Say hello to…
…the Omoda 9, a D-segment plug-in hybrid SUV from the Chery stable of new entrant brands that also includes Jaecoo. The Omoda 9 is positioned as a car that’s priced one segment lower than its size would have you believe at £44,990. So, while it’s approximately the same size as a Volvo XC60, it’s priced more closely to the VW Tiguan. While Omoda call’s it’s plug-in hybrid system SHS (super hybrid system) it’s still badged PHEV on the back of the car.
Omoda is also only offering a single, incredibly well specified model and the only options are colours.
Standard equipment on the Omoda 9 includes 20-inch alloys, adaptive suspension, LED headlights, auto high beam, acoustic glass, powered steering wheel adjust, heated steering wheel, heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, powered memory front seats, satnav, wireless phone charging, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, 4x USB sockets, 12.3-inch infotainment screen, 12.3-inch digital driver’s display, adaptive cruise, head-up display, blind spot monitoring, automated parking and dual zone climate control.
Is The Omoda 9 Suitable For My Fleet
On paper, the Omoda 9 hits it out of the grounds for fleet. The fact it has a 93-mile EV range means it not only qualifies for the 6% benefit-in-kind tax band, but that distance is genuinely useful for not using petrol.
What’s more, the 34kWh battery can be charged at up to 70kW from a DC charger; far better than any PHEV rival.
The extensive equipment list should help residual values and appeal to drivers.
What’s more, there’s an impressive amount of space in the cabin with plenty of room for adults in the back seats although taller adults may find their heads brushing the roof lining. And the boot is a claimed 660 litres, which, again, is useful and impressive.
Omoda is also working with DHL to make sure it has a good supply of parts, something that has afflicted other new entrant brands.
The 1.5-litre petrol engine also returned a real-world 47.1mpg on our mixed 50-mile test route and used around half of its battery capacity.
One point of note on efficiency, for those drivers that like to monitor mpg or miles per kWh, the Omoda 9 does not offer a resettable trip function for this. It will only reset distance on the trip, while the car provides a rolling 50 mile average for efficiency.
Leasing An Omoda 9
Gateway2lease is offering the Omoda 9 for competitive £585 a month on a 3+36 business lease contract with 10,000 miles a year.
Driving An Omoda 9
With Omoda being a new entrant, it has yet to embed an expected or brand style in the psyche of the UK population. However, styling is subjective, but the Omoda 9 looks classy and a bit Lexus-esq from the outside.
Stepping up into the driver’s seat (and we do mean up) the first thing you realise is the height of the seat. Even in the lowest position, your eyeline is noticeably above that in rival cars. It takes some getting used to, but it’s not a bad thing as it improves forward visibility and there’s still enough headroom for taller drivers.
The downside to the high position, is that the A-pillar is closer than you’d expect which blocks three-quarters’ view at junctions and roundabouts.
While we’re on the topic of seats, while they’re adjustable in a multitude of directions, they have a tendency to pinch the tops of the outside of your thighs which is not comfortable.
The rest of the interior is impressively well constructed and the materials used are at premium levels. Only if you poke around in the less visible areas is quality not quite up to premium rivals; we’re thinking about the hard plastics of the door bins, in particular.
Sticking with the cabin, the infotainment is simple enough to use and turning off the speed and lane keeping warnings is easy too.
On the move, the overall impression is of a relaxed experience. In normal drive mode, the comfort levels from the suspension are good and hide UK road imperfections well. Put the car in sport mode and the suspension tends to bobble unnecessarily.
The Omoda 9 isn’t a sporty car, so trying to enjoy a twisty b-road is not a good idea as there’s minimal feedback from the steering even if the car is quick, has good stopping power and bodyroll is well controlled.
Overall the driving experience is best if you don’t rush things, particularly entering roundabouts or nipping out of side-roads. While 0-60mph is a claimed 4.9 seconds, in everyday driving, there’s a mildly worrying lag to the power delivery from standstill. That lag to throttle inputs works the other way too. If you’ve had to give the car more beans to counteract the initial incalcitrance, and then back off the accelerator, the car keeps accelerating for a fraction longer than expected. The experience may only be a fraction of a second, but it’s long enough to give you a fright.
However, once you’re used to these small idiosyncrasies and just enjoy the exceedingly refined ride, the Omoda 9’s appeal increases.
FleetandLeasing.com Verdict On The Omoda 9
Amazing value for money and great for fleet on paper, just don’t expect it to deliver a sporty drive.
Omoda 9
- Model: Omoda 9 SHS
- Power: 449hp
- Torque: 700Nm
- Max speed: 124mph
- 0-62mph: 4.9s
- Official battery range: 93 miles
- Official consumption: 43.6mpg
- Test consumption: 47.1mpg*
- CO2 emissions: 38g/km
- BIK tax band 2025/26: 6%
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