WATCH: Omoda C5 is the new Chery on top in South Africa

The ever-growing Chinese presence in the local automotive industry is about to burst out of its seams with the introduction of the Omoda C5.

Watch Omoda C5 from up close

Omoda is the premium division of Chery, one of the Chinese carmakers that has taken the local market by storm over the last few years. The two brands share a stable, but each will operate as its own marque, similar to Toyota and its luxury brand Lexus.

Apart from Chery and Omoda, other Chinese brands operating locally include GWM and its SUV brand Haval, BAIC and JAC.

Last month Chery achieved record sales by selling a total of 1 502 of its three local offerings, the Tiggo 4 Pro (918), Tiggo 7 Pro (395) and Tiggo 8 Pro (189).

While the carmaker still trailed Haval, who sold 2 002 vehicles in March with the best performers being the Jolion (940) and H6 (572), the Omoda C5 should help it close the gap.

The Omoda C5 SUV is the right product at the right time, which is most importantly priced right. The three-grade line-up includes the Tech at R447 990, the Elegance at R507 900 and Elegance S at R509 900.

Taken into account its fresh styling, the quality of materials, the generous standard specification level and the comprehensive Chery aftersales backup, the Omoda C5 offers seriously good value for money.

Futuristic Chery design

While the C5 is built on the same platform as the three Chery SUVs offered in Mzansi, one look at its futuristic multi-dimensional grille and headlight arrangement is enough to stop any possible comparison between the two straight off the bat.

A variety of curves accentuate the side profile, while the coupe-styled sloping roof at the rear is rounded off by a dual stacked roof spoiler and underlined by what is called X-Wing taillights featuring sharp lines and multiple LEDs.

The interior is simplistic and modern, featuring an interesting combination of materials making the look and feel as high-end as the budget could possibly allow.

The cabin features a 10.25-inch infotainment system screen and 10.25-inch fully digital instrument cluster which seamlessly combine to form one long flat panel.

ALSO READ: Chery officially details super-sized new Tiggo 9 Pro

The C5 is spacious enough inside to seat five adults in comfort, while boot space is very generous too through the use of a space-saver spare wheel.

The Omoda C5 is powered by a 1.5-litre turbo charged petrol engine which sends 115 kW of power and 230 Nm of torque to the front wheels via CVT. Strangely enough only two driving modes, Eco and Sport, are available.

Safe as a house

The Citizen Motoring had the opportunity to drive the C5 from Bryanston to Hartbeespoortdam during its launch this week, a route which offered a good combination of city and open road driving.

Described by Chery as a “city car”, the Omoda C5 has enough power and daily commuter would ever need and much to our surprise, the CVT hardly managed to annoy us.

While it handles well, the presence of all of 16 safety systems on the Elegance will take time to get used to.

For instance, Lane Keeping Assist can only be toggled between low and high intensity and even at low it’s quite aggressive in pushing you back should you drift ever so lightly from your lane.

The 140 km round trip yielding fuel consumption of around 10-litres per 100 km, which is quite a bit more than the claimed 6.9 L/100 km.

But we will give it the benefit of the doubt for the moment as these where brand new vehicles and we were maybe too spirited in our approach.

Chery and Haval hard to resist

The reality is that the kind of money you have to part with to own the Omoda C5 do not get you very far in the stables of the more established carmakers anymore.

The price point proposition is exactly why carmakers like Chery and Haval have been selling SUVs like hot cakes and that trend will only continue for the time being with the addition of products like the Omoda C5.