New Models / 8 April 2026 / Michael Taylor

New 1,000km Omoda C5 hybrid goes on sale in South Africa – Pricing and features

Omoda has officially launched the new C5 SHS (Super Hybrid System) in South Africa.

This is the third hybrid the Chinese carmaker has released in our market, following the introduction of the C7 SHS and C9 SHS last year.

The new model is positioned as the flagship of the C5 family with an official starting price of R479,900.

However, the automaker is running a promotion for the first month, offering a R10,000 discount.

Powertrain

The new C5 is a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), which pairs a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor and a small 1.83kWh battery to produce 165kW and 295Nm.

This makes it significantly more powerful than the internal combustion engine (ICE) models, which generate 115kW and 230Nm.

For reference, the Chery Tiggo Cross CSH hybrid puts out a total of 150kW and 310Nm, meaning the C5 has more power but less torque.

The end result is that the Omoda can accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in a brisk 7.9 seconds and reach a top speed of 175km/h.

However, the real benefit of the hybrid system is that it achieves an average fuel consumption of just 4.9l/100km, compared to the regular C5’s figure of 6.9l/100km.

This frugal-economy stat means the SHS can travel over 1,000km on its 51-litre fuel tank.

Gear changes are handled by a dedicated hybrid transmission (DHT), which sends power to the front wheels.

Note that while the C5 shares the SHS designation with the C7 and C9, it is a HEV, not a plug-in hybrid (PHEV), so it is not capable of full-electric driving.

Features

Since the SHS sits at the top of the C5 stable, buyers can expect a generous spec sheet.

The crossover is fitted with 18-inch alloy wheels, red brake calipers, 215/55 tyres, a sunroof, auto-folding side mirrors, a powered tailgate, roof rails, rain-sensing wipers, automatic LED headlights, and LED daytime running lights.

Customers have a choice of four base colours and two dual-tone options, which as as follows:

Bloodstone Red
Carbon Crystal Black
Khaki White
Phantom Grey
Carbon Crystal Black and Aerial Silver
Carbon Crystal Black and Khaki White

The boot can take 372 litres of luggage, which can be expanded to 1,072 litres if the 60:40 rear seats are folded.

The interior itself has been tweaked from the C5 X Series models, as the dashboard has a more symmetrical dashboard layout and a cleaner, bridge-style centre console, replacing the floating console design found in the ICE models.

Features include keyless entry and start, a multifunction steering wheel, leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, dual-zone climate control with rear vents, ambient lighting, and noise-reducing acoustic glass windows.

It also has an eight-speaker Sony stereo, a 50W wireless phone charger, voice commands, dual 12.3-inch screens for the driver and infotainment displays, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

Safety inclusions on the Omoda consist of seven airbags, electronic stability control, front and rear parking sensors, a 360-degree camera, blind spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert, lane change assist, and cruise control.

Pricing

The South African pricing for the Omoda C5 series is as follows:

Omoda C5 1.5T Street + – R339,900
Omoda C5 1.5T Style X – R374,900
Omoda C5 1.5T Lux X – R425,900
Omoda C5 1.5T Elegance X – R465,900
Omoda C5 1.5T SHS – R479,900 (New)

Each purchase comes with a 5-year/150,000km factory warranty, a 5-year/75,000km service plan, and a 10-year/1-million km engine warranty valid for the first owner.