Chery’s alternative premium brand - OMODA

If you’ve been impressed by Chery's new models, allow us to introduce you to another Chinese product from the brand that deserves your attention. OMODA is what you get when a brand like Chery decides to develop a separate wing to exclusively churn out premium vehicles. Look at it as the Lexus of Toyota or what Audi is to Volkswagen. When the powers that be at Chery set out to develop OMODA they wanted to create a brand that would focus on youth, diversification and globalisation. Based on the OMODA C5's design, it’s clear to see.

OMODA calls it the Art in Motion design language, characterised by a fluid design, especially from the front where you’ll notice the sizeable diamond grille taking up most of the C5’s front real estate. Depending on the variant you opt for, the OMODA C5 is available with a wheel size of up to 18 inches. According to Chery, the OMODA C5 is one of the most futuristic-looking vehicles Chery has developed yet.

The futuristic feel trickles through to the inside of the C5, which offers two 10.25-inch digital display screens mounted side-by-side on the dashboard. One serves as its instrument cluster, and the other an infotainment screen with smartphone integration through the two main smartphone operating systems. A 64-colour interior ambient lighting system gives the cabin a different mood on any given day. The brand has opted for a SONY sound system for the C5's audio, which can be linked to the ambient lighting for different music moods.

With a 5-Star NCAP safety rating, the OMODA C5 is equipped with six airbags, ISOFIX child seat anchors, and pre-tensioning seat belts. ABS and ESP are the only two electronic safety systems in the lower-spec Tech model. For more safety features you’re going to have to look into either the Elegance or Elegance S models. These will have OMODA’s Advanced Driver Assist suite, which includes auto high-beam and low-beam, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and forward collision warning. The top-spec Elegance S also has automatic emergency braking.

For OMODA, Chery has opted to use its 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine, the only powertrain available across the range. It’s matted to a CVT gearbox for a total output of 115 kW and 230 Nm. OMODA claims a combined fuel consumption figure of 6.9l/100km.

The OMODA C5 comes with a 5-year/70 000km service plan and a 5-year/150 000km mechanical warranty, and like the vehicles from its sister brand, Chery, the C5 has an engine warranty of 10 years or 1 million kilometres.

OMODA C5 Tech R447 900

OMODA C5 Elegance R507 900

OMODA C5 Elegance S R509 900

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