There’s been a slew of electrical car previews and launches over the previous few months, and the most recent is the arrival of the Chery Omoda E5. Launched final week, the zero-emission model of the favored Omoda 5 is taking part in within the decrease reaches of the electrical SUV market, and there’s no prizes for guessing its greatest rival.
Certainly, the Omoda E5 is gunning straight for the BYD Atto 3, coming with a gorgeous value and a few spectacular specs. However Chery and BYD aren’t alone on this phase, as MG can be throwing its hat within the ring with the forthcoming ZS EV. Three value-driven EVs, every with its personal strengths and weak spot – learn on to see how these vehicles stack up.
Value – ZS EV might be cheaper, Omoda E5 offers better worth
There’s a really particular order to the pricing of those vehicles, and the title of most cost-effective electrical SUV in Malaysia should go to the ZS EV. It hasn’t been launched but, however MG’s estimated pricing of RM129,000 places it in a singular place, though – as you’ll discover out quickly sufficient – the low, low value does include a fair proportion of tradeoffs.
But when it’s worth for cash you’re in search of, then the Omoda E5 has slightly stolen the march from the Atto 3. Retailing at RM146,800, the Chery is a number of thousand ringgit cheaper than the BYD in Normal Vary kind (RM149,800) – and that’s earlier than you realise its specs are nearer to the Atto 3 Prolonged Vary (RM167,800). That’s an enormous distinction, whichever approach you slice it.
Thoughts you, BYD has since responded by providing a large RM20,000 rebate for 2023 mannequin yr Atto 3s, now ranging from simply RM129,800. That very same rebate would put the Prolonged Vary mannequin proper throughout the Omoda E5’s ballpark. Listed here are the costs of all 4 out there fashions, sorted by value (all on-the-road with out insurance coverage):
- MG ZS EV – RM129,000 (estimated)
- Chery Omoda E5 – RM146,800
- BYD Atto 3 Normal Vary – RM149,800
- BYD Atto 3 Prolonged Vary – RM167,800
Dimensions – ZS EV smallest, Atto 3 most sensible, with devoted EV platform
Being in a unique value bracket, it’s no shock that the ZS EV can be smaller than the opposite two right here, being labeled as a B-segment slightly than a C-segment SUV. In opposition to the measuring tape, the MG is round 100 mm shorter and its wheelbase can be comfortably the smallest of the three. And sure, it makes use of torsion beam rear suspension as a substitute of the multi-links employed by the Chery and BYD.
The extra compact dimensions will seemingly end in a smaller cabin, particularly on the again the place the Atto 3 is especially spacious due to having by far the longest wheelbase of all of them. That’s the results of it being constructed on a bespoke EV platform, whereas the others had been designed to suit petrol engines too.
However the ZS EV doesn’t have the smallest boot – in reality, it has the most important right here, at 470 litres. The Atto 3 is subsequent with a 440-litre boot, however the wood spoon goes to the Omoda E5, the boot of which measures a scant 378 litres. It makes up for that by being the one one with a entrance boot.
Efficiency and vary – Omoda 5 is the no-brainer
The Omoda E5’s true worth proposition reveals itself once you have a look at the specs, the place you’ll discover putting similarities with the Atto 3 Prolonged Vary. It makes the identical quantity of energy and barely extra torque, and it additionally has a similarly-sized 61 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery – additionally made by BYD, so one would assume it’s the identical pack – because the Atto 3 ER variant. The Chery manages to eke out marginally extra vary (430 km versus 420 km on the WLTP cycle).
Subsequent to the Chery, the MG’s specs look decidedly subpar. It has decrease outputs and will get from zero to 100 km/h a trite slower consequently, however its Achilles’ heel has received to be its comparatively small 51.1 kWh battery. And though it’s barely bigger than the one within the Atto 3 Normal Vary, the automobile is clearly much less environment friendly, as its vary is a full 25 km shorter – a meagre 320 km.
One quirk of those three vehicles is that all of them include an LFP battery, as a substitute of the extra widespread nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) models. This could imply they’re safer, will last more and assist a better quantity of cost cycles, which means you’ll have the ability to cost them extra often earlier than they degrade. Talking of charging…
Charging – Omoda 5 takes the cake, ZS EV brings up the rear
Electrical autos on the decrease finish of the value spectrum usually can’t assist very quick charging speeds, and these vehicles aren’t any exception. The quickest charging, the Omoda E5 and Atto 3 Prolonged Vary, max out at 80 kW for DC energy, so even these ones take fairly some time to prime up their batteries – 45 minutes from zero to 80% within the case of the BYD.
The Atto 3 Normal Vary’s DC quick charging capability is barely decrease at 70 kWh, however its smaller battery ought to cancel out that drawback. Probably the most disappointing of the lot is the ZS EV, which might muster solely 50 kW, so even charging its small battery from 10 to 80% takes a sluggish 54 minutes. That might be notably pricey at chargers that cost you by time spent.
All of those vehicles assist simply 7 kW single-phase AC charging, with the notable exception of the Omoda E5. It has a 9.9 kW three-phase onboard charger, so you’ll get the utmost charging velocity out there, it doesn’t matter what kind of wallbox you personal.
Sadly, Chery doesn’t quote the AC charging time, however we are able to anticipate it to be barely faster than the Atto 3 Prolonged Vary, which takes 9 hours and 42 minutes for a full cost. As we’ve talked about earlier than, the draw back of an EV with a 7 kW OBC is that the charging velocity is halved to three.5 kW in case you use an 11 kW three-phase charger; you’ll want a 7 kW single-phase or 22 kW three-phase charger to get the total quantity.
Guarantee and upkeep – ZS EV offers longest protection
Chery, MG and BYD all present the longest guarantee protection in Malaysia, however the Omoda E5 and ZS EV provide a slight benefit on this regard, with a seven-year/150,000 km car guarantee. The Atto 3 is roofed for six years, however with the identical mileage cap.
The battery guarantee, in the meantime, is eight years throughout the board, however the MG takes the lead in relation to the mileage cap – 180,000 km versus 160,000 km for Chery and BYD. The latter additionally has a shorter eight-year/150,000 km guarantee for the drive unit, inclusive of the motor.
One huge draw for the Omoda E5 is that Chery provides a one-to-one alternative for the battery if its state of well being drops under 70% whereas the automobile continues to be underneath guarantee, no questions requested. It ought to be famous, nevertheless, that the BYD additionally has such a provision for a alternative battery (additionally with a state of well being threshold of 70%) in its proprietor’s handbook.
As for upkeep prices, not one of the firms present any service schedules or costs, though Chery does suggest a brake fluid service each 24 months or 40,000 km for the petrol-powered Omoda 5. Nevertheless, BYD does provide varied service packages to maintain you in its after-sales community all through the period of your possession.
These embrace a Normal package deal that consists of the single-speed transmission oil servicing, air-con filter replacements and refrigerant servicing, brake fluid servicing and motor coolant servicing. That is priced at RM1,688 for 3 years, RM3,888 for six years and RM4,888 for eight years.
Alternatively, you should buy a Plus package deal that throws in replacements for wipers, washer fluid, distant management and 12V batteries, and brake pads and discs. That is fairly pricey, weighing in RM7,888 for six years and RM12,888 for eight years.
What else?
As you may think about, all vehicles on this checklist present loads of package on your cash. You get LED headlights, keyless entry, computerized air-con (single-zone for the MG, dual-zone for the remainder), a powered driver’s seat, fake leather-based upholstery, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, a Qi wi-fi charger, a 360-degree digicam system, six airbags and a full complement of driver assists that embrace adaptive cruise management and lane centring help.
Being a B-segment automobile, the ZS EV does lose out on a number of options, equivalent to a powered passenger seat and a powered tailgate; it additionally solely has 4 audio system, which appears somewhat imply when the Omoda E5 has eight Sony-branded ones. On the flip facet, it and the Atto 3 have a panoramic glass roof with a powered sunshade, whereas the Omoda E5 has a daily sunroof with a handbook shade.
By way of infotainment, the BYD takes the cake with its novel 12.8-inch rotating touchscreen, though the Chery’s fastened 12.3-inch show is hardly any smaller and the MG’s 10.1-inch show continues to be of an honest measurement. Higher but, the Chery and MG’s 12.3-inch digital instrument shows dwarf the BYD’s tiny five-inch readout.
Wish to understand how these vehicles drive? We’ve got but to pattern the MG ZS EV, however you may try Hafriz’s opinions of the Chery Omoda E5 and BYD Atto 3.
GALLERY: Chery Omoda E5 in Malaysia
GALLERY: MG ZS EV in Malaysia
GALLERY: BYD Atto 3 Prolonged Vary in Malaysia
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