Kia Niro vs Chery E5
Two electric SUVs go head to head. Which EV is the better buy for Australian drivers in 2026?
Specifications and pricing correct at time of publishing. Prices are RRP before on-road costs unless stated otherwise. Always confirm with the manufacturer or dealer before purchasing.
Data checked: specs 22 Oct 2026, price 8 Sep 2026
Driver assistance, as the maker lists it
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.
Kia Niro: we're still completing price, kerb weight, 0-100km/h, transmission and warranty, plus 3 others.
Chery E5: we're still completing kerb weight, ground clearance and braked towing.
Blank cells below mean 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.
No price
- no option data for this car
$35,150est. RRP
- 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.
Plug-in hybrid fuel economy is shown as a hybrid (battery depleted) so it compares fairly with the other car. A PHEV's official "combined" figure assumes you start every trip fully charged, so real-world economy depends on how often you plug in. Electric range shows how far it goes before the petrol engine is needed.
Track the Kia Niro & Chery E5
Get price-drop alerts on these models plus our free weekly new-car rundown. Unsubscribe anytime.
Price Breakdown
Pricing for one or both models is yet to be confirmed for the Australian market. We will update this comparison when official RRPs are announced.
Safety Rundown
ANCAP safety ratings have not been published for both models yet. We will update this section when crash test results are available.
Recalls on our record
Kia Niro
- REC-005981 · published 25 Jun 2024The Gear Drive Unit (GDU) assembly bolts may not have been tightened to the torque sufficiently causing it to possibly fail and result in a loss of motive power.Year range on the notice: 2023
- REC-005939 · published 11 Apr 2024Due to a manufacturing defect, the driveshaft may break under load.Year range on the notice: 2023
- REC-005699 · published 15 Jun 2023Due to a software issue, the instrument cluster may fail to illuminate the visual seat belt warning as required by the Australian Design Rules (ADR) 04/06.Year range on the notice: 2022 - 2023
Chery E5
- REC-006696 · published 13 Aug 2026Due to a software issue, the vehicle’s Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS) may not activate.Year range on the notice: 2025 - 2026
A recall covers the builds its notice lists, not every car of a model. Check your VIN at vehiclerecalls.gov.au.
Charging Times
How long each takes to charge, from a household power point to ultra-rapid DC, estimated from battery size and max charge rates.
How long to charge
58.9kWh usablePublic DC
50kW charger · 0–80%
Ultra-rapid DC
up to 130kW · 0–80%
Estimates from usable battery size and the car's max charge rates (7.4kW AC, 130kW DC). Real times vary with temperature, starting charge, charger output and the charging curve.
Feature Showdown
The Kia Niro features a 10.3-inch touchscreen paired with a 4.2-inch digital dash, while the Chery E5 gets a 12.3-inch display and 12.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.
The Kia Niro stands out with Apple CarPlay and ambient lighting — features our data doesn't list for the Chery E5. The Chery E5 counters with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, heated front seats, power tailgate and Sony audio. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.
Interior trim differs: the Kia Niro gets artificial leather upholstery while the Chery E5 offers synthetic leather.
Drivetrain
The Kia Niro uses a 1.6 Kappa GDI DOHC 2 D-CVVT + Electric Motor producing 104kW and 147Nm of torque, sent through its transmission to a FWD layout.
The Chery E5 responds with a Electric making 155kW and 288Nm, paired to a auto driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 7.6 seconds.
The Chery E5 has the clear power advantage at 155kW vs 104kW. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.
Space & Comfort
The Kia Niro measures 4,355mm long on a 2,700mm wheelbase, 69mm shorter than the Chery E5 at 4,424mm (2,610mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Kia Niro generally means more rear legroom.
Boot space is 324L in the Kia Niro and 300L in the Chery E5, giving the Kia Niro a 24L advantage.
Turning Circle
Kerb-to-kerb diameter. Smaller turns easier in tight carparks and U-turns.
10.6m to 11.2m
Based on 10.6m turning circle:
- U-turn on standard street (7m+ wide)
- Standard parking bay
- Tight carparks
- Narrow laneways
Based on 11.2m turning circle:
- U-turn on standard street (7m+ wide)
- Standard parking bay
- Tight carparks
- Narrow laneways
Turning circle ratings
Compare U-turns side by side
Turning Circle · U-turn compare
kerb-to-kerb, 2 cars0 of 2 clear a 7.0 m street in one sweep
Green cars complete the U-turn; amber need a 3-point turn. Drag the slider to test tighter streets.
Standard widths: AU local streets ~5.5–7 m; main roads ~9–12 m.
True Cost to Own
Running cost data is not yet available for both models. We will update when figures are confirmed.
Who Should Buy Which?
Buy the Kia Niro if: You need more boot space, or prefer Kia's approach to design and ownership experience.
Buy the Chery E5 if: You prioritise performance, or prefer Chery's approach to design and ownership experience.
The Verdict
Chery E5: Top CarSorted Score, 79 vs 67
The Chery E5 comes out ahead on the CarSorted Score (79 vs 67), taking 1 of 2 key spec rows below. The deciding gaps: safety (Chery E5 ahead by 31), value (Chery E5 ahead by 23), performance (Chery E5 ahead by 18). The best pick depends on what you value most. Explore the full specs for each model below.
Common questions
Which is cheapest, Kia Niro and Chery E5?
The Chery E5 is the cheapest at $35,150 before on-road costs.
Which is the most fuel-efficient?
The Kia Niro uses the least fuel at 1.3L/100km on the combined cycle.
What are the ANCAP safety ratings?
Chery E5 holds a 5-star ANCAP rating. We have no published ANCAP rating for Kia Niro, so there is nothing to compare on crash performance. Compare the active-safety features above instead.
Which has the most boot space?
The Kia Niro has the largest boot at 324L with the seats up.
Which can tow the most?
The Kia Niro has the highest braked towing capacity at 1,300kg.
Which is the most powerful?
The Chery E5 makes the most power at 155kW.
Stay across the market
Get our weekly new-car rundown of launches, price moves, deals and reviews, straight from the data.
- Weekly new-car rundown
- Price cuts and new deals
- New launches and reviews
No spam, unsubscribe anytime. By subscribing you agree to receive marketing emails.
Disclaimer: All information in this comparison was believed to be correct at the time of publishing (20 April 2026). Prices are manufacturer recommended retail prices (RRP) and may vary by state, dealer, and options. Driveaway costs include estimated on-road costs for Victoria. Fuel economy figures are WLTP/ADR combined cycle. Specifications can change without notice. Always verify with the manufacturer before making a purchase decision. CarSorted does not accept payment for recommendations.
Auto-generated from CarSorted's specification data · 20 April 2026
Comments (0)
Sign in to join the conversation
No comments yet. Be the first!
