SEVEN SISTERS

Another Chinese SUV has pitched up, and there are high hopes for the Omoda 7, sister to the Jaecoo 7, which has made major inroads in the UK market

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You can't blame Omoda for sticking with what it knows best. The brand, part of Chinese powerhouse Chery and sister to Jaecoo, saw an almighty 447% hike in sales in the past year, having just the Omoda 5 and 9 SUVs at its disposal. So, meet the 7, another high-rider from Omoda that's focused on offering outstanding value.

WHAT'S NEW?

There's nothing surprising about where it sits - you guessed it, between the 5 and 9. While the 5 is aimed at smaller crossovers like the Ford Puma, the 7 has its sights on the mighty Kia Sportage and Nissan Qashqai. It's the same battleground its sister, the Jaecoo 7, is in. That was the second bestselling car in the UK in January, so Chery has high hopes for the 7.

WHAT'S UNDER THE BONNET?

It essentially uses the same underpinnings as the Jaecoo 7, and the same for what it's powered by. There's an entry-level 1.6-litre petrol with 145bhp mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, plus a plugin hybrid. The Super Hybrid System pairs a 1.5-litre petrol engine with an electric motor and an 18.3kWh battery pack, to give 201bhp and up to 56 miles of pure-electric driving.