Chery’s Omoda grabs spotlights while the Shanghai Auto Show runs full steam. The brand took veils of one further model that is bound to be exported to Europe and Belgium. The Omoda 3 is a sharply styled compact crossover that targets younger buyers and competitors like the Kia EV3 and MG4.
The Omoda 3 wasn’t revealed at the fair’s booth at the Auto Show, but during a special event in Wuhu, China. The crossover — also known as the C3 in some markets (most likely where Citroën isn’t present) — will begin its global rollout in fall this year.
However, the European launch is expected by late 2026. We can only wonder why the picture mentions ‘9’ on the license plate during the unveiling, because that’s an entirely different car.
‘Affordable premium’
Slotting below the Omoda 5 and Omoda 7, the new model promises to deliver the brand’s “affordable premium” philosophy in a smaller, bolder package. At 4420 millimeters, the Omoda 3 is slightly longer than the existing Omoda 5. However, the next-generation 5 is expected to grow, creating more space in the lineup for the newcomer.
Like its larger siblings, the 3 rides on Chery’s T1X architecture, allowing flexibility for internal combustion, plug-in hybrid, and full-electric powertrains. Final specifications have yet to be confirmed, but a single-motor EV variant with a 61 kWh battery is expected.
Omoda has made no secret about who the 3 is designed for. “When sitting in the Omoda 3, you can feel like a starship commander,” said brand director Roy Xie. Designed by a team with an average age of just 28, the Omoda 3 draws heavy styling inspiration from sci-fi and Japanese mecha anime – a genre of cartoons on the subject of human-piloted robots.
The result is an angular, futuristic aesthetic featuring sharp creases, a sharknose front grille, L-shaped taillights, the obligatory light bar connection, and bold, blacked-out C-pillars. The aggressive visual language is intended to appeal to younger drivers looking for something more distinctive.
Gamification
Inside, the Omoda 3 continues the space-age theme with a “Starship Cockpit” that wraps ambient lighting across the doors and dashboard. A large vertical touchscreen dominates the center console, backed by a digital instrument panel offering multiple graphic themes. Gaming features like syncing wireless controllers and devices like a Nintendo Switch are incorporated.
A red flip-up start button on the center console—a nod to Lamborghini’s dramatic start procedures—adds flair to the user experience, alongside carbon-fiber accents and customizable lighting effects. Omoda will also offer an “official racing package” with aerodynamic enhancements and factory body wraps.
Pricing is expected to start under €40,000 in Europe, confirming that Omoda focuses on ‘affordable premium’, not ‘budget cars’. That would pitch it more or less to customers for the Kia EV3 (starting at €36,890 in Belgium).
