Chinese automaker Chery has several brands within its portfolio, including two premium sub-brands, namely Jaecoo and Omoda. Omoda allowed us a month on board the C5 GT recently, and here are our thoughts.
Related: Omoda C5 1.5T 230T Elegance (2023) review
Styling
The exterior styling of the C5, to this writer's eye at least, is attractive; however, this GT version has been fettled with by the brand locally, with an aftermarket rear wing, rear diffuser, side skirts, front lip, and paint applied to the wheels. The idea of this, in principle, is good, offering a C5 with looks that match its added performance.
In reality, the execution, from what I could see, leaves much to be desired, with the aforementioned parts both looking and feeling aftermarket, not something desirable in an OEM product. While our black and gold press unit garnered attention, upon closer inspection, the admittedly anecdotal feedback from friends, family, and colleagues is that this has the potential to be a great product with better-quality cosmetic additions.
Related: OMODA C5 GT (2023) First Drive Review, C9 Preview and JAECOO J7 and J8 Reveal
Interior and space
Inside, our GT press unit continues the colour scheme from the exterior but is far better executed, looking and feeling like a slightly more upmarket product. The general fit and finish, as well as the build quality on offer, is commendable, and the soft-touch materials, leather seats and 64-colour ambient lighting all contribute to this premium feel.
Regarding connectivity, two 10.25-inch digital displays are housed within a slab mounted on the dashboard. One screen handles infotainment, while the other is a digitised instrument cluster. The central screen offers Apple CarPlay or Android Auto functionality. It has climate control functionality, which can be controlled via the gloss black haptic pad below the screen, which is a fingerprint magnet, but is easy to use nevertheless.
Below the aforementioned panel is a velvet (or something of a similar texture) panel, which features a wireless smartphone charger and space for a second device beside it. It is not a good idea in a country where the hijacking statistics make for depressing reading. Still, there are USB ports to charge your devices with in any case. The 8-speaker Sony sound system is a nice addition, too, offering solid sound quality at this price point.
When looking at practicality, the GT is a mixed bag, with a 378-litre boot, smaller than expected, but a spacious second row of seating, and a total of 1 075-litres with the rear seat folded flat.
Performance and driving impression
The GT inherits the 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine and 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox from the likes of the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro and 7 Pro Max models. It has 145kW and 290Nm of torque going to the front wheels, with some 1500kg-or-so to haul along, making the GT's turn of speed far more impressive than the other C5 models in the range. There are various driving modes in this model, and we found Eco best as it reigns in the sharp throttle calibration and, at times, over-eager gearbox, a combination which can lead to the product lighting up its front wheels during acceleration.
With a host of semi-autonomous diver aids in place, the familiar criticism of the constant beeps and audible alerts emanating from the car during regular driving scenarios persists. These systems will improve as the brand improves its calibration, and we believe the constant beeps and alerts will improve, too. Still, for now, the user will grow too accustomed to the sounds and will likely ignore all the alerts despite their importance, rendering them as more of an annoyance than anything else.
Safety
In 2022, the Euro NCAP programme crash-tested the Omoda C5. It rated it as a 5-star car with 87% for adult occupant safety, 87% for child occupant safety, 68% for pedestrian safety, and 88% for its safety assistance systems. The product's list of safety features includes six airbags and various semi-autonomous driver aids such as Adaptive Cruise Control, Forward Collision Warning, and Blind Spot Monitor.
Fuel consumption
Omoda claims that the GT will consume fuel at a rate of 6.9 L/100km; however, during our month with the car, we saw a figure of 8.8 L/100km, which is better than we had anticipated, but still relatively heavy for a vehicle of this type.
Pricing
The model tested was listed for sale for R589 990 and comes with a 5-year/70 000km service plan, a 5-year/150 000km vehicle warranty, and a 10-year/100 0000km engine warranty for the first owner.
Verdict
The C5 GT is a case of a good idea executed in a less-than-satisfactory manner. While including a more potent powertrain in a package that features solid build quality, safety, and specification is impressive, the cosmetic additions and how the product was visually enhanced locally leave much to be desired. This a great learning experience for the brand, which I think has a great idea of providing a sporty-looking yet affordable crossover but needs the final polish and quality when executing the project at a local level.
