Australians love SUVs, especially the affordable ones.
With that in mind, Chinese challenger brands are competing to beat established rivals on value.
The Chery Omoda 5 And MG ZST Both fit that profile, and the latter is winning the low-cost SUV sales war.
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Chery Omoda 5 -
MG ZST
A total of 11,809 MG ZS (including ZST and ZS EV) were delivered in the first half of 2024, while Chery sold 2,933 Omoda 5.
However, sales figures don’t always tell the whole story and Chery is busy working to expand Omoda 5 squad.
With that in mind, let’s see what makes the mid-range Chery Omoda 5 BX stand out from the flagship MG ZST Essence.
Price
This match-up pits a lower-spec model against a top-spec model, but both the Chery Omoda 5 BX and the top-spec MG ZST Essence are priced similarly.
The MG ZST range starts at $26,990 for the Core and goes up to $31,490 for the Essence.
The Chery Omoda 5 series starts at $27,990 for the new base FX trim and goes up to over $40,000 for the GT AWD trim.
| Model | Driving price |
|---|---|
| 2024 Chery Omoda 5BX | $33,990 |
| MG ZST 2024 Essence | $31,490 |
Powertrain and efficiency
These cars have different powertrain setups, but both have small displacement turbocharged engines.
The Omoda 5 BX is powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 108kW of power and 210Nm of torque, mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT).
Despite having one cylinder less, the 1.3-liter ZST engine still has more power and torque, while emitting less carbon dioxide.
However, you will be forced to fill up the fuel tank more often as the MG is less efficient and has a smaller fuel tank.
| Chery Omoda 5BX | MG ZST Essence | |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 1.5L turbocharged 4-cylinder | 1.3L turbocharged 3-cylinder |
| Power | 108kW | 115kW |
| Torque | 210Nm | 230Nm |
| Transmission process | CVT | 6-speed automatic |
| Drive wheel | Front wheel drive | Front wheel drive |
| Fuel economy (claimed) | 6.9L/100km | 7.1L/100km |
| Fuel tank capacity | 51L | 45L |
| Fuel type | 91 RON | 91 RON |
| CO2 (combined) | 164g/km | 162g/km |
Size
The Chery Omoda 5 is longer, wider and has a lower roofline than the MG ZST, giving the car a more streamlined design.
That also reduces the interior space of the Chery, as the storage space becomes narrower when the seats are folded down.
ZST is 102kg lighter.
| Chery Omoda 5BX | MG ZST Essence | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 4374mm | 4323mm |
| Width | 1830mm | 1809mm |
| Height | 1588mm | 1653mm |
| The standard long | 2610mm | 2585mm |
| Minimum boot space | 360L | 359L |
| Maximum trunk space (when rear seats are folded) | 1075L | 1187L |
| Weight (tar weight) | 1393kg | 1295kg |
Maintenance and warranty
Chery Omoda 5 and MG ZST are both supported by Seven year, unlimited mileage warranty.
Both models have similar service intervals, however the MG is more expensive to service in the first seven years of ownership.
MG includes seven years of roadside assistance as part of its after-sales package, while Chery requires owners to service their vehicles at a dealership for assistance for the same period.
| Chery Omoda 5BX | MG ZST Essence | |
|---|---|---|
| Guarantee | 7 years, unlimited km | 7 years, unlimited km |
| Service interval | 12 months or 10,000km | 12 months or 10,000km |
| First service price | $280 | $262 |
| Second service price | $280 | $311 |
| Third service price | $280 | $314 |
| 4th service price | $280 | $439 |
| 5th service price | $280 | $262 |
| Friday service price | $391.04 | $363 |
| Saturday service price | $295.54 | $262 |
| Total first 7 years | $2086.58 | 2213 dollars |
| Average annual service price for the first 7 years | $298.08 | $316.14 |
Safety
Chery Omoda 5 has a Five star safety rating from ANCAP based on testing carried out in 2022.
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Chery Omoda 5 -
MG ZS
ANCAP has yet to crash test the ZST, however the ZS model was crash tested and received a four-star rating in 2017. This rating expires in December 2024.
It’s worth noting that the ZS EV, which comes with the same suite of active safety tech as the ZST, scored a five-star rating when tested in 2019.
Here’s a breakdown of the standard safety equipment on each vehicle:
| Chery Omoda 5BX | MG ZST Essence | |
|---|---|---|
| Air bag | 8 | 6 |
| Automatic emergency braking (AEB) | Correct | Correct |
| Lane keeping assist | Correct | Correct |
| Blind Spot Monitoring | Correct | Correct |
| Adaptive cruise control | Correct | Correct |
| Traffic sign recognition | Correct | Correct |
| Driver monitoring | Correct | ARE NOT |
| Reverse camera | Correct | Correct |
| Surround view camera | ARE NOT | Correct |
| Rear Cross Traffic Alert | Correct | Correct |
| Parking sensors | Correct | Correct |
| parking assist | ARE NOT | ARE NOT |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring | Correct | Correct |
Standard Features
The Chery Omoda 5 is a newer model than the established MG, featuring more technology, but also lacking some of the luxury amenities found on the ZST.
| Chery Omoda 5BX | MG ZST Essence | |
|---|---|---|
| Wheel | 18 inch alloy wheels | 17 inch alloy wheels |
| Spare wheel | Space saving | Space saving |
| Headlight | LEAD TO | LEAD TO |
| Fog lights | Correct | Correct |
| Windshield wiper | Rain sensor | Rain sensor |
| Rearview mirror | Electric folding | Handmade |
| Sunroof | ARE NOT | Panoramic sunroof |
| Back door | Handmade | Powered by |
Omoda 5 BX and ZST Essence have many differences in external specifications, both vehicles possess unique features.
Chery equips the Omoda 5 BX with electrically adjustable, electrically folding side mirrors and 18-inch alloy wheels as standard, both of which are upgrades over the ZST.
However, the MG comes standard with a panoramic sunroof and electric tailgate.
| Chery Omoda 5BX | MG ZST Essence | |
|---|---|---|
| Furniture | Parchment | Parchment |
| Front seat | 6-way power adjustment | 6-way power adjustment, heated |
| Back seat | Rear center armrest with cup holder | No handrails |
| Steering wheel | Leatherette cover | Leather cover |
| Gear shift lever | ARE NOT | Correct |
| Rearview mirror | Frameless with auto dimming function | Standard |
| Climate control | Two regions | Two regions |
The MG features plush front seats, heated seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with integrated paddle shifters.
All of these features are absent in the Omoda 5, but Chery better caters to second-row passengers with a center armrest with cupholders.
Both cars come with power-adjustable leather front seats as standard.
| Chery Omoda 5BX | MG ZST Essence | |
|---|---|---|
| The instrument cluster | 10.25 inch digital | Digital instrument cluster |
| Head-up display | ARE NOT | ARE NOT |
| Infotainment | 10.25 inch touch screen | 10.1 inch touch screen |
| Satellite positioning | ARE NOT | Correct |
| Smartphone Mirroring | Wired and Wireless Apple CarPlay Wired and Wireless Android Auto |
Wired Apple CarPlay Wired Android Auto |
| Phone charger | Wireless | Only wire |
| USB | 3 x USB-A sockets, 1 x USB-C socket | 5 USB-A sockets |
| Sound system | Sony 8-speaker sound system | Sound system 6 speakers |
| Key | Keyless entry and push button start | Keyless entry and push button start |
The Omoda 5 is better equipped technologically, with connectivity advantages including wireless smartphone mirroring and wireless phone charging.
Additionally, the product also features a USB-C socket, which is becoming the most popular connection type for modern mobile devices.
The Chery’s eight-speaker sound system also outperforms the MG’s six-speaker system.
Only the ZST offers built-in satellite navigation, the value of which depends on whether you want to be guided by a phone navigation app.
Which cheap Chinese SUV would you choose? Or is there a more appealing option?
THAN: Buy Chery Omoda 5
THAN: Everything Chery Omoda 5
THAN: Buy MG ZST
THAN: Everything MG ZST
