The 5’s biggest rival is undoubtedly the Ford Puma, which has been the UK’s best-seller for three years. Nissan’s Juke also sells in big numbers and, like the Puma, costs several thousand pounds more than the Omoda when specified like-for-like.
While the Omoda currently has robust residual values, fleet-operator confidence in the Ford and Nissan keeps the cost premium narrow, if still slightly higher. The Puma scores with a £330 servicing package over three years – less than half its rivals’. The Juke is the cheapest to insure by around £30 per year. But the Omoda’s inefficient petrol engine returns around 10mpg less than its rivals here, so costs up to £1,500 more to fuel over 30,000 miles.
The Omoda is the cheapest to buy outright, but the Puma is £680 cheaper to lease over three years.
We say:
Upfront cost savings are diminished by the Omoda’s inefficient petrol engine and expensive servicing costs.
Overall Verdict
Beijing has done well to fabricate a veil of value, but pulling it back highlights how choosing Chinese isn’t necessarily the wisest investment in the long term. Despite almost all of China’s entrants boasting a lower sticker price, higher running costs mean only three of the five models here come out less expensive overall when buying outright. If you plan to lease, however, this drops to just two, with a margin of only a few grand.
But the Jaecoo 7 is much cheaper to buy than its rivals, which negates any higher running costs. Yet the BYD Seal is beaten by the Tesla as a cash or a lease option; it costs more to lease than the larger and, at face value, pricier VW ID.7.
All of this showcases how the real costs of car ownership run much deeper than simply the list price or monthly cost. Once you crunch the numbers, you’ll discover the legacy car makers aren’t all that far behind their Chinese rivals and often offer better value. We recommend doing the maths before you buy, because while saving several thousands of pounds is a valid reason to take the risk with a new marque, a difference of a few hundred quid might not be worth the jiggly ride and in some cases, ‘bootleg’ image.
Did you know you can sell your car through Auto Express? We’ll help you get a great price and find a great deal on a new car, too.
