New Omoda 9 Coming Soon: Specs, price and release info

Omoda and its partner brand Jaecoo are among a growing number of Chinese brands hitting the market with big ambitions to take on the established carmakers and hit them where it hurts on price. We’ve already driven the Omoda 5 in full electric and petrol-powered versions and now there’s this, the Omoda 9 with plug-in hybrid power shared with the Jaecoo 7.
• Omoda is going all out for value for money, with an ‘everything included’ policy including premium car features in one price – the only option you can pay for is fancier paint • Those luxury features include heating and cooling for the seats, a panoramic roof, all-round cameras, a fancy stereo with speakers in the headrests and more • This adds up to peace and quiet benchmarked against a modern library according to Omoda’s claims, which sounds promising … unless libraries have become noisier places since we last went to one • Combination of a petrol engine and big battery means up to 93 miles on electric power alone or over 700 miles using both • Branded ‘Super Hybrid System’ as on the Jaecoo, the arrangement is confusingly described as self-charging but is, in reality, a conventional plug-in • Pricing starts (and ends!) at £44,900, a seven-year warranty helping confidence in what is an otherwise unknown quantity

Generously we’d say you won’t pick the Omoda 9 out in a line-up of comparable modern, mid-size SUVs, the looks very much conforming to the template for such cars. But, hey, it’s rapidly becoming the default vehicle for our times so buyers obviously like the format! Full-width lighting front and back is very much The Thing at the moment as well, so don’t expect to stand out for that either. In terms of models that’s easy, for the fact there’s just one. Leaving colour your only decision and, potentially, additional expense if you go for one of the snazzier options.

More when we have it but from the pictures the Omoda goes large on the quilted upholstery and stitched trim on the dash and centre console, because premium. Proof will be in how it feels when you actually sit in it but it looks good, and we especially appreciate the sight of chunky looking silver knobs and switches for operating things like heating and ventilation. There are, inevitably, screens but these are more neatly integrated into the dash than some of the gigantic tablet-style offerings seen in many rivals. Kit includes 20 driver assistance systems, air purification, a Sony-branded 14-speaker stereo and reclining rear seats.

Plug-in hybrids have come on a long way and are having a bit of a resurgence of late, the big battery in the Omoda’s system meaning it’ll go nearly 100 miles without needing to fire up the engine. And around 700 miles if you do. That answers the usual worries of range anxiety if that’s still putting you off going full electric, and means flexibility to fuel as the situation and your journey dictates. 40g/km CO2 output puts it in the cheaper of the latest VED tax bands and will be attractive to company car drivers as well.

Omoda and Jaecoo are busy building up a shared network of dealers in the UK, and expect to have 100 in place by the end of 2025. No word yet on when the Omoda 9 will be appearing in those new showrooms, but we do know the price will be £44,990, which is about the same as a top spec VW Tiguan or Kia Sportage PHEV for comparison. The Omoda’s electric range is better than both but it’ll have to deliver on those premium pretensions if it’s to convince buyers to switch.

With those dealerships and the support network taking shape expect both brands to launch plenty of new product, the 9 the first of many likely coming down the line.

This is a fast-moving and very competitive sector of the market, with lots of talented rivals from both established players and other new brands coming from China. Watch this space!