This RAV4 Rival From China Comes With Thermal Night Vision

Chinese automaker Chery has introduced a new RAV4-sized SUV dubbed Omoda X. Unveiled as a concept during the Chery Group’s International User Summit in Wuhu, China, the model adopts rugged details and will be available in fully electric and plug-in hybrid forms. Furthermore, it comes equipped with a party trick you don’t usually find in the compact SUV segment: Thermal imaging night vision.

Starting with the headline feature, the inclusion of an infrared thermal imaging night vision system is a first for a Chery product. This setup can identify wildlife and pedestrians up to 90 m (295 ft.) away when driving at low lighting conditions, improving safety. When the creature is on the road, the night vision gives more time to the driver to react, and presumably prepares the vehicle’s ADAS systems to take action before its too late.

At the moment it is not clear if the same technology will be standard equipment in the production version, but automakers usually reserve those features for high-spec trims of their models.

The Omoda X introduces the “Crossvolution” styling language, taking inspiration from the “mecha culture”. According to New York Public library, mecha is a genre of Japanese manga and anime primarily focused on robots. Chery designers translated it to angular surfacing on the sculpted bodywork, futuristic 19-inch alloy wheels with three spokes, and jagged LED graphics on the headlights and taillights. 

The SUV measures 4,650 mm (183.1 inches) long, which puts it right against popular offerings such as the Toyota RAV4, the Subaru Forester, the Honda CR-V, and the Mazda CX-5. It’s squared-off wheel arches, all-terrain tires, aluminum-style skid plates, and roof rails are borrowed from the world of rugged off-roaders hinting that the Omoda X was intended to be driven off the beaten track. 

According to Chery, the model has a ground clearance of 200 mm (7.9 inches), an impressive wading depth of over 700 mm (27.6 inches), and a towing capacity of 1,800 kg (3,968 lbs.). While rugged variants of rival SUVs like the Toyota RAV4 Woodland and the Subaru Forester Wilderness sit higher off the ground, the Omoda has the upper hand in wading depth and towing.

The company didn’t share photos of the interior, but promised a futuristic “Mecha Command Cockpit” with an X-shaped floating center console and an aircraft-inspired layout. The dashboard has a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a 13.2-inch infotainment display, and physical climate controls. Furthermore, the cabin has no less than 39 storage compartments, proving that practicality was one of the priorities in the design brief.

Chery has yet to detail the specifications, but confirmed the availability of fully electric and plug-in hybrid powertrain options available with either front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive. Furthermore, a system called X-Mode allows drivers to adjust the settings and performance according to their preferences.

While the Omoda X has been revealed in China, chances are it will also be offered for sale in export markets, where it could be positioned below the Omoda 9. Bear in mind that the Chery-owned Omoda and Jaecoo brands are already present in Australia, Europe, and the UK, where they have already taken a chunk of the SUV market from well-established automakers, largely thanks to their value-for-money credentials.

Chery