New Omoda C5 X Series launched in South Africa – Pricing and features

Omoda has launched two new models for the popular C5 crossover in South Africa, which are collectively referred to as the X Series.

The two new models – the Lux X and the Elegance X – are a replacement for the existing Lux and Elegance units, though fortunately, the more affordable Street and Style options are unaffected by the change.

The Lux X starts at R425,900 while the Elegance X asks for a minimum of R465,900.

Features

The X Series benefits from a redesigned front end intended to give the C5 a sportier and more upmarket look reminiscent of the larger C9.

This includes a new front fascia with a black “diamond matrix grille,” a sleeker front bumper, and restyled LED headlights and daytime running lights.

It also has a new set of black alloy wheels to match the grille.

Inside, the X Series units feature new soft-touch materials for the driver and front passenger door trim, and the standard 15W wireless charger has been upgraded to a significantly faster 50W pad with a ventilation system to avoid phone overheating.

The changes to the car also go beyond a few extra features, as the interior has been revised to accommodate a larger boot.

The rear of the car can now take 442 litres instead of 378 litres when the back seats are up.

When the seats are folded, the Omoda can now swallow an impressive 1,149 litres – a 74-litre improvement from the outgoing Lux and Elegance.

The rest of the equipment sheet is similar to the existing C5 roster, comprising keyless entry and start, a leather multifunction steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, front and rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, cruise control, ambient cabin lighting, six speakers, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, and two 10.25-inch screens for the driver and infotainment systems.

Engine

The X Series is powered by the same 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine as the rest of the lineup, which produces 115kW and 230Nm.

However, one crucial difference is that the CVT transmission found on the outgoing units has been replaced by a new dual-clutch automatic (DCT) gearbox that improves the car’s performance and fuel efficiency.

According to Omoda, the DCT’s responsive gear changes have reduced the 0-100km/h acceleration by 0.9 seconds, resulting in a new time of 9.0 seconds.

Additionally, the new X models have an average fuel consumption of 6.9l/100km – a noticeable reduction from the 7.4l/100km achieved by the outgoing version.

The company has also replaced the previous torsion beam suspension with a new multilink setup for better ride comfort, and adjusted the brake pedal for more responsive feedback.

Pricing

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

• Omoda C5 1.5 Street – R329,900
• Omoda C5 1.5T 230T Style – R364,900
• Omoda C5 1.5T 230T Lux X – R425,900 (New)
• Omoda C5 1.5T 230T Elegance X – R465,900 (New)

All versions of the C5 are bundled with a 5-year/150,000km warranty, a 5-year/70,000km service plan, and an additional 10-year/1-million kilometre engine warranty.