Chery's cheery gamble on crowded SUV market

Hot on the heels of the 5 and E5 SUVs comes this Chery's Omoda 9.

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It's the Chinese brand's entrance into a more spacious, upmarket style of SUV, delivered at an attractive price.

But given that Omoda is still a relative newcomer here, can the 9 do enough to tempt buyers?

WHAT'S NEW?

The car is offered at a price which undercuts many key rivals at £44,990. Reflecting a confidence in its reliability, Omoda is also offering the 9 with a seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty alongside eight-year battery coverage.

WHAT'S UNDER THE BONNET?

It has just one engine option for now, but it's an impressive 1.5-litre linked to a massive 34.46kWh battery, similar to those found on compact EVs. As a result, Omoda claims you could get 93 miles of electric-only running and, when fully charged, you could get up to 201mpg.

However, during mixed driving you'll likely see around 43mpg.

The 9 is also punchy power-wise, so you'll still manage 0-60mph in around 4.7 seconds. The 9's top speed stands at 124mph, too, though high performance isn't exactly what this car feels aimed at.

WHAT'S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?