This Chery SUV Can Spot Pedestrians and Animals in the Dark From Nearly 300 Feet Away

Thermal night vision isn’t something you expect to find on a family SUV, but Chery has brought it to the Omoda X concept. The new RAV4-sized model can detect pedestrians and animals up to 295 feet away in low-light conditions. That’s a useful trick on dark country roads, where spotting a deer before it jumps in front of the car can make all the difference.

Unveiled at Chery’s International User Summit in Wuhu, China, the Omoda X also looks ready for more than just school runs and supermarket trips. Its squared-off wheel arches, all-terrain tires, roof rails, and chunky skid plates give it an imposing appearance.

The design introduces Omoda’s “Crossvolution” styling language, with angular bodywork, sharp LED lighting, and unusual three-spoke 19-inch wheels. At 183.1 inches long, it sits in the same size class as the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, and Mazda CX-5.

The Omoda X isn’t just dressed up for off-road adventures. Chery says it has 7.9 inches of ground clearance, can wade through water more than 27.6 inches deep, and tow nearly 4,000 pounds. Those figures look good on paper, but we’ll have to wait for a proper test to see how well it handles when the road gets rough.

Chery hasn’t shown the cabin yet but promises a futuristic “Mecha Command Cockpit.” The planned setup includes a 10.25-inch digital instrument display, a 13.2-inch infotainment screen, physical climate controls, and an X-shaped floating center console. There are also 39 storage compartments, which sounds like good news for anyone tired of wondering where to put all their stuff.

The Omoda X will be offered as a fully electric vehicle or a plug-in hybrid, with front- and all-wheel-drive configurations planned. Chery hasn’t revealed power outputs, battery sizes, or driving ranges, and it remains unclear whether the night-vision system will make it to production or be reserved for expensive versions.

The concept debuted in China, but Omoda already sells vehicles across Europe, the UK, and Australia, so an export launch is a real possibility.