This was my first leased car, and I am genuinely counting down the days until the two years are over. If I had bought this outright, I would be furious.
The OMODA E5 was sold on a 270-mile range. In the real world, that figure is nowhere near reality. Within a month, the displayed range dropped to around 160 miles on a full charge — and it doesn’t even achieve that in practice. I have effectively lost close to 50% of the advertised driving mileage. That is not a small discrepancy. That is a massive gap between marketing and reality.
My efficiency dropped from roughly 3.5 miles per kWh to about 2.6 miles per kWh in just one month on a brand-new vehicle. You spend more time watching the battery percentage than enjoying the drive.
After speaking to other EV drivers, I’ve heard similar complaints. It’s clearly not just this model. Other EVs may lose slightly less range, but the issue of inflated, unrealistic advertised mileage seems widespread. Cold weather, heating, motorway speeds — the range collapses. The brochure numbers simply do not reflect daily UK use.
Yes, the car looks modern and drives smoothly enough in a straight line. But that’s about it.
The grip is poor. I previously had a much cheaper car and it had noticeably better road holding and confidence. For a new SUV, that’s embarrassing. The tyre grip in particular feels weak — I can only assume the tyre quality is part of the problem. It does not inspire confidence.
The driver assistance systems are relentless. Before you even set off, you have to deactivate half the sensors through the system, otherwise it’s constant beeping and warnings. It’s intrusive and distracting. Instead of improving safety, it feels like a continuous annoyance and, at times, a distraction while driving.
The interior is another issue. The car is constantly damp inside and the windows fog up from the inside. I’ve never had this problem with any other vehicle I’ve owned. There’s no clear reason for it, but it’s frustrating and not what you expect from a new car.
The wing mirrors are also poorly executed. They auto-fold when parked, but after a few cycles they end up out of alignment and require constant readjustment. It’s basic functionality that shouldn’t be this inconsistent.
Overall, this has been a disappointing experience. The advertised range does not reflect reality, the grip is underwhelming, the interior has moisture issues, the mirrors constantly shift, and the electronic warnings are more irritating than helpful.
If I had the choice again, I would take a petrol SUV without hesitation. At least with petrol, the range is predictable and honest. Based on my experience, I would strongly advise anyone considering this car — or moving to electric without fully understanding real-world limitations — to think very carefully before committing.
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