Omoda’s New ‘Affordable’ Crossover Hits South Africa

South Africa seems to be embracing the crossover class of cars on the market, and another option has entered the fray in the form of the Omoda C5, which has now been updated with an entry-level version known as the C5 Street.

Priced at R329,900, the C5 Street lowers the entry point by R35,000 making it an interesting choice for customers looking to balance premium features and style with value. 

To complement the price tag, the Street is well-equipped and comes with all the features one would expect from the Omoda brand. Under the bonnet is a naturally aspirated 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine that develops 83 kW of power and 138 N.m of torque. Mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT), power is channelled smoothly to the front wheels, contributing to a relaxed and efficient driving experience. The C5 Street consumes 7.3 L/100 km and, thanks to its 51-litre fuel tank, can cover over 690 km per tank. 

The C5 Street boasts ventilated front discs on the front axle and standard discs on the rear, which provide strong stopping power. A McPherson strut suspension setup and torsion beam combination provide an unfettered ride quality and engaging driving dynamics. 

Like the rest of the C5 lineup, the Street will turn heads with its eye-catching exterior design. LED daytime running lights and halogen headlights add an upmarket touch to the affordable C5. 17-inch wheels are also standard. Customers can choose from attractive paint colours: Aerial Silver, Carbon Crystal Black, Khaki White, and Phantom Grey.

In terms of the interior, customers can look forward to myriad features, including black cloth-trimmed sports front seats with six-way manual adjustment, automatic climate control, a four-way adjustable steering wheel with multi-functional controls, rear parking sensors, a reverse camera, and cruise control. Keyless entry and push-button start add further convenience to the package.

Infotainment-wise, the C5 Street ships standard with dual 10.25-inch screens. One is the digital instrument display, while the other controls various vehicle functions, including the Intelligent Voice Command system, Bluetooth, a four-speaker sound system, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Passengers can make use of two USB ports in the front and rear rows, respectively. 

The boot provides 378 litres of packing space with the rear seats in place. Collapsing the standard 60/40 split-folding bench offers 1,075 litres, making the C5 eminently practical. 145 mm of ground clearance makes the C5 Street well-suited to traversing gravel roads easily. 

The Omoda C5 Street is comprehensively equipped with electronic stability control (ESC), dual front airbags, front side airbags, a speed limit reminder, and ISOFIX mounting points. 

The new Omoda C5 Street goes on sale as of the 18th of November and the recommended retail price is R329,900. The new C5 Street comes standard with a 2-year/25 000 service plan, a 5-year/150 000 km vehicle warranty, and OMODA’s industry-leading 10-year/1-million km engine warranty.