every time they walk up to it in a parking lot. The Chery O5 absolutely delivers on that front.
Interior
Step inside and the same story continues. The cabin is still one of the strongest reasons to consider this car. It looks clean, futuristic, and far more premium than many people would expect at this price point.
The dashboard design is modern, the dual-screen setup gives it a high-tech feel, and the sporty centre console helps the cabin feel a little more special than your average compact SUV. More importantly, it doesn’t just look good in brochure photos. It actually feels quite pleasant to sit in too.
This is also where Chery’s “give them everything” approach continues to work in its favour. The O5 comes with just about every feature Malaysians love to brag about at mamak sessions.
Wireless charging, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, powered seats, ventilated front seats, a 360-degree camera, dual-zone air-conditioning, ambient lighting, a powered tailgate, and a Sony sound system are all part of the package depending on variant.
And honestly, at this price point, it’s hard not to be impressed. Because while some rivals still make you pay extra for what should already be standard equipment in 2026, the Chery O5 pretty much turns up to the fight with everything already loaded.
That said, the cabin isn’t flawless. While the design and equipment list are strong, the overall execution still isn’t quite class-leading. Some materials feel better at first glance than they do at first touch, and while the infotainment system is functional enough, it still doesn’t feel as polished or intuitive as the best systems from more established brands.
It’s not a deal-breaker, but it is one of those things you notice after the novelty wears off. Still, if your buying decision starts with “I want something that feels expensive without actually being expensive”, the O5 makes a very strong case for itself.
Driving it
The biggest story here isn’t how the O5 looks or what features it has. It’s how much better it drives and that is exactly where the old car needed the most work. Under the bonnet, the 2026 Chery O5 still uses a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, producing 156 PS and 230 Nm of torque.
On paper, those numbers are respectable enough for the segment, and in daily driving, there’s more than enough performance here for the average Malaysian driver.
You won’t be winning drag races, but you won’t be left wanting either. The bigger difference this time is the gearbox. Gone is the old CVT, and in its place is a 6-speed dual-clutch transmission. And just like that, the O5 immediately feels more awake, more responsive, and far more in tune with the sporty image it has always tried to project.
While the old Omoda 5 had decent power, it often felt like the drivetrain was filtering out too much of the experience. It could feel a little rubbery, a little disconnected, and at times, a little too relaxed for a car that looked this eager. The new O5 doesn’t have that problem.
Throttle response feels sharper, acceleration feels more direct, and the car now reacts with a lot more urgency when you put your foot down. It feels more natural in urban driving, more confident during overtakes, and generally more pleasant to live with on a daily basis.
Yes, like most dual-clutch gearboxes, it can still feel slightly hesitant at very low speeds in heavy traffic, but overall, it’s still a major upgrade over the old setup. This is exactly the kind of change the car needed.
And then we get to the real game changer — the suspension. The previous Omoda 5 was never a terrible car to drive, but it wasn’t exactly the last word in composure either. It looked sporty, but sometimes felt a bit too busy and unsettled underneath, especially on rougher roads.
For 2026, Chery has fitted the O5 with a new multi-link rear suspension setup, replacing the older torsion beam arrangement and yes, you can feel the difference.
No, this isn’t one of those “you need to be a car nerd to notice it” upgrades. This is one of those changes even regular buyers will appreciate almost immediately. The ride is now more settled, more composed, and noticeably more mature than before.
Over potholes, broken tarmac, speed humps, and the kind of road surfaces Malaysians have unfortunately become emotionally attached to, the O5 now handles itself with much more confidence. It no longer feels quite as jittery or busy as before, and there’s a greater sense of polish to the way it moves down the road.
That matters a lot more than people think because when you buy a crossover like this, you’re not just buying it for the school run or your daily commute. You’re also buying it for balik kampung trips, long-distance drives, shopping mall parking ramps, weekend getaways, and the occasional panic lane change when someone decides their indicator is optional.
It’s still tuned more for comfort than outright sportiness, which is exactly how it should be. The steering isn’t especially talkative, and if you’re expecting Mazda CX-30 levels of driver engagement, you’re looking in the wrong showroom but that’s not what this car is trying to be.
What the Chery O5 now does well is offer a driving experience that finally matches its visual confidence. It no longer feels like a stylish shell hiding unfinished fundamentals. It now feels properly sorted and that’s a huge compliment.
As for practicality, the O5 does enough to satisfy most urban households. Front seat comfort is good, visibility is decent once you get used to the design, and the ventilated seats are genuinely useful in our weather, not just a brochure gimmick.
The rear seats offer enough room for adults to survive without filing complaints, and while it may not be the most spacious car in its class, it should still be more than adequate for young families, couples, or first-time SUV buyers. Boot space is usable too, which means grocery runs, airport pickups, strollers, gym bags, and impulsive IKEA purchases shouldn’t be much of a problem.
Safety is another area where the Chery O5 continues to score highly. Like many Chinese rivals today, Chery understands that buyers in this segment now expect a full suite of active safety systems, and the O5 doesn’t disappoint.
Adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, and a long list of driver assistance features are all included, and that makes this car very difficult to dismiss purely on value.
Because when you put everything together — the styling, the features, the improved drivetrain, the upgraded ride quality, and the amount of safety tech you get, the Chery O5 starts to feel like one of the more convincing value-for-money options in its class.
But there are still a few question marks. Long-term reliability and ownership confidence will still be on some buyers’ minds, especially in a market where resale value and aftersales support still matter a lot.
The infotainment experience could be slicker, and while the overall polish has improved significantly, it still isn’t quite at the same level as the most refined Japanese alternatives, and of course, brand trust still plays a big role in Malaysia.
For many buyers, especially those spending over RM100,000, peace of mind still carries just as much weight as features and styling. That’s where brands like Honda and Toyota continue to hold an advantage.
But here’s the thing. The 2026 Chery O5 no longer feels like a car you buy only because it looks funky and comes with loads of toys. It now feels like a car you can buy because it has actually become better where it matters most.
So, should you buy one? If you want the safest, most predictable choice, the Proton X50 and Honda HR-V will still be the default answers for many people.
But if you want something that looks fresher, feels more premium inside, offers a huge amount of kit for the money, and now drives with a lot more maturity than before, the 2026 Chery O5 deserves a place high on your shortlist.
