Omoda 9 Review 2025

Sales of cars from new and unfamiliar brands can be something of a slow burner — evidently nobody’s informed the Chinese Chery group about this as its Omoda and Jaecoo marques’ SUVs are already finding plenty of UK driveways to call home. Will that trend continue with the arrival of the hybrid-powered, luxury-focused Omoda 9?

That’s right, we did say 'hybrid'. While this may appear to fly in the face of moves by both established and new companies alike to switch to electric-only models, it’s a savvy decision by Omoda given that EV sales aren’t taking off as quickly as manufacturers — and the government — would like.

Central to the Omoda 9’s Super Hybrid System — SHS for short — is a development of the plug-in hybrid arrangement also found in the Jaecoo 7. Here a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine works in conjunction with a pair of electric motors and a 34.5kWh battery pack.

That’s a useful amount of energy storage and results in a WLTP Combined cycle electric driving range of up to 93 miles. That tally, combined with CO2 emissions of just 40g/km, could make the Omoda 9 the darling of company car drivers as together they result in a 2025/26 Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) taxation level of 6%.

For reference, with the combustion engine also active the claimed range is north of 700 miles — potentially very long gaps between filling station visits, in other words. There's no official line at this stage on recharging times.

Despite this, the Omoda 9 SHS isn’t a modestly powered eco warrior designed to get by with the least amount of necessary performance. No, its packing a jab of 449PS and a 700Nm of torque uppercut, sufficient for a 0-62mph time of an astonishingly swift 4.9 seconds. All-wheel drive traction assists that alacrity, boosted by six different driving modes, three of which aid progress in tricky conditions.

If you’re already wondering how colossal the Omoda 9’s price tag is then we recommend that you’re sat down with a mug of heavily sugared tea on standby before reading on. In its ‘everything as standard’ specification, the on-the-road price is £44,990, which includes a seven-year/100,000-mile warranty and a separate eight-year warranty for the hybrid system’s high-voltage battery.

For context, the least expensive version of the Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid costs £44,175 and while its CO2 emissions are just 22g/km, its 18.1kWh battery limits electric driving to a claimed 46 miles. Don't forget to factor-in that it's also down on the Omoda's power figure with only 306PS. Elsewhere, you’ll need £55,250 for a Volvo XC60 plug-in hybrid and £49,030 for the well-regarded Honda CR-V e:PHEV.

As there's just a single Omonda 9 SHS derivative, it's brimming with equipment and technology designed to impress and cosset in equal measure. That includes a twin-screen dashboard display nestled seamlessly within a single 24.6-inch curved panel, which mercifully doesn’t include every control you’ll frequently use. Yes, just beneath the central air vents are a trio of rotary and push-button physical controls for adjusting the interior temperature and switching on the hazard warning lights, among other functions.

Aside from the Omoda 9 SHS’s impressive efficiency, it’s also been designed to feel serene and luxurious. Double-laminated side windows minimise exterior din to a level akin to being in a public library, while the front and outer rear seats are electrically adjustable as well as being heated and ventilated. Just don’t tell whoever’s relegated to the centre of the rear bench.

For audiophiles there’s a 14-speaker Sony sound system, which includes some that are integrated within the headrests to amplify the surround experience. Smartphone mirroring is naturally included, with the centre console-sited wireless charging pad being cooled to prevent your device from getting overly hot.

How effective the Omoda 9’s electromagnetic suspension system proves to be will only become clear once we’ve driven this luxury SUV. It’s a similar situation with what it labels a 540-degree camera system with transparent view, although experience with rivals’ packages suggests that it’ll be a useful addition when manoeuvring in tight confines.

Exterior proportions of the Omoda 9 SHS are said to have been influenced by the Golden Ratio — that’s the one frequently found within nature that humans are predisposed to finding harmonious and beautiful. While that feels over-egged, it’s certainly attractive, with nods to the smaller Omoda 5’s rhombus-patterned front grille, plus a touch of glitz courtesy of the ensemble of 134 LEDs within the daytime-running lights.

From certain angles there are hints of both the Lexus RX and Range Rover Velar about the 9 SHS — not altogether unsurprising given owners of those cars will be in Omoda’s sights. Of course, they’re both considerably more expensive at £64,795 and £65,445 respectively in PHEV format.

Order books for the Omoda 9 SHS opened at the start of April 2025 with customer deliveries beginning in May.

Keep this page bookmarked to read our comprehensive full Omoda 9 review in the weeks ahead.