Omoda C5 X takes drab competitors to the cleaners

Sharper and sleeker with a more aesthetically pleasing grille, the Omoda C5 X packs plenty of bang of your buck into a spacious, comfortable package. 

It's not my favourite-looking of the Chinese models that have given South African buyers far more choice when it comes to shopping in a burgeoning small to mid-size SUV/crossover market, but it's certainly not the most polarising, and it's not visually offensive.

I felt the previous generation C5 just had too much grille, with a facade that reminded me of a '90s Toni Braxton. I don't know, squint your eyes and you'll see it. 

The updated C5 X has some cosmetic changes that make it easier on the eye, is what I'm saying. 

And it's an attractive package too, practically fully loaded for a price that'll leave you scratching your head and wondering why you'd ever considered a small sub-compact hatchback when you could have had something like this all along.

It beggars belief that ze Germans have been peddling drab, plain, boring interiors with almost everything being tacked on as an added extra, when the Chinese are giving away the farm for free. 

Take, for example, a VW Polo. In its acceptable Life guise, it costs R420,800. It comes with a 1.0l, three-cylinder turbo-petrol that's good for 70kW. It's got four speakers and a manual five-speed. It's got 15" alloys and Bluetooth.

Meh.

Then there's the C5 X. Starting at R429,900, it's ever so slightly more expensive (the top-specced Elegance is R465,900, still cheaper than a Polo R Line at half a bar), but you're getting so much more car. 

The Omoda's 1.5l four-cylinder turbo-petrol puts out 115kW that sips around 7.0l per 100km, has almost every driver and passenger convenience you could ask for, and is packed with tech. The voice activated digital assistant will even adjust the climate control, roll down your windows, or open the sunroof. It also feels more solidly built than ze Germans. 

Sadly though, it's let down by its driving dynamics. 

I saw a review of the MG HS by one of my favourite British motoring journalists and he summed up my experience of the C5 X perfectly – it's a car for people who don't like cars.

He goes on to explain that they're not bad cars. They're just not drivers' cars. They're not cars for people who obsess over handling, performance, steering feel, connectedness to the road, suspension and braking feedback... they just do what they say on the box.

They're fine. They get you where you need to be safely, efficiently, and with enough urgency. They're just not very engaging to drive. 

And that's fine. 

If you're tottering off to the shops, or heading off on a school run, or plodding through traffic en route to work, it's perfect. On the open road, the engine can be a tad noisy and the insulation at highway speeds isn't the best, but for the every day commute, it's great. 

And it's so much more attractive and unique – both inside and out – than a boring old Polo. 

The leather seats look sporty, the unified drivers display and infotainment system looks premium, the switchgear feels expensive, and overall, sitting inside it you feel like you're in an ultra-luxury vehicle that should cost twice the price. 

A mixture of physical buttons and knobs with some haptic touch buttons greet you on the centre console, while the steering wheel, with its flat bottom evoking a sporty cheque the engine and drivetrain can't quite cash, has high-quality buttons and a decent amount of feedback. 

It's a lot of car for the money too. If you consider its size and spaciousness, you're looking at something on par with, or on a level beyond a Kia Seltos or Mazda CX-30, while maybe somewhat smaller than a Corolla Cross. And bar the Mazda, the C5 X beats them all hands down in the good looks department. 

So, while the Omoda C5 X may not be my pick of the bunch, it's an attractive option for South African buyers who are looking for exceptional value in a standout package.

IOL Motoring