OMODA takes on the establishment as we compare the flagship C5 with two impressive rivals. The question is, which one is our winner?
The OMODA brand is the luxury wing of Chinese automaker Chery and has one model for sale locally, namely the C5, with many more to come. Today, we are comparing the flagship C5 variant with two rivals in the form of the Toyota Corolla Cross and the Hyundai Kona, but which one would we choose? Our trio today feature different powertrains but are nearly identical in terms of price.
OMODA C5 1.5T 230T Elegance S
Powertrain and performance
Powering the C5 is a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine that produces 115Kw and 230Nm, sent through the front wheels via a CVT. Fuel consumption is claimed at 6.9 L/100km, and the 0-100km/h is not quoted.
Standard equipment
Being the flagship Elegance model, the C5 is incredibly well-specified. It comes with LED headlights/ fog lamps, a six-way electrically adjustable seat for the driver, ambient interior lighting, a panoramic roof, a wireless smartphone charger, leather seats, a colour screen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality, a digitised instrument cluster, climate control, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, blind spot assist, 18.0-inch alloy wheels, 6 Airbags, ISOFIX, keyless entry and start, front and rear PDC, and a reverse camera.
Safety
The C5 received a 5-star safety rating from Euro NCAP in 2022.
Practicality
The C5 boasts a 378-litre boot, seating for five occupants and 169mm of ground clearance.
Price and value proposition
At R509 900, the OMODA offers excellent value versus critical rivals.
The competition
Toyota Corolla Cross 1.8 GR-Sport
Powertrain and performance
Powering the Corolla Cross in this guise is a 1.8-litre petrol engine that produces 103kW and 172Nm that is sent through the front wheels via a CVT. Fuel consumption is claimed at 6.8 L/100km, and the 0-100km/h time is not quoted.
Standard equipment
The GR-S comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights/ fog lights, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, a colour touchscreen infotainment system, ambient interior lighting, climate control, keyless entry/start, leather seats, electrically adjustable driver’s seat as well as front and rear PDC with a reverse camera.
Safety
The Corolla Cross was crash-tested by Euro NCAP in 2022, where it achieved a 5-Star rating.
Practicality
The Cross features seating for five, a 440-litre boot and 161mm of ground clearance, making it a very practical vehicle.
Price and value proposition
At R500 200, the Corolla Cross is marginally the cheapest car in this comparison.
Hyundai Kona 2.0 Executive
Powertrain and performance
Powering the Kona is a 2.0-litre petrol engine that produces 110kW and 180Nm sent through the front wheels via a CVT. Fuel consumption is claimed at 6.5 L/100km, and a 0-100km/h of 9.7 seconds is provided.
Standard equipment
In Executive specification, the Kona’s features are similar to the Corolla Cross; however, its wheels measure only 17 inches, it does without the semi-autonomous driving aids, and it gets six airbags.
Safety
The Kona was crash-tested by Euro NCAP in 2017, achieving a 5-Star rating.
Practicality
The Kona boasts five seats and 544-litres of boot space, making it the largest vehicle in this comparison.
Price and value proposition
At R509 900, the Kona provides the least value for money in this comparison.
Facts and figures:
OMODA C5 1.5T 230T Elegance S |
Toyota Corolla Cross 1.8 GR-Sport |
Hyundai Kona 2.0 Executive |
|
Engine size (cyl/size) |
4-cyl, 1.5-litre turbo petrol |
4-cyl, 1.8-litre petrol |
4-cyl, 2.0-litre petrol |
Power/Torque |
115 kW/230 Nm |
103 kW/172 Nm |
110 kW/180 Nm |
CO2 emissions |
169 g/km |
154 g/km |
195 g/km |
Service plan |
5-yr/70 000km |
6-service/ 90 000km |
5-yr/ 75 000km |
Airbag count |
6 |
7 |
6 |
Fuel tank capacity |
51 litres |
47 litres |
50 litres |
Ave Consumption * |
6.9 L/100km |
6.8 L/100km |
6.5 L/100 km |
Driven wheels |
Front |
Front |
Front |
Boot volume |
378-1075-litres | 440-litres |
544-1296-litres |
Price |
R 509 900 |
R500 200 |
R509 900 |
* Manufacturer’s claimed figures.
Pricing was all-inclusive at the time of writing but may change without prior notice.
Verdict
Looking at the figures, as an overall package, we find the Corolla Cross to be the most compelling package here, although the OMODA is certainly impressive too!
Keyword: OMODA C5 vs Toyota Corolla Cross vs Hyundai Kona: Here's our winner