Competitively priced, well specced and tastefully designed, the Omoda C5 seems a “what’s the catch” kind of car. Oliver Keohane gets to grips with Chery’s luxury offering.
Omoda represents Chery’s efforts to establish themselves within the premium motoring sector. Infiniti to Nissan, Lexus to Toyota, you get the just of what the Chinese manufacturers have done in producing the Omoda, a sub-brand to the increasingly popular Chery.
While the Omoda C9 is expected in South Africa later in 2024, what we currently have is the Omoda C5, in four derivatives; Omoda C5 1.5T TECH, Omoda C5 1.5T Elegance, Omoda C5 1.5T Elegance S and the niche offering Omoda C5 GT.
Pricing
- Omoda C5 1.5T TECH – R447 900
- Omoda C5 1.5T Elegance – R507 900
- Omoda C5 1.5T Elegance S – R509 900
- Omoda C5 GT – R589 900
Designed as a crossover coupe, the C5, with its sleek silhouette, bears bold and stylish exterior details. A diamond-patterned grille at the front, complemented by segmented LED headlights and daytime LED lights on either side set the stance for a commanding road presence, while the vehicle’s profile presents a dynamic posture. Distinct, sharply designed LED taillight assemblies enhance the vehicle’s rear and complete the overall athletic appearance.
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The striking theme continues inside. If the looks grab you, the interior construction holds you. The C5 is a really well-put-together car. A tightly wrapped (high quality) artificial leather steering wheel, comfortable, sporty and electronically adjustable seats of the same material, as well as neatly stitched inserts on the doors set the tone for a luxurious cabin. Two 10.5-inch screens are integrated into an impressive high-definition single panel that stretches across the fascia to complete the premium feel.
On this mighty Mercedes-esque screen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto function seamlessly, delivering sound to a really solid Sony System, while also displaying to you a 360-degree camera and the numerous – and to be honest slightly frustrating – safety assistance features.
These features are reserved for the Elegance S, and while most can be turned off, their well-intended sensitivity can be the cause of some unnecessary lane-keeping and incessant dinging especially on the tight, sometimes poorly marked South African roads.
Ambient lighting – in 64 colours – as well as a little welcoming tune on entry (I really appreciated the warm welcome every time I got into the car), allow for an aeroplane-type feel inside the cabin and the wireless charging bay sits quite high on a felt pad, just ahead of the transmission.
It looks nice, has extra space for your keys and is quite easy to access. However, I found my phone heavily exposed to the sun given how high the pad sits, and the first time I took a corner the keys flew off. I would suggest storing the keys in the sleek, “open-plan” compartment situated just underneath the pad, next to the driver’s knee. USB-A and USB-C ports are located on the passenger’s side, while rear passengers share s single USB-C port.
So the car looks good from the inside, and it’s nice to sit in and listen to music. How does it drive?
A luxury crossover-coupe, priced at around 500k. What’s the catch? Maybe the CVT for the “driver” out there, but one must ask oneself, is that the customer that a premium crossover is targeting? Probably not. Wonderful design cues, a host of tech and safety features, a very luxurious cabin and a smooth driving experience all packaged into an incredibly competitive price range, make the Omoda an increasingly appealing option in a market currently dominated by exorbitantly priced European manufacturers.
Sold with a 5-year/150 000 km warranty, a 5-year/70 000 km service plan and a first-owner-only 10-year/1 million km engine warranty, the Omoda also looks to make up for a lack of legacy with a guarantee of customer care.