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Growing Chinese brand Chery looks set to add another small SUV to its portfolio in Australia, via its recently-launched sub-brand Omoda Jaecoo and its network of dealers.
Chery's just-launched Omoda Jaecoo marque has revealed its smallest model, the Omoda 4 compact SUV, ahead of a global roll-out in markets such as Australia as soon as next year.
Australian arrival timing is yet to be confirmed, but it is earmarked for other right-hand-drive export markets next year.
Measuring about 4.4 metres long, the Omoda 4 wears sharper styling than any of its Omoda Jaecoo showroom-mates, and sits at the upper end of the 'small SUV' category in terms of size.
LED lights feature front and rear, while the alloy wheels aren't as radically-styled as those on the concept car.
Inside, a large portrait touchscreen dominates the cabin experience, alongside a slim instrument display ahead of the driver, a column-mounted gear selector, and a wireless phone charger with ventilation.
The centre console includes a prominent red engine start button seemingly designed to look like a jet fighter – or a Lamborghini – while there's a mix of leather-look and suede materials used throughout the cabin.
UK media reports point to a full range of powertrains for the Omoda 4, across petrol, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and fully-electric propulsion, depending on where the vehicle is sold.
The vehicle revealed in China this week wears a '225T' badge on its tailgate, similar to the '230T' badge on the Chery C5, formerly the Chery Omoda 5, and sold overseas as the Omoda C5.
It refers to a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, which produces 115kW and 230Nm in overseas models, thus the badge, but only 108kW/210Nm in the C5 in Australia.
An Omoda Jaecoo spokesperson told Drive: "We’re always interested in reviewing the exciting product that may be available in the future, but at this time there are no confirmed plans" for the Omoda 4 or the other vehicles revealed by the brand in China this week.
Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family. Highly Commended - Young Writer of the Year 2024 (Under 30) Rising Star Journalist, 2024 Winner Scoop of The Year - 2024 Winner
