Written by Curtis Moldrich Updated: 11 June 2025

Overview

Should you buy an Omoda 9 SUV?

The Omoda 9 is a likeable, well-equipped family SUV that punches above its weight in several key areas. Performance is impressive, refinement is strong once you’re up to speed, and the technology on offer feels appropriate for the price point.

It’s not without flaws. The ride can be unsettled at low speed, and some interior materials let the side down. But the level of kit you get and the strong electric-only driving range available from the slick plug-in hybrid system help make up for it. If you’re not hung up on brand snobbery, the Omoda 9 is a smart buy in a very competitive part of the market.

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What’s new?

What happens when a budget brand goes premium? Enter the Omoda 9, a large family SUV that aims to bring luxury to the masses. It’s the follow-up to the Omoda 5 and Omoda E5, and steps in above the Jaecoo 7, positioning itself as Chinese brand Chery’s flagship UK model.

Promising style, space and sophistication for less than the price of an entry-level Range Rover Evoque, the Omoda 9 is squarely aimed at young professionals who want the premium SUV experience without the big badge markup. It’s eye-catching, tech-laden, and loaded with kit as standard.

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There are some very capable rivals to consider, such as the Volkswagen Tiguan eHybid and Skoda Kodiaq, as well as fellow Chinese offering, the BYD Seal-U. So, does it pull it off? We drove the Omoda 9 on UK roads in and around Portsmouth to find out.

You can find out more about how we test on Parkers via our dedicated explainer page. But in the meantime, read on to find out all you need to know about the Omoda 9.

What’s it like inside?

Inside, the Omoda 9 walks a fine line between affordable and upscale. Two vast 24.6-inch screens dominate the dashboard, and are crisp and well-integrated. More importantly, they’re supported by physical switchgear for key functions such as climate and drive modes, avoiding the fiddliness of some more expensive rivals.

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Creature comforts include reclining rear seats, a panoramic roof, and heated and ventilated front seats. There’s a 14-speaker Sony stereo with surprisingly good sound quality, including headrest-mounted speakers for added novelty. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard.

There are weak spots, though. Some of the cabin trim feel a little cheap, particularly the door cards and lower dash. But the overall layout is logical, and there’s a sense of design cohesion that keeps things feeling considered, if not quite premium.

Omoda 9 engine and battery range

The Omoda 9 is powered by Chery’s Super Hybrid System (SHS), pairing a 1.5-litre petrol engine with dual electric motors and a 34.46kWh battery. It delivers a combined 443hp. There’s an official EV-only driving range of 93 miles on the WLTP combined cycle, far more than you get from most of the best plug-in hybrid SUVs.

Omoda claims up to 201.8mpg with a full charge, though over a full WLTP cycle the average drops to 43.6mpg.

The system is designed to constantly adapt. It’ll run purely electric in traffic, recharge at low speeds, and lean more on the petrol engine for motorway cruising. Braking is regen-supported, switching between one- and two-motor regeneration depending on conditions.

The flexibility the system provides is impressive, managing with a three-speed automatic transmission yet providing polished progress and all-wheel drive as standard.

What’s it like to drive?

As a hybrid SUV gunning for premium status, the Omoda 9 delivers more than expected. The SHS powertrain is the standout feature: smooth, smart, and seamless in its operation. Despite nine drive modes, the system manages to stay in the background, switching between power sources and regen settings with barely a hint of fuss.

In Eco mode, performance is relaxed and predictable, leaning into efficiency over excitement. Switch to Normal or Sport and the car becomes more responsive, with more urgent acceleration and linear throttle response. Overtakes and motorway merges are handled with confidence, thanks to the 443hp on tap.

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The steering is light but precise enough to make tight city turns feel natural, and motorway driving is easygoing thanks to decent visibility and confident power delivery. Braking, too, is progressive, despite the dual-motor regen system doing its bit in the background.

Where it stumbles is in ride quality. At low speeds, especially on uneven urban roads, the Omoda 9 fidgets and transmits too much vibration into the cabin. It’s not uncontrolled, but it does fall short of the composed feel you’d get from a similarly priced Kia or Hyundai. It settles down at motorway speeds, though, where the ride becomes supple and the cabin stays hushed.

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What models and trims are available?

The Omoda 9 comes in just one version with the SHS powertrain, and virtually everything is included as standard. That means those huge screens, the full Sony sound system, panoramic roof, heated and ventilated seats, and the full suite of driver assistance features.

The only real decision is the colour, with fancier paint choices being the only paid-for extra.

What else should I know?

The Omoda 9 is parent company Chery’s pitch to tempt both downsizers from premium marques and upsizers from smaller SUVs. With just one spec, strong performance, and a long EV driving range, it undercuts rivals while offering more power and kit.

Even though it’s all-wheel drive, the SHS drivetrain is geared toward efficiency, not adventure. If you’re after a plug-in hybrid SUV for less than £45k with a decent real-world electric driving range, this should be on your radar.

Click through to the next page to see our ratings and what we like – and don’t – about the Omoda 9 SUV.