Australians love SUVs, especially affordable ones.
With that in mind, Chinese challenger brands are fighting to beat established rivals on value.
The Chery Omoda 5 and MG ZST both fit that profile, and the latter is winning the budget SUV sales war.
Chery Omoda 5 
MG ZST
A total of 11,809 examples of the MG ZS (including ZST and ZS EV) were delivered through the first half of 2024, while Chery moved 2933 Omoda 5 models.
Sales figures don’t always tell the full story though, and Chery has been busily working to expand the Omoda 5 lineup.
With that in mind, let’s see how the mid-spec Chery Omoda 5 BX stacks up against the flagship MG ZST Essence.
Pricing
This matchup pits a lower specification model against a flagship, but both the Chery Omoda 5 BX and top specification MG ZST Essence share similar drive-away prices.
The MG ZST range starts at $26,990 drive-away for the Core, and extends to $31,490 drive-away for the Essence.
The Chery Omoda 5 lineup starts at $27,990 drive-away for the new entry-level FX variant, and extends to more than $40,000 drive-away for the GT AWD.
| Model | Drive-away pricing |
|---|---|
| 2024 Chery Omoda 5 BX | $33,990 |
| 2024 MG ZST Essence | $31,490 |
Drivetrains and efficiency
These cars offer different powertrain setups, but both have small displacement turbocharged engines.
The Omoda 5 BX features a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 108kW and 210Nm, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT).
Despite packing one less cylinder the ZST 1.3-litre boasts more power and torque, while emitting less carbon dioxide.
You’ll be forced to fill up more often though, as the MG is less efficient and has a smaller fuel tank.
| Chery Omoda 5 BX | MG ZST Essence | |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 1.5L turbo 4cyl | 1.3L turbo 3cyl |
| Power | 108kW | 115kW |
| Torque | 210Nm | 230Nm |
| Transmission | CVT | 6-speed auto |
| Driven wheels | Front-wheel drive | Front-wheel drive |
| Fuel economy (claimed) | 6.9L/100km | 7.1L/100km |
| Fuel tank capacity | 51L | 45L |
| Fuel type | 91 RON | 91 RON |
| CO2 (combined) | 164g/km | 162g/km |
Dimensions
The Chery Omoda 5 is longer, wider, and has a lower roof than the MG ZST, giving it a more streamlined design.
That also compromises the interior space of the Chery, which has less cargo room with the seats folded down.
The ZST is 102kg lighter.
| Chery Omoda 5 BX | MG ZST Essence | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 4374mm | 4323mm |
| Width | 1830mm | 1809mm |
| Height | 1588mm | 1653mm |
| Wheelbase | 2610mm | 2585mm |
| Minimum boot space | 360L | 359L |
| Maximum boot space (rear seats folded) | 1075L | 1187L |
| Weight (tare) | 1393kg | 1295kg |
Servicing and warranty
The Chery Omoda 5 and MG ZST are both backed by seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranties.
Both models also share the same service intervals, however the MG is more expensive to maintain over the first seven years of ownership.
MG includes seven years of roadside assist as part of its aftersales package, whereas Chery requires owners to service their car at a dealership to access the same length of support.
| Chery Omoda 5 BX | MG ZST Essence | |
|---|---|---|
| Warranty | 7 years, unlimited kilometres | 7 years, unlimited kilometres |
| Service interval | 12 months or 10,000km | 12 months or 10,000km |
| 1st service price | $280 | $262 |
| 2nd service price | $280 | $311 |
| 3rd service price | $280 | $314 |
| 4th service price | $280 | $439 |
| 5th service price | $280 | $262 |
| 6th service price | $391.04 | $363 |
| 7th service price | $295.54 | $262 |
| Total first 7 years | $2086.58 | $2213 |
| Avg. annual service price first 7 years | $298.08 | $316.14 |
Safety
The Chery Omoda 5 has a five-star safety rating from ANCAP based on testing conducted in 2022.
Chery Omoda 5 
MG ZS
ANCAP has yet to crash test the ZST, however the related ZS was crash-tested and received a four-star rating back in 2017. This rating expires in December 2024.
It’s worth mentioning the ZS EV, which features the same suite of active safety technology as the ZST, scored a five-star rating when it was tested in 2019.
Here’s a breakdown of the standard safety equipment on each car:
| Chery Omoda 5 BX | MG ZST Essence | |
|---|---|---|
| Airbags | 8 | 6 |
| Autonomous emergency braking (AEB) | Yes | Yes |
| Lane-keep assist | Yes | Yes |
| Blind-spot monitoring | Yes | Yes |
| Adaptive cruise control | Yes | Yes |
| Traffic sign recognition | Yes | Yes |
| Driver monitoring | Yes | No |
| Reversing camera | Yes | Yes |
| Surround-view camera | No | Yes |
| Rear cross-traffic alert | Yes | Yes |
| Parking sensors | Yes | Yes |
| Park assist | No | No |
| Tyre pressure monitoring | Yes | Yes |
Standard features
The Chery Omoda 5 is a newer car than the more established MG, bringing more tech to the table, but it also lacks some of the luxuries found in a kitted out ZST.
| Chery Omoda 5 BX | MG ZST Essence | |
|---|---|---|
| Wheels | 18-inch alloy wheels | 17-inch alloy wheels |
| Spare wheel | Space saver | Space saver |
| Headlights | LED | LED |
| Fog lights | Yes | Yes |
| Wipers | Rain-sensing | Rain-sensing |
| Side mirrors | Power-folding | Manual |
| Sunroof | No | Panoramic sunroof |
| Tailgate | Manual | Powered |
The Omoda 5 BX and ZST Essence trade blows on exterior specifications, with both cars boasting unique features.
Chery equips the Omoda 5 BX with power-folding side mirrors and 18-inch alloys as standard, both are upgrades over the ZST.
However, the MG comes as standard with a panoramic sunroof and powered tailgate.
| Chery Omoda 5 BX | MG ZST Essence | |
|---|---|---|
| Upholstery | Leatherette | Leatherette |
| Front seats | 6-way power adjustable | 6-way power-adjustable, heated |
| Rear seats | Rear centre armrest with cupholders | No armrest |
| Steering wheel | Leatherette-wrapped | Leather-wrapped |
| Paddle shifters | No | Yes |
| Rear-view mirror | Frameless with auto dimming | Standard |
| Climate control | Dual-zone | Dual-zone |
The MG is big on front seat luxury, sporting heated seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with paddle shifters.
All are features the Omoda 5 fails to match, but the Chery caters better to second row passengers with a cupholder-laden central armrest.
Both cars come with power-adjustable leatherette front seats as standard.
| Chery Omoda 5 BX | MG ZST Essence | |
|---|---|---|
| Instrument cluster | 10.25-inch digital | Digital instrument cluster |
| Head-up display | No | No |
| Infotainment | 10.25-inch touchscreen | 10.1-inch touchscreen |
| Satellite navigation | No | Yes |
| Smartphone mirroring | Wired and wireless Apple CarPlay Wired and wireless Android Auto | Wired Apple CarPlay Wired Android Auto |
| Phone charging | Wireless | Wired only |
| USB | 3 x USB-A, 1 x USB-C outlets | 5 x USB-A outlets |
| Sound system | 8-speaker Sony sound system | 6-speaker sound system |
| Key | Keyless entry and push-button start | Keyless entry and push-button start |
The Omoda 5 is better equipped from a technology standpoint, with connectivity advantages including wireless smartphone mirroring and wireless phone charging.
It also features a USB-C outlet, which is becoming the most common connection style for modern mobile devices.
Chery’s eight-speaker sound system trumps the MG six-speaker option, too.
Only the ZST offers in-built satellite navigation, the value of which is determined by whether you prefer to be guided by phone-based navigation apps.
Which budget Chinese SUV would you pick? Or is there a more compelling alternative?
MORE: Buy a Chery Omoda 5
MORE: Everything Chery Omoda 5
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MORE: Everything MG ZST
