About 100 thousand copies of Omoda C5 have already been sold in Russia. The model, which entered the market a little over two years ago, quickly became the brand’s bestseller. Compact crossovers are now in trend: the segment’s share has grown to 12.5% of the total market, and the C5 was one of the drivers of this growth. True, by the end of last year, sales of the old model began to decline – there was a noticeable increase in competitors.
Omoda C5
Omoda
Omoda
Omoda
Omoda
Omoda
In March of this year, the new generation of C5 (essentially a deep restyling, but the manufacturer insists on the word “new”) arrived in showrooms. What has changed? The appearance has become more emotional, inside there are more screens and fewer buttons, and most importantly, instead of a CVT there is now a robotic gearbox. Prices: from 2.35 million to 2.65 million rubles. In terms of money – approximately at the level of competitors, adjusted for richer basic equipment. Let’s figure out what came of it.
The first thing you notice is that the front end no longer looks like the previous C5. The mesh radiator grille was abandoned: now there is a blank panel with a narrow rectangular slot at the bottom. The car received a “shark nose” – a bold decision, not for everyone, but memorable. Some will say that the C5 has lost its individuality, others – that it has begun to look more expensive and more modern, getting closer to the flagship C7. In any case, the new front end does not leave anyone indifferent, and for a model that is sold largely by emotions, this is rather a plus.
Omoda
Omoda
Omoda
Omoda
The rear part was definitely a success. Zigzag lights are a direct reference to the older model; the license plate has moved to the bumper, making the rear visually cleaner. The unpainted plastic body kit on the lower part of the body was retained – in our conditions the solution is practical: replacing the plastic trim is cheaper than painting the wing.
The length of the body increased by 145 mm, to 4545 mm, but the wheelbase remained the same – 2630 mm. That is, the increase is solely due to the bumpers; the interior has not become more spacious. The width has even decreased slightly: 1824 mm instead of the previous 1830. Ground clearance is 190 mm, standard for the class.
Inside is a smaller copy of the Omoda C7. The front panel is asymmetrical, two-story, which creates the feeling that the driver is in a separate cockpit. Materials: soft textured plastic on the top of the dashboard, leather (albeit artificial) on the seats and door panels in the “Drive” and “Style” versions. Assembly without any complaints, no backlash.
Omoda
Omoda
Omoda
Omoda
Omoda
The main ergonomic feature is a wide center console with a powerful two-story tunnel. It is quite high and noticeably eats up the driver’s legroom. If you are a large person, your right knee will touch the hard plastic every now and then. The correct seating position can be achieved, but not immediately: the seats are electrically adjustable in six directions, and the lowering range is not as large as we would like. A tall driver (185 cm or more) will sit quite high. With such a driver behind you, the passenger cannot avoid contact with his knees on the back of the seat.
Omoda
Omoda
Omoda
Omoda
The width of the back row is not designed for three adults – the shoulders will be cramped. But the Chinese added heated rear seats (in “Drive” and “Style”) and left in the climate system deflectors. So they didn’t forget about the passengers in the back, but they didn’t pamper them either.
The trunk has become larger – 422 liters versus 378 for its predecessor. The increase was achieved due to the abandonment of a full-size spare tire in favor of re-rolling and reworking the underground stamp. The floor level can now be adjusted, there is a second lamp, hooks and loops for securing cargo. An electric drive for the fifth door is available starting from the mid-range “Drive” configuration.
The multimedia system is one of the strengths of the new crossover. The “Drive” and “Style” versions have a 15.6-inch screen with 2K resolution. The basic “Active” has a 12.3-inch screen, which is also not bad. The performance is driven by an 8-core Snapdragon 8155 processor with 16 GB of RAM. The system is ready to work 4 seconds after startup, there are no lags or freezes. The picture is smooth, the sensor is responsive.
Omoda
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available. Wireless charging at 50 W (from the Drive package) is powerful, the phone charges from 20 to 80% in 40 minutes, active cooling is provided.
There are noticeably fewer physical buttons. Climate control is adjusted via the screen. The icons at the bottom of the display are a bit small. The automatic mode sometimes fails: sometimes it blows too much, sometimes it doesn’t blow enough. You have to go to the menu. It’s distracting on the go. Plus, the gearbox selector has moved to the steering column, which is unusual. The switches for the wipers and turn signals are now on one lever – overload, but you can live with it. The ergonomics of the car take some getting used to, and this is perhaps the most controversial decision in the cabin.
Omoda
The dashboard of the small Omoda is digital, nearly 9 inches diagonal, depending on the configuration. This is enough, but the numbers themselves are too small. Drivers with poor vision should take a closer look before purchasing.
Omoda
Omoda
Omoda
Omoda
Omoda
Omoda
Omoda
Omoda
Omoda
Omoda
Omoda
Under the hood is the same 1.5-liter turbo engine as before: four cylinders, cast iron block, timing chain drive, multipoint injection. Power – 147 hp, torque – 210 Nm. The engine, as the company claims, can easily digest 92-grade gasoline. The warranty on the car and components is 3 years or 100 thousand km, whichever comes first.
Omoda
But the transmission is new. Instead of a CVT, there is a 6-speed robot with two Getrag 6DCT260 clutches. The same box that is installed on the BMW 1 series and 2 series, Mercedes-Benz A-Class and GLA. The declared efficiency is 98%, switching time is 0.2 seconds. Acceleration to 100 km/h is 9.9 seconds according to the manufacturer.
The ride has become noticeably more comfortable. The previous variator was guilty of thoughtfulness during sharp accelerations and was annoying with a monotonous howl at constant speeds. The robot is devoid of these shortcomings. In city traffic, it switches imperceptibly, without jerking. When driving quietly, it keeps low revs, saving fuel.
Omoda
If you need to accelerate sharply, for example, when overtaking on the highway, then after pressing the gas there is a short pause, but shorter than with a CVT. In Sport mode, the response is a little sharper, although it is still far from the pre-selective characteristics of the best European models. Overall, the box leaves a good impression, especially if you remember what came before.
Chery engineers introduced 65 changes in terms of sound insulation and installed laminated front windows. And it worked: on smooth asphalt the cabin actually became quieter. In the company’s presentation, Haval Jolion was chosen as a reference car for comparison with the Omoda C5. It is claimed that the C5 at 80 km/h in the driver’s zone on a flat road shows 53.9 dB of noise. For Haval Jolion, according to measurements by Chery engineers, the same exercise came out to 57.1 dB. To be honest, it is difficult to determine such a difference with the ear, but on a bad road (ridge, old concrete with seams), the rumble from the wheel arches of the crossover is quite noticeable. The noise is not critical, but there is room for improvement.
Omoda
Omoda
Omoda
Omoda
The suspension is a bit harsh in the Russian sense. It handles small irregularities tightly, but you drive through large holes and sharp edges with caution. The suspension settings are closer to the Chinese ones – dense and elastic. But there is little roll in corners, and the car stands confidently on the highway. The steering wheel has typical Chinese feedback: light at zero, with artificial force at the corners. The information content is average, but you quickly get used to it.
The top version “Style” has a full range of ADAS assistants available. Adaptive cruise control operates in the range of 0-130 km/h, there is a traffic jam assistant, and lane keeping. The manufacturer claims that the systems have been modified taking into account feedback from Russian owners of the previous generation: assistants now operate smoother, adaptive cruise brakes more softly, without jerking.
Omoda
Omoda
Omoda
Omoda
On the highway for a couple of hours, the system did not cause any serious complaints. But we wouldn’t completely trust the automation, especially in winter, when the markings are covered with snow. Otherwise, the 540° all-round camera with projection works without delay (thanks to the processor), parking sensors are standard.
The body consists of more than 78% high-strength steel. In the Russian adaptation, the car is stated to have large-scale galvanization: the hood, front fenders, sides, doors, rear wheel arches, trunk door, engine compartment.
Omoda
Omoda
Omoda
Omoda
Omoda
Omoda
The main thing that remains the same is the cramped interior for tall people. The wheelbase has not grown, the width has not increased, and the center console has become even more massive. A driver taller than 180 cm will have to look for a compromise landing. It will be cramped in the back with such a driver. This is not a minus in its purest form – it’s just that a compact class is compact, but you shouldn’t expect a miracle of increased space from the new C5. It hasn’t become any more spacious. And this must be understood when choosing.
The new Omoda C5 is an evolution of the popular crossover without major technical changes. It has become more technologically advanced: a powerful processor, a large screen, improved assistants. It has become more pleasant to drive: the robotic gearbox has transformed its character – no more howling or thoughtfulness. It became quieter on good roads. The trunk has grown. The design is not for everyone, but it is bright and memorable.
Omoda
Omoda
Omoda
However, it did not become more spacious. Ergonomics behind the wheel – with features that you need to get used to. And if your height is above average, you definitely need to sit in the car for a long time and carefully before buying, adjust the seat, sit in the back, check whether your knees are resting.
The most important thing is that the SUV has retained an attractive price (from 2.35 million rubles) with very rich basic equipment: LED optics, heated steering wheel and seats, a large media system, a rear view camera. For this money the offer looks balanced.
It was no coincidence that the previous version became a bestseller. And the new one has every chance to maintain this position. It’s just that now its audience is people who value design, technology and freshness, and not maximum space in the back. Or those who are simply shorter. After all, it’s not just basketball players who live in Russia.
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