The Chery E5 is the battery-electric member of Chery Australia’s small-SUV line-up, offering a familiar five-seat crossover format without a petrol engine. The current MY26 range is focused on the E5 Ultimate, which Chery Australia has confirmed as the only MY26 variant. Power is sent to the front wheels by a 155kW electric motor, and the official Australian model page lists up to 430km of range on the WLTP test cycle. Chery also quotes 0-100km/h acceleration in 7.6 seconds, so performance is brisk enough for everyday urban and highway driving without trying to position the E5 as a high-performance EV. As with every electric vehicle, actual range will change with speed, temperature, terrain, traffic, tyre pressures, cabin climate use and driving style.

Charging hardware is designed around Australian public and home-charging standards. The E5 uses a Type 2 AC connection and CCS2 DC charging, with Chery quoting an 80kW DC charge from 30 to 80 per cent in about 28 minutes under suitable conditions. That peak DC rate is useful for occasional road trips, although it is modest compared with some newer EVs that can accept substantially higher charging power. Buyers who do most charging overnight at home may care less about the DC figure, but anyone planning frequent interstate travel should compare charging curves and network availability. Chery also notes that a portable EV trickle-charging cable is not included with the vehicle, so new owners should confirm what charging equipment they need before delivery.

The E5 is 4,424mm long, 1,830mm wide and 1,588mm high with a 2,610mm wheelbase, placing it firmly in the small-SUV category while providing a useful cabin footprint. One particularly practical feature for Australian conditions is the full-size spare wheel, something that is far from universal in the EV market. The current Ultimate specification also brings a power tailgate and power sunroof, along with heated front and rear seats, a heated steering wheel, ambient lighting, a 50W wireless phone charger and an eight-speaker Sony sound system. Dual 12.3-inch screens handle driver information and infotainment, while the Hello Chery voice-control system can operate selected functions without requiring the driver to reach for the touchscreen.

Safety equipment includes seven airbags and a suite of driver-assistance systems. Chery lists autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, traffic-jam assist, lane-departure prevention, emergency lane keeping, blind-spot detection, lane-change assist and rear cross-traffic alert among the available systems. These technologies can reduce workload and provide useful warnings, but the driver remains responsible for controlling the vehicle. The E5’s front-wheel-drive layout is simple and efficient, although there is no AWD option in the current Australian range. Buyers in regional areas or those who regularly travel on loose surfaces should consider whether that matters for their use.

As an ownership proposition, the Chery E5 makes sense for buyers who can charge conveniently and want to replace fuel-station visits with home or workplace charging. Its 430km WLTP figure gives it enough official range for most weekly urban routines without daily charging, while the compact SUV body, five-seat cabin and full-size spare make it feel conventional in the areas that matter day to day. The main trade-offs are that the MY26 line-up offers only one grade, the 80kW DC peak is not class-leading and long-distance range still depends on charging infrastructure and conditions. For Australian shoppers comparing affordable electric SUVs, the E5 deserves attention for its equipment level, straightforward packaging and practical range rather than for headline charging speed or all-wheel-drive capability.