Chery's new sporty sedan is a petrol-powered rival to the MG4, but will it join the Omoda 5 EX+ in Australia?

Though relatively new to Australia in its current form with one model on sale, China's Chery Motors has a range of offerings in its home market - one of which is a small sedan we don't get here.

Now, the Chery Arrizo 5 has a sporty GT variant, and while it's not currently locked in for Australia, it looks like its drivetrain might make it here in a model we already have - the Omoda 5 small SUV.

The Chery Arrizo 5 GT boasts a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine that should be the powertrain for the confirmed-for-Oz Omoda 5 EX+, set to arrive in Australia later this year.

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Its 145kW/290Nm engine is paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch auto, rather than the continuously variable transmission (CVT) the brand's 1.5-litre engine uses as here in the current Omoda 5.

Inside, the GT's interior also looks a lot like that of the Omoda 5 already available in Australia, with a split-screen panel hosting the driver display and multimedia touchscreen, both 10.25 inches, while the centre console uses the same gear shifter and the seats look alike too.

On top of that, the Arrizo 5 GT debuts some styling elements for Chery that could be called familiar if you're thinking about a certain Japanese brand's spindle grille - or even the LED DRLs in the headlights that flank it.

The Chery Arrizo 5 GT boasts a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine.

The chances of the Arrizo 5 GT coming to Australia are slim - the model itself has already existed for some time in China before the GT variant arrived, and the small sedan market in Australia isn't as lucrative as the small SUV segment served by the Omoda 5.

Chery Motors Australia has only confirmed five new models and variants set to arrive here over the next 12 months. Those are two new petrol variants of the Omoda 5 with a more powerful engine, the Tiggo 7 and Tiggo 8 Pro large SUVs, and its first electric car for Australia - the Omoda 5 BEV.

The Arrizo 5 GT debuts some styling elements for Chery that could be called familiar if you’re thinking about a certain Japanese brand’s spindle grille.

"Four models - the Omoda 5 EX+, Omoda 5 EX+ AWD, Tiggo 7 Pro and Tiggo 8 Pro - will join the Omoda 5 before the end of 2023, while Chery's electrification journey will continue in 2024 with the innovative Omoda 5 BEV," a spokesperson told CarsGuide earlier this year.

CarsGuide has contacted Chery Australia to confirm whether there is any new information to update this statement.