Chery C5 vs Lexus ES
A detailed look at how two of Australia's most popular cars compare on price, running costs, safety, and everyday livability.
Chery C5 scores higher, 74 vs 73
Prices are RRP before on-road costs unless stated otherwise. Always confirm with the manufacturer or dealer before purchasing.
Data checked: specs 29 Oct 2026, price 11 Nov 2026
Chery C5
12 of 27 standard · no option data · 15 no dataFrom
$27,250
est. RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- SUV
- Fuel type
- Petrol
- Engine
- Petrol
- Power
- 108kW
- Economy
- 6.9 L/100km
- Safety
- ANCAP ★5 · 2022
- Boot (seats up)
- 370L
Top CarSorted Score, 74 vs 73
Chery Australia offer: $28,990 drive-away (state not stated), ends 21 Dec 2026. Terms
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Lexus ES
17 of 27 standard · no option data · 10 no dataFrom
$75,000
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- Sedan
- Fuel type
- Hybrid
- Engine
- Petrol
- Power
- 144kW
- Economy
- 4.5 L/100km
- Safety
- Not rated by ANCAP
- Boot (seats up)
- 493L
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Manufacturer offer
Ends 21 Dec 2026
$28,990 Drive-Away + $2,000 Fuel Card
Manufacturer's terms: Offer ends | 21 December 2026
Offer from Chery Australia, checked 9 Nov 2026
T&Cs apply, as the manufacturer prints them. Eligibility, stock and build limits vary, so confirm the offer with the dealer.
Lexus ES: we're still completing kerb weight, torque, 0-100km/h, ground clearance and turning circle, plus 1 other.
A blank cell below means we don't have that figure, not that the car scores badly on it. We leave them empty rather than estimate, so any row where one car is blank isn't a like-for-like comparison yet.
$27,250est. RRP
- no option data for this car
$75,000RRP
- no option data for this car
Printed option prices only. A pack is counted once and makes the figure a floor when it carries no printed price. Nothing is inferred from the other car.
Price and cost per week
Chery C5 Urban
$27,250
Estimated RRP (the brand lists drive-away prices only), before on-road costs. Checked 11 Nov 2026
$29,990 drive-away in VIC, as published by Chery Australia
About $116 a week in repayments ($29,990 drive-away; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.). An estimate, not a loan offer.
Lexus ES ES 300h Luxury
$75,000
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 29 Oct 2026
No published drive-away price on our record.
About $324 a week in repayments ($75,000 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.). An estimate, not a loan offer.
On-road costs (stamp duty, registration, CTP and dealer delivery) depend on your state and the dealer; ask for a written drive-away price before you sign.
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Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Finance
From ≈$116/wk(≈$501/mo)
Estimate on the Chery C5 at $29,990 drive-away; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
Compare real car-loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Novated lease
Paid from pre-tax salary with the running costs inside the lease. What it comes to depends on your salary and the term.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the Chery C5Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link. Opens apply.driva.com.au in a new tab.
Safety Rundown
ANCAP's published record does not give the Lexus ES a rating. With no pair of ratings to compare, the active-safety features in the spec table above are the fairer comparison.
Driver assistance, as the manufacturer lists it
Driver assistance, system by system. We can confirm 4 of 10 key systems on the Chery C5 and 4 on the Lexus ES.
Swipe across. Tap a feature to see what it does and each car's source.
StandardOptional: printed price, +pack or NCO (no-cost)No, not offeredNo dataCounts beside each car use the same colours; ? is no option data.
From each manufacturer's Australian equipment list. No data means that car's document does not say. The drawings are our own illustrations of how each kind of system works.
Recalls on our record
Chery C5
None open on our record
Lexus ES
- REC-005374 · published 6 Apr 2020The fuel pump on affected vehicles may stop operating.Year range on the notice: 2013 - 2019
- REC-005366 · published 31 Jul 2019Some brake booster pumps may be manufactured improperly, and may cause the brake assist function to stop operating while driving.Year range on the notice: 2019
A recall covers the builds its notice lists, not every car of a model. Check your VIN at vehiclerecalls.gov.au.
Feature Showdown
The Chery C5 features a 10.3-inch touchscreen paired with a 10.3-inch digital dash, while the Lexus ES gets a 14-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.
The Chery C5 stands out with Apple CarPlay — features our data doesn't list for the Lexus ES. The Lexus ES counters with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, panoramic roof, heated front seats, power tailgate and ambient lighting. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.
Interior trim differs: the Chery C5 gets synthetic leather upholstery while the Lexus ES offers nulux (synthetic leather). Climate control is 1-zone in the Chery C5 and 2-zone in the Lexus ES.
Equipment few rivals have, on either carShowHide
Drivetrain
The Chery C5 uses a Petrol producing 108kW and 210Nm of torque, sent through a 6-speed dual clutch to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 8.5 seconds.
The Lexus ES responds with a Petrol making 144kW, paired to a cvt driving the front wheels.
The Lexus ES has the clear power advantage at 144kW vs 108kW. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.
Space & Comfort
The Chery C5 measures 4,351mm long on a 2,610mm wheelbase, 794mm shorter than the Lexus ES at 5,145mm (2,950mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Lexus ES generally means more rear legroom.
Boot space is 370L in the Chery C5 and 493L in the Lexus ES, giving the Lexus ES a 123L advantage.
The Chery C5 turns in a 11.2 m circle, kerb to kerb; the Lexus ES's turning circle is not on our record.
Cost to own
At 15,000 km a year, fuel for the Chery C5 costs about $1,967 a year (6.9 L/100km) and fuel for the Lexus ES about $1,283 a year (4.5 L/100km), at $1.90 a litre and 32c a kWh. That is $684 a year less for the Lexus ES.
Warranty: 7 years / unlimited km (Chery C5) and 5 years / unlimited km (Lexus ES).
Where each one leads
The Chery C5: the longer warranty (7 years against 5).
The Lexus ES: more power (144kW against 108kW), the bigger boot with the seats up (493L against 370L) and lower fuel or energy costs on our assumptions ($1,283 a year against $1,967).
The Verdict
Chery C5 scores higher, 74 vs 73
The Chery C5 scores 74 to the Lexus ES's 73 on the CarSorted Score, and leads 1 of the 4 spec rows that separate them. The biggest gaps: safety (Chery C5 ahead by 21 points), fuel economy (Lexus ES ahead by 21 points), value (Chery C5 ahead by 14 points). At 15,000 km a year, fuel for the Lexus ES costs about $684 less (4.5 L/100km against 6.9 L/100km, at $1.90 a litre). Boot space with the seats up: 370L in the Chery C5, 493L in the Lexus ES. Warranty: 7 years on the Chery C5, 5 on the Lexus ES.
Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Finance
From ≈$116/wk(≈$501/mo)
Estimate on the Chery C5 at $29,990 drive-away; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
Compare real car-loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Novated lease
Paid from pre-tax salary with the running costs inside the lease. What it comes to depends on your salary and the term.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the Chery C5Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link. Opens apply.driva.com.au in a new tab.
Common questions
Which is cheapest, Chery C5 and Lexus ES?
The Chery C5 is the cheapest at $27,250 before on-road costs. That undercuts the Lexus ES by $47,750.
Which is the most fuel-efficient?
The Lexus ES uses the least fuel at 4.5L/100km on the combined cycle.
What are the ANCAP safety ratings?
Chery C5 holds a 5-star ANCAP rating (tested 2022). ANCAP's published record does not give a rating to Lexus ES, so there is nothing to compare on crash performance. Compare the active-safety features above instead.
Which has the most boot space?
The Lexus ES has the largest boot at 493L with the seats up.
Which has the best warranty?
The Chery C5 has the longest warranty at 7 years / unlimited km.
Which is the most powerful?
The Lexus ES makes the most power at 144kW.
Track the Chery C5 & Lexus ES
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How to read this page. Prices, specifications, ANCAP ratings, warranty, the CarSorted Score and the verdict come from our records for the grades shown, sourced from the manufacturers' Australian documents, and change when those records change; the date each was last checked is printed under the headline. Prices are recommended retail prices before on-road costs unless marked drive-away. A plug-in hybrid's fuel figure is labelled with its basis: with a full battery (the certified combined figure) or as a hybrid (battery depleted). Charging and running costs are estimates on the stated assumptions. Always confirm price and specification with the manufacturer or dealer before you buy. CarSorted does not accept payment for recommendations.
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