Omoda's Chery on top
South Africans will now have even more choice when it comes to the mid-size crossover market as Chinese automaker Chery inserts a new brand and lineup of vehicles into our somewhat bloated SUV market. Chery is aiming to keep the Omoda brand as a standalone operation with 33 dealers taking up the mantle. Using O for Oxygen and Moda as a representation of modern fashion, the Omoda brand brings a striking and fashionable take to a segment that has, in all honesty, become a little bit cookie-cutter in its approach.
Related: Chery's OMODA now in SA!
The first of these new models is the C5, a modern Euro-styled crossover that is definitely not going to be mistaken for any of the other crossovers currently available. It has a very bold-styled front end and grille and makes use of contrasting colour schemes on some models and unseen body colors on others. It is a very handsome motor vehicle on the outside but gets even better once you step inside.
Sporting a modern and chic leather interior that is loaded with the latest tech features, the Omoda is a premium place to spend your time with voice-activated and controlled features to make life a little easier. There is a 10.5" infotainment system with the requisite Apple Car Play and Android Auto as well as wireless charging pads and a chunky yet comfortable steering wheel. Occupants have a choice of 64 interior lighting colors to choose from which should suit just about any mood and the 8-speaker Sony sound system will keep those tunes pumping.
The C5 is equipped with Eco and Sport modes which change tuning to the 1.5l turbo petrol engine which churns out 115kW and 230Nm and one can feel the peppy performance that the engine can deliver bubbling under the surface. The Omoda C5 is also very safe with a full complement of driver assistance and safety systems in play, even if the continuous binging was loud and sometimes intrusively pulled on the steering wheel, it's still comforting to know it's there.
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The Drive
Chery took this fantastic package but then went with a CVT gearbox. Our launch drive route was a mixture of city driving, twisty country roads, and some open freeway driving and through all of it, the drone of the CVT was ever-present. With its snatchy low end and slippery high end, the vehicle either lurched forward in traffic or limited out at a 5000rpm drone if you wanted any kind of performance.
We were able to switch off many of the audible warning tones, of which there was a plethora, and tone down the ADAS system so that it wasn't as intrusive and once you'd figured out the sweet spot on the CVT, and modulate the throttle input, were able to sit back and enjoy the drive, any deviation from this small safe haven though, left one gnashing the teeth.
The suspension was supple and ironed out the bad roads very well, with the brakes checking up the vehicle in good time when not fighting the CVT. Steering was light on centre with the ADAS (Automatic Driver Assistance System) keeping the vehicle in its lane. Chery claims that the Omoda will return 6.9l /100km and our combined cycle test drive returned 9.8l and this is in line with previous Chery offerings that we have tested.
Models and Pricing
| Omoda C5 1.5T Tech | R 447 900 |
| Omoda C5 1.5T Elegance | R 507 900 |
| Omoda C5 1.5T Elegance C | R 509 900 |
Chery offers the Omoda with a 5-year / 150 000km warranty and a 5-year / 70 000km service plan and its famous 10-year / 1 Million km warranty to first owner engine warranty.
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Verdict
We wanted to like the Omoda ever since we first saw it at the Festival of Motoring last year and have been eagerly awaiting its arrival. I think it's fair to say that any commuter that has a focus on fashion and appearances is going to love the Omoda but experienced drivers who fully understand vehicle engineering may struggle with it. Chery has kept Omoda's pricing keen, and it is only marginally more expensive than its stablemates which surely is going to appeal to the youth market on which Chery has set its eyes. The Omoda C5 is a great package with a good price that is only let down by a poor CVT experience. Commuters will be fine with this, but drivers should be aware.
