Category Archives: Omoda

Electric/hybrid, Luxury, Motoring, Omoda

Omoda 9: Luxury meets performance

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Omoda 9 SHS PHEV

By Bill McCarthy

The arrival of Chinese brands continues so rapidly that a brand like Omoda already feels established, despite launching only in the summer of 2024. Now, its new flagship, the all-wheel drive plug-in hybrid Omoda 9, is challenging the premium market.

It arrives as a single, comprehensively equipped model, with all its hi-tech bells and whistles and premium features as standard.

A high end alternative

Clearly a high-end offering, it boasts sharp design, is packed with technology, and is powered by what’s described as a Super Hybrid System (SHS). It delivers blistering pace and a claimed mammoth range of over 700 miles.

Priced from £44,990, it comes with a seven-year, unlimited-mileage warranty and an eight-year battery warranty.

Developed by parent company Chery International, this plug-in hybrid has a claimed electric-only range of 93 miles – impressive for covering most commutes with zero tailpipe emissions, meaning exemption from congestion charges and lower benefit-in-kind taxation.

Design and styling
It looks good, with what the brand describes as an ‘Art in Motion’ design philosophy, featuring a sleek SUV silhouette and attractive matte finish paintwork.

It features a large signature grille, striking LED light signatures, and pop-out door handles. There are full-width light bars at both ends and standard 20-inch alloy wheels.

Classy hi-tech nterior
The high-tech interior is dominated by a single, curved 25-inch display that acts as a dual control screen –one for infotainment and connectivity, the other for real-time driver information. The main screen features a 14-speaker Sony sound system, smartphone connectivity, and navigation.

While the graphics are top-notch, the menu system isn’t entirely intuitive, though the three rotary controls for climate and drive selection are easy to use.

The cabin features soft-touch materials, leather-trimmed seats, and brushed metal accents. Both the front and outer rear seats are fully electrically adjustable, with heating and ventilation.

The space is light and spacious, aided by a huge electric panoramic sunroof, ambient lighting, and USB ports for all passengers.

Performance and handling
Power comes from a 1.5-litre, 157 PS petrol engine mated with two electric motors (one on each axle), producing a combined 499 PS and a huge 700 Nm of torque. The driver can select from six settings: Normal, ECO, Sport, Snow, Mud, and Off-Road.

On the road, it hits 60 mph in under five seconds. While very rapid, it’s designed more for comfort, excelling as a motorway cruiser. There’s definitely body roll in corners, but the suspension smooths out most bumps. The hybrid engine is refined and excellent soundproofing keeps wind and road noise to a minimum.

Practicality and Safety
As an SUV, it’s practical, with 600 litres of stowage space, expanding to 1,783 litres with the 60/40 split seats folded. There is also a deep central console and generous door bins.

Safety is comprehensive, featuring Safety is top-tier, contributing to a 5-star Euro NCAP rating. Standard kit includes:

  • Driver Fatigue Alerts
  • Parking Assist with a 360-degree camera
  • Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) with pedestrian/cyclist detection
  • Lane Support System
  • Eight airbags
  • Blind-Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert

Verdict
The Omoda 9 represents an attractive package with its blistering performance, premium tech-filled cabin, and impressive electric-only range. While its infotainment system requires some familiarisation and its ride prioritises comfort over sporty handling, it presents itself as a quality all-rounder in the competitive premium SUV segment.

The true test for the Omoda 9 will be how it stands up to long-term ownership. But for buyers seeking a well-equipped, technologically advanced plug-in hybrid SUV with exceptional performance comprehensive warranty protection, the Omoda 9 deserves serious consideration.

Factfile

  • OMODA 9 PHEV
  • Price: £44,990
  • Mechanical: Combined 499 PS via a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine and twin electric motors driving all wheels via an automatic transmission
  • Max Speed: 124 mph
  • 0-62 mph: 4.9 seconds
  • Economy: 43.6 miles WLTP (201 miles full state of charge)
  • Insurance Group: TBC
  • CO2 emissions: 38g/km
  • BiK rating: 6%
  • Warranty: Seven years/unlimited miles

AWD, Electric/hybrid, Motoring, Omoda

Omoda comfort meets performance

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Omoda 9 PHEV

By Bill McCarthy

The arrival of Chinese brands continues so rapidly that a brand like Omoda already feels established, despite launching only in the summer of 2024. Now, its new flagship, the all-wheel drive Omoda 9, is decisively challenging the premium SUV market.

It arrives as a single, comprehensively equipped model, with all its hi-tech bells and whistles and premium features as standard.

Clearly a high-end offering, it boasts sharp design, is packed with technology, and is powered by what Chery describes as a Super Hybrid System (SHS), delivering blistering pace and a claimed mammoth range of over 700 miles.

Priced from £44,990, it comes with a seven-year, unlimited-mileage warranty and an eight-year battery warranty.

Developed by parent company Chery International, this plug-in hybrid has a claimed electric-only range of 93 miles.

That’s impressive for covering most commutes with zero tailpipe emissions, meaning exemption from congestion charges and lower benefit-in-kind (BIK) taxation.

Design and Styling

It looks good, with what the brand describes as an ‘Art in Motion’ design philosophy, with a sleek, SUV silhouette and attractive matte finish paintwork.

It features a large signature grille, striking LED light signatures, and pop-out door handles. There are full-width light bars at both ends and standard 20-inch alloy wheels.

Interior and Technology

The high-tech interior is dominated by a single, curved 25-inch display that acts as a dual control screen—one for infotainment and connectivity, the other for real-time driver information. The main screen features a 14-speaker Sony sound system, smartphone connectivity, and navigation.

While the graphics are top-notch, the menu system isn’t entirely intuitive, though the three rotary controls for climate and drive selection are easy to use.

The cabin features soft-touch materials, leather-trimmed seats, and brushed metal accents. Both the front and outer rear seats are fully electrically adjustable, with heating and ventilation. The space is light and spacious, aided by a huge electric panoramic sunroof, ambient lighting, and USB ports for all passengers.

Performance and Driving Experience

Power comes from a 1.5-litre petrol engine mated with two electric motors (one on each axle), producing a combined 499 PS and 700 Nm of torque.

The driver can select from six settings: Normal, ECO, Sport, Snow, Mud, and Off-Road. On the road, it hits 60 mph in under five seconds.

While very rapid, it’s designed more for comfort, excelling as a motorway cruiser. It can roll a bit on corners, but the suspension smooths out most bumps. The hybrid engine is refined and excellent soundproofing keeps wind and road noise to a minimum.

Safety

Safety is comprehensive, contributing to a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating. Key features include:

  • Parking assist and a 360-degree camera.
  • Eight airbags.
  • Autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist detection.
  • Lane support system.
  • Fatigue alerts.
  • Rear cross-traffic alert and blind-spot monitoring.

Verdict

The Omoda 9 makes a strong first impression with its blistering performance, premium tech-filled cabin, and impressive electric-only range. While its infotainment isn’t the most intuitive and its ride favours comfort over sportiness, it looks a quality all-rounder.

However, unlike its established rivals, its long-term reliability, durability, and resale value remain unproven. A short test drive revealed an attractive package, but a true verdict on its overall quality will become apparent over time.

Factfile

OMODA 9 PHEV SHS

  • Price: £44,990
  • Mechanical: Combined 499 PS via a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine and twin electric motors driving all wheels via three speed automatic transmission
  • Max Speed: 124 mph
  • 0-62 mph: 4.9 seconds
  • Economy: 43.6 miles WLTP (201 miles full state of charge)
  • Insurance Group: TBC
  • CO2 emissions: 38g/km
  • BiK rating: 6%
  • Warranty: Seven years/unlimited miles