Chery's Omoda C5, a sneak preview into the future of motoring

BY Aurelia Mbokazi-Kashe

If you ever wondered what cars of the future would look like, drive like, and the feeling they would bring to you, Chery has attempted to give us an experience of the future in real-time with the Omoda C5. A week spent behind the wheel of this compact SUV proved to be transformational.

Car guards are some of the best marketers. They just know how to say the right things at the right time. Their formula is simple. When it comes to cars they like, they pay extra attention, say all the right things to the motorist, and hope that their investment pays off in extra tips. The week I had the OMODA on test I parted with way more than I normally would. Praises like ‘Wenza kakhulu ma o’lady, ‘Madam, your car is amazing ooh’, and so on. To reciprocate these, I had to dig deeper into my wallet. I strutted differently owing to the attention I was getting all around me. Overall, my mood was elevated. I felt seen and appreciated. When I surrendered the keys a week later, the penny suddenly dropped. It was never about me, but about the car.

Design

The Omoda C5 is more than just a car. It is a deeply emotional experience. And, it is easy to get lost in your feelings and be completely overwhelmed by it all. What first catches your eye is the stylish, futuristic design that carefully combines a coupe and an SUV. Yes, similar designs have been successfully done before. But it is the in-your-face avant-garde look of a chunky front that is embellished with a honeycomb grille that gets the heart pumping. At first sight, you expect it to be an EV, owing to its look. You simply either love it or loathe it, there is absolutely no middle ground. Fortunately, it was love at first sight for me for the striking vanilla blue colour with popping red accents. It looks athletic and menacing on the road, and the sound from the pipes adds to the overall appeal.

Technology

As technologically challenged as I am, I swear if I had spent a little more time with the car it would have known my name and greeted me each time I came in. Such was the level of interactivity. The touchscreen that extends across the dashboard almost envelopes the driver and front passenger. It gives you the vibe of being a chief pilot while elevating your front passenger into a co-pilot instead of being a mere passenger. My 14-year-old twins kept fighting for the front seat, and were extraordinarily opinionated. Plugging in my phone was a breeze, and for once I didn’t need their help. I loved how everything connected so seamlessly. All I had to do was to turn the start button and get the car in motion. The most loved feature was the multitude of cameras that showed obstacles from all angles, with the most amazing graphics to finish it all. It felt like I was in a PS5 game, slaying whatever came my way. The layout of the seats added to the overall feeling, giving me a vantage point to see clearly from all angles as I steered the spaceship into the future.

The drive

Just like its bold look, there was no shortage of theatrics. The sound of the turbo-charged petrol engine emitted sweet music that was well received and I must add, a boost to my confidence. I felt in control. Once again, this speaks more to the emotion than the actual performance. It drove alright, I didn’t have any complaints. After all, I was not inclined to be a speedy Gonzales and crisscross the freeways at breakneck speeds just to be sure that it could perform. That is not the test I was going for. I was comfortable with a more comfortable drive that stuck to the speed limit and treated fellow motorists to a good show on wheels. Judging by the looks I received, most fellow motorists approved.

Overall, I loved the experience. And despite the many local trips I took, I didn’t have to go to the fuel station. It proved to be fuel efficient. I was not complaining since the bulk of the budget went to my wardrobe and the unavoidable, extra tips for the kind parking attendants.