It's devilishly handsome, it's cool, and it's energetic, but is the striking OMODA C5 a hit with families?
The OMODA C5 is a stylish and futuristic new crossover SUV from (OMODA is a sub-brand of Chery) that has been relatively well-received by both critics and consumers. It is a striking and well-equipped vehicle that offers a lot of value for money. But is the OMODA C5 a good choice for families?
(Sell your current car fast! Get an Instant Offer on your current car here)
Well, like most cars, the C5 has good points and bad points. Let’s start with the pros before we start covering the cons.
The Pros
- Size and space: The OMODA C5 is a fairly spacious crossover SUV. It has enough room for five passengers to sit comfortably, and the boot is large enough to accommodate luggage for a family of four. The rear seats can also be folded down to create even more cargo space. (Wondering how popular the OMODA C5 is?)
- Safety: The OMODA C5 comes standard with a number of safety features, including six airbags, ABS, EBD, and traction control, along with satellite buttons on the steering wheel, a heated rear screen, rain sensors, heated and retractable exterior mirrors, LED headlamps with LED DRLs, headlight levelling, side indicators in the mirrors, front fog lamps, park distance control as well as surround view cameras. It gets a five-star safety rating from the China New Car Assessment Program (C-NCAP) as well as ANCAP. Elegance and Elegance S models also have semi-autonomous safety features like lane departure warning and lane-keep assistance, as well as adaptive cruise control. (Find out what the correct tyre pressure is for your Omoda C5)
- Comfort and convenience: The OMODA C5 has a comfortable and well-appointed interior. It comes standard with high-tech features such as two high-resolution dual 10.25-inch screens. The infotainment system includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, which makes it easy to connect your smartphone to the car and use your favourite apps. There are USB ports in the front and rear of all models. Entry is keyless and the Intelligent Voice Command system is impressive!
- Fuel efficiency: The OMODA C5 is powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 147 kW and 210 Nm of torque. The engine is mated to a CVT transmission. The OMODA C5 is relatively fuel-efficient, with a realistic, combined fuel economy figure of 7.6 – 8.3 litres per 100 km.
The Cons
- Seating position: According to Chad’s review, the seating position is too high and the seat can’t be adjusted sufficiently, so taller drivers may feel cramped – but if you’re of average height it shouldn’t be too much of an issue.
- CVT gearbox: The CVT gearbox’s programming isn’t up to standard, and this doesn’t exactly inspire confidence, especially in the city. My colleagues who drove the C5 agree:
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. – Lawrence Minnie (read his full Omoda C5 launch report here.)
This unit is paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that has been programmed with 9 ‘steps’ to simulate gear changes. Unfortunately, this is the Omoda’s weakness and the gearbox programming is less than ideal. The inherent elastic band nature of the CVT gearbox is compounded by its propensity to rev too high initially before settling down and allowing the vehicle to make progress. This is akin to a slipping clutch and makes traffic (the natural stomping ground of such crossovers) more difficult than it needs to be. – Chad Luckhoff (read his full Omoda C5 car review here.)
Additional considerations
Here are some additional things to consider when deciding if the OMODA C5 is right for your family:
- Child seat anchors: The OMODA C5 has ISOFIX child seat anchors in the rear seats – and three child seats can fit side-by-side in all three seats.
- Cargo space: The OMODA C5 has 378 litres of cargo space behind the rear seats. This can be expanded to 1075 litres by folding down the rear seats.
- Price: The OMODA C5 is priced competitively. It starts at around R375,000 for the base model. The top-of-the-line model starts at around R450,000. (How much are car repayments on a new OMODA C5?)
Verdict
If you are looking for an attractive, spacious, safe, comfortable, and affordable compact crossover for your family, then the OMODA C5 is a good option to consider, if 1.) you can live with that pesky CVT gearbox, and 2.) if you’re not too tall!
Keyword: Is the OMODA C5 good for families?