Chery's affordable EV updated in Australia

Chery's affordable electric SUV has been given a vital upgrade in Australia.. Chery has announced its E5 small SUV will introduce a range of changes as part of its 2027 model year update.. The E5 tackles other budget-friendly electric SUV choices the BYD Atto 3 and the sales-surging Jaecoo J5..

The car will be shown off for the first time in Australia on September 18, 2026 at the Everything Electric event in Sydney.. The new E5 will offer the same performance as its outgoing model, using a single electric motor that produces 155kW and 288Nm.. It's equipped with a 59kWh battery, offering a driving range of up to 430km, according to WLTP standards.  Inside, the E5 now boasts a 15.6-inch central touchscreen compared to the dual 12.3-inch touchscreen and driver display set-up on previous examples.  It retains an eight-speaker audio system as well as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard.  Front seats feature four-way power lumbar support and seat ventilation, while the driver seat has massage functionality.  The car comes as standard with an auto-dimming mirror..

From the outside, there is now an electrically-operated charging port cover, and active grille shutter, while the car continuing to ride on 18-inch wheels.  While there is no official showroom arrival date for the updated E5 yet, it is expected to be available in the fourth quarter of 2026.. Chery said official pricing will be announced closer to the car's local arrival, however, the current E5 line-up underwent a reshuffle earlier in 2026.. In April 2026, Chery ditched the entry level variant of the E5, and cut the price of the remaining single variant down from $40,990, before on-road costs to $37,990, drive-away..

Buyers can expect the E5 will remain pricier than its petrol- and hybrid-powered C5 siblings, starting from $28,990 and $31,990 (drive-away), respectively.. It will need to be competitive with the the BYD Atto 3, starting from $41,990, before on-road costs and Jaecoo J5 EV that starts from $36,990, drive-away..