First Impressions Matter

In a world saturated with SUVs promising to be everything to everyone, it takes something bold — or brilliantly executed — to stand out. Enter Omoda, the premium-leaning offshoot of Chinese automotive giant Chery, now making its official push into the UK market. You might not have heard of them yet, but they’ve been quietly making waves globally, not with gimmicks, but with substance.

The Omoda 9 is their halo plug-in hybrid SUV — a shot fired squarely at the likes of the BMW X3, Lexus NX, and Audi Q5. It’s ambitious. It’s well-equipped. And, crucially, it’s not just a mash-up of borrowed ideas with a flashy badge. This is a car built with confidence, identity, and clarity of purpose.

From the spec sheet alone, it’s hard not to be intrigued: 449 ps, 93 miles of EV range, massage seats, and Sony audio. But that’s only half the story. The other half is what happens when you step inside, start it up, and realise this thing might just be one of the most compelling plug-in SUVs at this price point.

So I took it for a real-world, one-hour drive — no labs, no hypermiling — just Balanced mode, everyday roads, and a heavy right foot when the mood took me. And what I found might surprise you.

This isn’t just a new face in an old segment — it’s a genuinely credible, refined, and enjoyable alternative to the established players. The only question left is: are we ready to rethink what we expect from a £45,000 SUV?

Let’s find out.

Performance & Powertrain

The Omoda 9’s drivetrain is where things get particularly interesting. This plug-in hybrid SUV combines a 1.5L turbocharged petrol engine with two electric motors, delivering a total system output of 443 bhp and a massive 915 Nm of torque.

That’s more torque than many performance cars, and it shows: 0–62 mph comes up in just 4.9 seconds, while top speed is limited to 124 mph. Despite its size and weight (kerb weight is 2,195 kg), the Omoda 9 feels genuinely quick.

The AWD system, paired with a 3-speed automatic transmission, shifts seamlessly between power sources to deliver confident, planted traction on any road surface.

***The OMODA 9 offers something much more than the average “Generobox” in design terms***

Battery, Range & Real-World MPG

One of the standout features is the Omoda 9’s 34.5 kWh battery, which offers a claimed 93 miles of electric-only range (WLTP). That’s excellent for a PHEV, making it possible to do many daily commutes or school runs without burning a drop of petrol.

During my test drive, which lasted just over an hour in Balanced (Normal) mode, the Omoda 9 delivered an impressive 47.9 MPG—a solid figure considering the battery was also recharging during part of the journey. That figure suggests real-world efficiency well within the expectations of a premium PHEV, especially given its size and power.

Charging is practical too:

AC charging at 6.6 kW will take you from 30% to 80% in about 5.5 hours.
DC fast charging at 70 kW can do the same in just 25 minutes—rare for a plug-in hybrid and extremely useful.

Size, Space & Practicality

The Omoda 9 offers generous dimensions:

Length: 4,775 mm
Width: 1,920 mm (2,196 mm with mirrors)
Height: 1,670 mm
Wheelbase: 2,800 mm

It’s big, but not unwieldy. Boot space is excellent:

660 litres with the rear seats up
1,783 litres with the seats down

And with a braked towing capacity of 1,500 kg, it’s ready to haul a decent-sized trailer or caravan.

***Even the rear seats are electronically adjustable and have both heating and cooling as standard***

Interior & Tech: Premium Without Pretension

Step inside and the Omoda 9 hits all the right notes. Two 12.3-inch curved screens dominate the dashboard, delivering crisp, responsive controls for both the infotainment and digital driver display.

The 14-speaker Sony audio system (with built-in headrest speakers) sounds phenomenal. Add in Vegan leather seats with heating and ventilation, a panoramic sunroof, and an air purification system (that can suck out farts…seriously), and you’ve got a cabin that feels properly premium—without the eye-watering price tag.

Advanced driver aids are plentiful:

540° parking camera
Adaptive cruise control
Augmented reality head-up display
Lane keep assist, blind spot detection, and more

The suspension is electronically adjustable, giving you control over comfort vs control based on your driving style.

***The interior is not just stylish and well built, but it’s absolutely laden with standard tech***

Price & Value

At £44,990 (Noble trim – currently the only variant in the UK), the Omoda 9 undercuts many European rivals while offering more kit as standard. It also comes with a 7-year / 100,000-mile warranty, which adds peace of mind to the already strong value proposition.

Final Thoughts: The Omoda 9 — A Flag-Bearer for the New Age of Plug-In Luxury?

The Omoda 9 is not just another SUV muscling its way into a crowded market; it’s a confident statement of intent — from a brand few in the UK have heard of, but many will come to respect. And after an hour-long real-world drive, I can tell you this: it’s not hype. This thing delivers.

What you get here is a blend that’s becoming increasingly rare in the age of electrification: genuinely compelling performance, authentic electric usability, and a sense of interior occasion that doesn’t feel like a derivative copy of German design. It’s all the more impressive when you remember this is Omoda’s first shot at a UK flagship. If this is their opening act, one can only imagine what Act Two looks like.

In a straight line, the Omoda 9 is properly fast — almost hilariously so. 443 bhp and 915 Nm of torque in a big SUV should feel brutish, even unruly. But here, it’s seamless. The transition from electric to petrol is so smooth you often miss it entirely, and the AWD system makes light work of keeping it all pointed in the right direction. For those who think “PHEV” equals boring, this is your wake-up call. It pulls like a V6 diesel, but drinks like a hybrid and glides like an EV.

Inside, it's clear that Omoda didn't just benchmark rivals — they tried to outdo them. Twin curved screens, vegan leather massage seats, and a headrest-integrated Sony sound system that wouldn't feel out of place in a Bentley — these are not the hallmarks of a cut-price offering. They are signs of ambition. Of intent. Of a brand wanting not just to participate in the game, but to redefine the rules of engagement.

But what really surprises — and where this car earns its place as a disruptor — is in the real-world efficiency. I managed 47.9 MPG over a mixed-hour drive, in Balanced mode, with the car actively recharging the battery along the way. That’s not lab-optimised fantasy, that’s everyday usability. That’s school run + supermarket + back home without anxiety, fuss or fuel.

Now, is it perfect? No. Brand snobs will scoff. The badge doesn’t carry the clout of Audi or BMW. Yet. And a closer look at the software and menu logic reveals a few rough edges — forgivable when you consider the overall package, but worth noting.

Still, what we have here is the beginning of a brand narrative that actually matters. Not a gimmick or a one-off, but the first of what could be a long line of smart, capable, and dare I say charismatic plug-in vehicles. In that sense, the Omoda 9 isn’t just good — it’s important.

If you're in the market for a £45K SUV and you're willing to look beyond the usual suspects, do yourself a favour: drive this car. You may find yourself asking why you'd spend more, or settle for less.

Because the Omoda 9? It’s not just trying to impress — it’s trying to change your mind.

In my brief time with the car, I have to say, it felt like a home run for the rookie!

To find the latest and greatest lease deals on the OMODA 9, click here

Omoda 9 First Drive - The Premium PHEV That Overdelivers