Omoda 9, the Chinese super hybrid SUV with 1,100 km of autonomy and first-class comfort. How is it going?

COLOGNE (BRESCIA) – Omoda 9 is the flagship of the Omoda & Jaecoo brand (Chery group), a D-segment SUV and the third model after Omoda 5 and Jaecoo 7 to be launched on our market. “It is not just a car, it is a five-star travel experience, a sort of Spa on four wheels with a range of over 1,100 kilometers,” says Andrea Manglaviti, product manager.

It was designed to surprise and win over customers of Hyundai Santa Fe and European brands, preferably premium, such as BMW X3, Mercedes GLC and Volvo XC60. It certainly wins for its electric autonomy that reaches 145 km (181 in the city), thanks to the 34.5 kWh battery plus an additional 955 km with 70 liters of gasoline. Then in the price-standard equipment ratio since it costs 51,900 euros, compared to 55,800 for Santa Fe and 63,600 for XC60. Furthermore, it benefits from a launch offer that includes 6,500 euros of savings with trade-in and fixed-rate financing of 5.95%, so the price drops to 45,400 euros.

The Omoda 9 has practically everything as standard, from the 20” alloy wheels to the LED matrix headlights, then the heated and adjustable steering wheel and seats, head-up display with augmented reality, Sony stereo system with 14 speakers and two speakers in the driver’s headrest, electrically opening trunk and level 2 assisted driving. There are two interior options and four body colors to choose from, with Khaki white as standard and Carbon black and Tech silver at 1,100 euros, or matte gray at 1,600 euros.

To live the travel experience that Manglaviti promises, we tested it for a hundred kilometers along the roads of Franciacorta between the vineyards and the shores of Lake Iseo. The Omoda 9 impresses with its generous dimensions (4.8 meters long, 1.92 wide and 2.8 wheelbase). The trunk capacity is 660 liters and reaches 1,783 liters with the rear seats folded down. The lines are taut and sleek in order to obtain a 0.308 aerodynamic coefficient to the advantage of consumption. The massive and seamless grille integrates the thin and sharp LED light clusters. The side profile is dynamic, with a high belt line and 20” alloy wheels that fill the wheel arches well. The sloping roof and rear spoiler add a sporty touch.

In the passenger compartment, technology and comfort are the protagonists. The "dual screen" configuration stands out on the dashboard, two 12.3" displays for digital instruments and infotainment. Everything can be connected and everything is updated via Ota. The upholstery is in Nappa leather, metal inserts and soft-touch plastics on the dashboard and in the central tunnel. The seats are well-profiled and spacious and for the front ones there is the possibility of choosing various massage and ventilation functions from a menu. The central console hosts few physical buttons, favoring interaction via touch and voice commands, which have proven to be precise and intuitive. Finally, soundproofing is another of the strong points of Omoda 9, thanks to the encapsulated thermal engine.

Under the hood is the Super Hybrid system with intelligent all-wheel drive, a high-performance 1.5 turbo petrol Miller cycle combined with three electric motors (two at the front and one at the rear) for a total power of 537 hp and 650 Nm of torque, which translates into a 0 to 100 km/h sprint in just 4.9 seconds.

Behind the wheel, the driving experience is truly comfortable and the ride is remarkable quiet. The power delivery is smooth and linear, thanks to the synergy between the combustion engine and the electric unit. In small towns, the Omoda 9 moves with surprising agility for its size.

Leaving the urban environment, it reveals a "roader" character and when you press the accelerator to the floor in Sport mode, you realize that the declared performance is realistic. The set-up is well balanced and effectively absorbs the roughness of the road without compromising stability thanks also to the electromagnetically controlled CDC suspensions that read the asphalt 1,000 times per second. The roll in curves is contained and the steering is precise enough to ensure a safe and relaxing drive.