New cut-price hybrid SUV confirmed! 2026 Chery C5 Hybrid coming for Hyundai Kona Hybrid, Nissan Qashqai e-Power and Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid

This news follows confirmation the car will also be offered in the UK, marketed as the Omoda 5 SHS-H, from March this year.

Powered by a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine working in concert with a single electric motor the newcomer sends a combined 150kW to the front wheels through a ‘Dedicated Hybrid Transmission’ (DHT).

The combination of a 1.83kWh battery and 51-litre fuel tank delivers a claimed driving range in excess of 1000km thanks to combined cycle (urban/extra-urban) fuel economy figure of 4.4L/100km (WLTP).

Claimed 0-100km/h acceleration is a sharp 7.9 seconds and cosmetic changes include an all-new front grille and bumper and fresh alloy wheel designs.

Local pricing and specification is yet to be confirmed but it will be offered in two grades in the UK - Knight and Noble — with pricing starting from the equivalent of around $50,800, drive-away, rising to $57,700 d/a. Expect it to be much cheaper in Australia due to reduced export cost thanks to our proximity to China, and the UK's historically high new car prices.

The entry-level spec for that market includes 18-inch alloy wheels, full LED lighting, dual 12.3-inch digital displays, wireless  Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, intelligent voice control and a full suite of advanced driver assistance and safety systems.

The flagship model adds a surround-view camera, eight-speaker Sony audio, ambient interior lighting, heated and ventilated front seats and more.

The new hybrid variant will join the existing pure-combustion Chery C5 and pure-electric E5 to set up a three-pronged attack against the hotly contested small SUV segment.

The new model will be competing with the Nissan Qashqai e-Power (from $47,165, BOC), Hyundai Kona Hybrid ($36,950) and Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid (from $37,440).