New Omoda 9 PHEV arrives with 93-mile electric range and huge kit list

• New plug-in hybrid SUV
• Expected 93-mile electric range and 443bhp
• Prices start from £44,990

The wave of new Chinese cars coming to the UK has stepped up a gear in recent months, and the Omoda 9 is the latest arrival. It’s a five-seater, plug-in hybrid SUV with enough performance and electric range to worry Europe’s more established brands, plus a kit list to rival cars from a sector above.

A rival to cars like the Skoda Kodiaq new Volkswagen Tayron, the Omodo 9 costs from £44,990 – a figure that’s actually more expensive than the plug-in hybrid versions of those competitors. We’re used to cars from China undercutting the European competition, so Omoda’s pricing is a bold move, but there’s a lot going in its favour. It has the longest electric range, the most performance and the more extensive kit list of the trio, and there’s even a seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty for peace of mind.

What do I need to know about the Omoda 9?

The Omoda 9 has been on sale in other markets as the Exeed Yaoguang for some time, but only now has parent-brand Chery decided to bring it to the UK. We’re only getting one version of it for now – a 1.5-litre petrol plug-in hybrid, which Omoda dubs its ‘Super Hybrid System’.

That name will be familiar to anyone who’s read our Jaecoo 7 review, as the two sister brands share the same hybrid technology. In the Omoda 9, however, things are ramped up a notch. It gets two electric motors, working with the petrol engine to produce a combined 443bhp. That power is sent to all four wheels, helping it launch from 0-62mph in under five seconds.

That’s an impressive turn of speed for a car of this size, but the hybrid system is primarily designed for efficiency. The giant 34kWh battery is larger than the item fitted in the old BMW i3 – a fully electric hatchback – and contributes to its mammoth 93-mile electric range. Keep the battery topped up and that should slash your fuel bills, while also placing the Omoda 9 in the second-lowest BiK bracket for company car drivers.

Like the Jaecoo 7, the battery in the Omoda 9 is never allowed to run flat, with the petrol engine kicking it to charge it up while driving. In total, Omoda says you should be able to squeeze out over 700 miles from the petrol engine and battery combined.

What features does the Omoda 9 have?

Omoda hasn’t held back when it comes to the 9’s kit list. It gets all the bells and whistles you’d normally expect in a pricier machine, including electronically adjustable suspension, a large sunroof, a 540-degree parking camera, an air purification system, heated and ventilated seats in the front and back, plus a sound system with speakers in the headrests.

Given that all of that comes fitted as standard, it makes the Omoda 9’s £45k price tag look like a decent deal compared to similarly-equipped rivals. Inside, the focus is on “space, sophistication and seamless integration”, while various touches help create a sense of “quiet luxury”. The Omoda 9 rides on “acoustically optimised” tyres to reduce road noise, while double-laminated glass should help to cut cabin noise further.

From the outside, the Omoda 9 has plenty in common with the smaller Omoda 5 SUV. There’s a big, geometric grille pattern underneath a full-width light-bar, with a similar lighting setup at the rear. Quad exhaust pipes in the lower bumper give a subtle hint about the performance on tap.

How much does the Omoda 9 cost and when can I buy one?

The Omoda 9 is available in just one trim level with one engine for now, costing £44,990. While that’s pricier than entry-level versions of the Tayron and Kodiaq, it’s a lot cheaper than the top-spec versions that have a similar kit list. You can order an Omoda 9 now from one of its 73 showrooms in the UK, with the first cars scheduled to be delivered in June.

New Omoda 9 exterior and interior images

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