It is unlikely that I will surprise you by saying that almost all modern cars are built on the same platforms, engines and other components. The Chinese auto industry is no exception. First of all, this is dictated by banal economy. Why invent new things and invest fabulous sums on research and testing of new platforms?
It is also beneficial to the end user. Unification is a lot of identical parts, which means it is cheaper than unique parts for each car model. Plus proven units have already been studied and receive constant improvements.
Why am I? The hero of this article is Omoda C5. As the advertisement says, it is a new brand, but in fact it is Chery and its new sub-brand, and the car is built on the basis of Tiggo 4 Pro, which we tested not so long ago.
Specifications
- Engine: ICE, 4 cylinders, in-line, 1.5 liters, turbo, 95th gasoline.
- Power: 147 HP s., 210 Nm.
- Gearbox: variator (CVT25).
- Drive: front.
- Average consumption during the test drive: 8.5 liters per 100 km.
- Drove: 580 km.
Acquaintance
We meet by clothes
Here it is, the case when this phrase has a 100% hit! C5 aims for a wow effect when looking at it. Moreover, like any object with not the most banal appearance, here you still need to find a winning angle.
While I was photographing it, people mistook the novelty for a Japanese car, for a new Moskvich, and they simply asked what it was? So without the attention of others, until the car has become familiar in the stream, the owner of the Omoda C5 will not remain.
I now liked the visor-wing at the back of the tailgate. Unbanal. Chery has already flirted with red accents in the same Tiggo 4 Pro. There are only more of them. Well, below the photo, you have the floor in the comments!
And now about the “inside”. A few words about the trunk: 378 liters, no hooks, hooks and other things. Ugliness. The bumper sticks out very much, so in winter, in order not to get dirty, you will need to get used to getting things. Checked. But there is also a surprise here – a full-fledged spare wheel on the original, not forged, disk (though without red accents). In the same place, in the subfield, a couple of small recesses and a tool for changing the wheel. Keyless access, but there are no swings or anything like that.
Second row! You, a lover of small windows, should like it here, the window line goes clearly up, but the glass goes down completely. A 0.5 liter bottle fits freely into door cards, an armrest with cup holders in the center, pockets in the front seats … heated seats and airflow. Another USB connector, Type-A. If there is a tall driver or passenger in front, then it will be a little cramped in the knees behind him. A small hatch in the ceiling also eats up some of the headroom. In general, everything seems to be banal, but there is a feeling that the space has fallen a little victim to the “sporty” roof line.
Here’s another moment. At first I thought it was such sad plastic on the doors on the second row, but no, the front is similar, and this is strange. After all, everything in the same Tiggo 4 Pro (you can’t even compare it with competitors, now Chery itself has plenty of cars with similar prices) the materials in the finish were more pleasant. Suddenly. But the first thing that greets the driver is the Chery logo on the steering wheel. Looking forward to updating the model for a more complete distancing from the parent company?
The steering wheel, since we are talking about it, is comfortable, the buttons are read blindly perfectly, the joysticks are pleasantly elastic and are not pressed accidentally. But all these elements are glossy.
In the cabin, in general, minimalism reigns. On the central tunnel (of course, two-tiered) there is only an electric lever of the box, heated seats and … an emergency gang. I had to get used to this position. Nearby is a sound knob (conveniently) and two touch buttons: “Home” and activation of the camera menu. The entire set of controls lacks visual integrity. The feeling did not leave that here all the buttons and elements seemed to be from different cars. But, the present minimalism, perhaps, will please someone.
Climate. It’s touchy and glossy. I think you will draw your own conclusions. It is inconvenient to use on the move.
Multimedia is familiar to all Chery / Exeed. Nice, comfortable, enough settings, no complaints. Omoda C5 comes with CarPlay and Android Auto, hooray! We put the smartphone on a comfortable tilted and rubberized bed, it starts charging, and we can use the benefits of civilization via cable (through a convenient cable channel!) For Apple products, CarPlay can be used wirelessly.
Near tidy, digital. There are three themes to choose from. And so, it would seem, what is there to focus on? And there is something. With any of the three design themes, with the position of the steering wheel and seat comfortable for me, I did not see part of the speed number, and I did not see the turn signal arrows at all. Why? If you look closely, you can see that the tidy is raised very high, because of this, its upper edge is blocked by the steering wheel. It’s a small problem, but I haven’t seen it in a long time.
I will finish, but a few more words about the central mirror. It is, suddenly, with a wide coverage, and nothing is visible in the rear window.
What is the result? Externally, the futuristic Omoda C5 in the cabin loses its charm due to some small elements. But most importantly, I lacked visual integrity in the interior. With all this, the C5 is a modern car, with all the accompanying amenities and equipment in the form of an adaptive cruise, lane keeping and other passive and active safety systems. By the way, not so long ago the car passed the Euro NCAP tests and received five stars out of five (87 points).
Let’s hit the road
Stability for every day
I clearly divide cars into those that evoke emotions from interacting with them, and those that become invisible companions of life for every day. The Omoda C5 falls into the second category. And this is not a minus or plus, it’s just a general characteristic of the car. Of course, each category has its own requirements for cars. And to the one where Omoda gets, they are even higher. After all, I want the car to be comfortable every day in terms of success and comfort of getting from point A to point B. The novelty copes with this without problems.
Firstly, there is a decent set of heatings, which is relevant at the time when the test drive took place. Steering wheel, four seats, its airflow from the second row. Fine. Moreover, if the car is in the line of sight of the key fob, you can start it in advance and go down to the car that has already warmed up (and cooled in the summer, respectively).
Secondly, good equipment with assistants, which make everyday use a little easier. Here and adaptive cruise control, and keeping in the lane and monitoring of blind spots. There are also four cameras around the perimeter, which makes parking in snowdrifts a good idea. You just need to stock up on napkins to wipe these same cameras.
Dynamic characteristics? As in the case of the Tiggo 4 Pro, 147 horses is enough for carefree movement around the city and the highway. When circumstances force you to add gas, you will hear a roar, but don’t flatter yourself too much, it’s more a matter of not the best noise in the engine compartment. The motor is turbocharged, so it will take a little getting used to the operation of the local turbine, but in general, I did not find any discomfort in the operation of the engine-box connection.
As for comfort, both acoustically and in terms of suspension … in general, you can still cope with the noise if the existing one is not enough, but you have to put up with the comfort of the suspension, I definitely expected a more gentle work with the bumps of domestic roads. As for the issues of taxiing, in winter, when everything is covered with snow, it is very, very problematic to evaluate them. But here, as in all cars of the Chery family, there is an empty electric power steering wheel.
Review
Bright on the outside, dull on the inside
What is the result? I will again recall the Tiggo 4 Pro, which (in the current realities) pleased with the price-to-equipment ratio. And in general left a pleasant and balanced impression. But the Omoda C5 makes a very strong claim for impressions due to appearance, and the interior, in contrast, is not so bright and impressive. Yes, there are stylish front seats, but there is no lumbar adjustment, and although brown eco-leather gives more status, the rest of the materials in the interior and the touch-sensitive glossy climate spoil the impression.
So who is this car for? I think first of all for those who are captivated by her appearance. Well, he wants a new car from the dealership, of course. It remains to get rid of the Chery logo on the steering wheel and make a bolder interior to match the exterior!
If you suddenly find yourself in the first wave of buyers, be prepared for increased attention from those around you in the parking lot. Nice bonus!
Pros:
- decent equipment with assistants;
- bold appearance;
- comfortable operation of the engine-box linkage.
Minuses:
- the interior does not match the exterior in style and feel;
- modest trunk volume without hooks;
- insufficiently good view in the central mirror.
May not like:
- glossy climate;
- the steering wheel in certain positions blocks the tidy;
- boring sound system.
And this is what Chery Omoda 5 looks like at home. There are a number of differences
Final score 7 out of 10
Source: Trash Box
Charles Grill is a tech-savvy writer with over 3 years of experience in the field. He writes on a variety of technology-related topics and has a strong focus on the latest advancements in the industry. He is connected with several online news websites and is currently contributing to a technology-focused platform.
