Is the Omoda 9 a premium SUV contender?

What is it?

Omoda isn’t wasting any time when it comes to expanding its product range here in the UK. Hot on the heels of the 5 and E5 SUVs comes this – the new Omoda 9. It’s the Chinese brand’s entrance into a more spacious, upmarket style of SUV, which is being delivered at a more attractive price than many key rivals.

But given that Omoda is still a relative newcomer in the UK car market, can the 9 do enough to tempt buyers away from established alternatives?

What’s new?

As is the case with many of the ‘new wave’ of Chinese manufacturers, Omoda is offering the 9 at a price which undercuts many key rivals and even those from the class above. Omoda is pitching it against the likes of the Range Rover Velar and Volvo XC60 but it undercuts many of the opposition when it comes to price and standard equipment.

Reflecting a confidence in its reliability, Omoda is also offering the 9 with a seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty alongside eight-year coverage of the car’s battery. It’s certainly enough to add some peace of mind to those early days of ownership.

What’s under the bonnet?

Omoda is offering the 9 with just the one engine option for now, but it’s an impressive one. At the heart of this setup is a 1.5-litre petrol engine, but this is then linked to a massive 34.46kWh battery, which is similar to those found on compact electric vehicles. As a result, Omoda claims that you could get 93 miles of electric-only running and, when the car is fully charged, you could get up to 201mpg. However, during mixed driving you’ll likely see around 43mpg – which is still respectable for this size of car.

With 443bhp, the Omoda 9 is also punchier power-wise than you might expect, so you’ll still manage 0-60mph in around 4.7 seconds. The 9’s top speed stands at 124mph, too, though high performance isn’t exactly what this car feels aimed at.

What’s it like to drive?

If you’re going after premium rivals, then you better offer a premium experience and, in many areas, the Omoda 9 does just that. With such a large electric range, there’s very little petrol-powered motoring to be done in the 9 and around town, this large SUV feels easy to drive and relaxing to be behind the wheel of. The ride can feel a little jittery at slower speeds, but this is probably down to the car’s large alloy wheels and, at speed, things settle down. Move a little more quickly through bends and the 9’s weight will make itself known, but drive it in a more moderate manner and this isn’t as much of an issue.

The steering is a touch light off-centre and though this can be weighted up by selecting sportier driving modes, it never feels that natural. However, this lightness makes the 9 very easy to drive in more urban environments. Both wind and road noise are kept pleasantly low and when coupled with the 9’s well-cushioned seats, make it a comfortable car to get around in.

How does it look?

The 9 doesn’t break the rulebook when it comes to design and from many angles, it feels that there has been some inspiration from other models – the rear quarter, for instance, looks quite Honda-ish to our eyes. That said, it’s not an offensive look in the slightest, with the car’s sharp LED running lights helping to give it a more futuristic appeal.

You’ve only got five exterior colours, with just ‘Peridot Green’ being the sole ‘alternative’ choice. The remaining options are just greys and whites – it’d be nice to see a little more colour available.

What’s it like inside?

There’s a good amount of space inside the Omoda 9. There’s a good amount of storage in the centre console thanks to the gear selector’s location on the steering column. Material quality isn’t bad, either, and though there are some harsher plastics lower down and on the centre cubby cover, it’s all pretty much par for the course. There’s a 660-litre boot, too, which is easy to access thanks to a very small load lip. However, the 9’s coupe-inspired design does make the boot a little shallower than you might expect, so this could be a pain when you’re loading in taller items.

Rear-seat passengers have got a decent amount of stretch-out space, too, and the outer rear seats can even be reclined for a more first-class experience.

Verdict

The Omoda 9 is the most accomplished car to come from the Chery-based manufacturer so far. It’s finished neatly and has all of the equipment you could need. Keep that massive battery topped up and the 9 will prove cheap to run, too, providing you have access to home charging.

Dynamically, it does little to move the game on, but with its competitive price and spacious design, the 9 is a newcomer which is worth taking seriously.

Facts at a glance

Model as tested: Omoda 9

Engine: 1.5-litre petrol with plug-in hybrid assistance

Power: 443bhp

Torque: 700Nm

Max speed: 124mph

0-60mph: 4.7 seconds

MPG: 201

Emissions: 38g/km

Electric-only range: 93 miles