Another week, another Super Hybrid to drive — this time the Omoda 9 plug-in hybrid.
Omoda, which is now a separate brand, is part of the Chinese Chery group which
includes Jaecoo.
In fact, Omoda and Jaecoo share the same dealerships. Some dealers also offer
Chery-branded vehicles.
The Omoda name represents sporty crossovers while Jaecoo is associated with
more rugged SUVs.
The Omoda 9 is also sold as the Exeed Yaoguang (or RX for export markets).
It’s all a bit confusing.
STYLING
The five-seat SUV is offered in one generously equipped variant Omoda 9 SHS
Virtue AWD, priced from $61,990 plus on-roads.
A full width light bar links projector LED headlights with narrow vertical LED daytime
running lights.
The rear also features a full-width light bar.
Standard equipment includes leather-appointed seats, two-zone climate air with rear
vents and controls, heated and cooled power-adjust front seats, heated outer rear
seats and heated, power-adjust steering wheel and coloured interior lighting.
There’s also head-up display, adaptive cruise control, LED lights front and back, auto
high beam, speed sign recognition, built-in dash cam, cooled console box, auto lights
and wipers, auto-dimming interior mirror, front and rear parking sensors and
automatic parking and a powered tailgate.
A panoramic sunroof tilts and slides, with a powered sunshade and can be opened
and closed with voice commands.
Omoda 9 comes with an 8-year unlimited kilometre warranty, 8-year unlimited
kilometre warranty for the batteries, 8-year capped-priced servicing, and 8-year
roadside assistance.
INFOTAINMENT
Infotainment consists of an integrated panel with dual 12.3-inch screens, eschewing
the trend towards free-standing screens. It feels dated.
The system features Bluetooth with voice control, built-in navigation, AM/FM and
DAB+ digital radio, wired and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while sound
comes from a 14-speaker Sony-branded audio system, including two in the driver
headrest.
There’s USB A and C ports front and back as well as a 12-volt power socket in the
front (but none for the luggage area).
Wireless phone charging is also provided.
SAFETY
Omoda 9 is yet to be rated for safety by ANCAP, but gets a five-star rating from Euro
NCAP.
Occupants are protected by reverse and 360-degree cameras, eight airbags
including a front centre bag and a full suite of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems
which includes Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Blind Spot Detection (BSD),
Emergency Lane Keeping (ELK), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and Forward
Collision Warning (FCW).
Two ISOFix and three top tether child seat anchor points are fitted.
ENGINES / TRANSMISSIONS
The petrol engine produces 105kW of power and 215Nm of torque, while the electric
motors produce 75kW/170Nm, 90kW/220Nm and 175kW/310Nm (front to back).
Combined output is a prodigious 395kW and 700Nm with the dash from 0-100km/h
taking a rapid 4.9 seconds.
That’s better than Ford or Holden’s much-lamented V8 heroes in case you’re
wondering.
Getting power to the ground is all-wheel drive, with the more powerful electric motor
turning the rear wheels, via a three-speed Dedicated Hybrid Transmission (DHT).
DRIVING
Omoda bills the 9 as premium, a luxury model even and the flagship of the Omoda-
Jaecoo range.
But we’re not buying it because there’s plenty of generic, hard black plastic on show.
Apart from some fancy stitching on the door panels, it’s all a bit meh (not counting
the deep pile floor mats).
At 4775mm the 9 is exactly the same length as the BYD Sealion 6 PHEV that we
tested previously, but a little wider.
Even so it feels significantly smaller inside.
However, the 9 offers a greater load capacity at 660 litres with the rear seats in place
and 1783 litres folded.
While handy for storing items, the large, two-tier centre console consumes much of
the cabin space.
The door-mounted seat controls are a lift from Benz, but fore and aft control is for
show only in the rear.
Oddly, the doors have both physical and push-button latch releases.
The seats are narrow and pressed into our thighs and buttocks, with limited legroom
in front.
Rear legroom seated behind my own 183cm frame is comfortable.
In terms of performance, one thing we can say about the Omoda 9 is that it gets out
of the gates pretty quickly for an SUV.
And it should, with a hybrid system that consists of a turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol
engine and three electric motors — two at the front and another one at the rear.
Quad tailpipes, a pair at each corner of the rear bumper, promise something special
from this car and it delivers in spades.
The main thing that separates this car from the other super hybrids that we’ve tested
is the larger battery which at 34 kWh and is sufficient to provide a pure electric range
of about 145km (WLTP).
With an equally large 70-litre tank, energy consumption is a claimed 19.3
kWh/100km and fuel use is 1.4L/100km using premium 95 unleaded, with a
combined range of up to 1100km.
AC charging (6.6kW) takes 5.5 hours for 30-80 per cent. DC fast charging (70kW),
again from 30-80 per cent takes a claimed 25 minutes.
The trip computer in the Omoda 9 is a little confusing, but the maths is quite simple.
With a fully charged battery and the car in hybrid or a blend of petrol and electric
power, we used 11.8 litres of fuel over a distance of 288km which in our book
equates to 4.1L/100km (or very low fuel consumption).
For those intending to make frequent use of the car’s significant electric range, it
could be enough to get it across the line in front of a dedicated EV.
Otherwise, it can simply be driven as a self-charging hybrid, with three levels of
regenerative braking to top up the battery.
A round control knob in the centre console lets you switch between EV (electric) and
HEV (hybrid) modes.
There are six drive modes: Eco, Normal, Sport, Snow, Sand, and Off-Road.
There are plenty of other options contained in the menu system, but no physical
volume or temperature controls.
You may however inadvertently bring up the aircon page with a vertical swipe, but
you’ll need to wait two or three minutes for it to disappear during which time the
screen remains locked. It wears thin.
At the fair left of the screen resides a large virtual volume dial.
For a branded system, the Sony audio lacks depth, with frequent radio signal
dropouts.
With continuous damper control the ride quality with the low friction 20-inch 245/50
series Michelin E Primacy tyres is fine on smooth bitumen and surprisingly good on
secondary roads, with judicious use of the throttle sorting out any sideways
movement at speed.
Throttle response is excellent in the mid-range for overtaking, but lags from a
standstill, taking 2-3 seconds to hook up occasionally.
Backing off is sufficient to control corner speed and if things start to get out of shape,
it’s simply a matter of giving it some more juice, but be careful not to give it too much.
The four-wheel ventilated disc brakes are great, but can sometimes be abrupt.
A tyre repair kit is provided in the event of a puncture.
SUMMING UP
It’s rare to get performance and low fuel consumption in the same package, but
that’s the promise from the Omoda 9.
With 395kW of power it’s quicker than a V8 muscle car for those missing the V8 Ford
or Holden.
It’s difficult to believe but true.
RATINGS:
Looks: 7.5
Performance: 8
Safety: 8
Thirst: 8
Practicality: 7.5
Comfort: 7
Tech: 7.5
Value: 8
Overall: 7.7
AT A GLANCE
MODEL LINE-UP
Omoda 9 SHS Virtue AWD, priced from $61,990
Note: These prices do not include government or dealer delivery charges. Contact
your local Omoda-Jaecoo dealer for drive-away prices.
SPECIFICATIONS (Omoda 9 SHS Virtue, 1.5-litre turbocharged four/three electric
motors, AWD, five-seat wagon)
POWERTRAIN:
Configuration: Four cylinders in line
Maximum Power: 395 kW
Maximum Torque: 700 Nm
Front electric motors: 75 kW / 170 Nm and 90 kW / 220Nm
Rear Electric Motor: 175 kW and 310 Nm.
Battery: 34 kWh Ternary-lithium
AC charging: 6.6 kW
AC charging time: 5.5 hours (30-100%)
DC charging: 70 kW
DC charging time: 25 minutes (30-80%)
Fuel consumption: 1.4 L/100km
Energy consumption: 19.3kWh/100km
CO2 emissions: 32 g/km
EV only range: 145 km (WLTP)
Combined range: 1100 km
DRIVELINE:
Three-speed dedicated hybrid transmission, all-wheel drive
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT, AND CAPACITIES
Length: 4775 mm
Width: 1920 mm
Height: 1671 mm
Wheelbase: 2800 mm
Kerb weight: 2203 kg
Turning circle: 11.9 m
Fuel tank: 70 l
BRAKES
Front: Ventilated disc
Rear: Ventilated disc
STANDARD WARRANTY
8-year unlimited kilometre warranty which includes the batteries
