SINO THE TIMES

Sean O'Grady finds much to like in the Omoda 9 SHS, a plug-in hybrid from a relatively new Chinese marque

- Sean O'Grady

According to an understandably overheated press release, the Omoda and Jaecoo car brands recently managed to grab 2.7 per cent of the UK market – which, if sustained, would put these two newcomer badges into roughly the same space as wellknown names such as the Seat/Cupra combi, or Peugeot.

If there was any doubt about the strength of the Chinese “challenge” (the diplomatically favoured term) to the automotive establishment, then a succession of remarkable sales breakthroughs by those and other increasingly prominent makes, such as BYD, is indicative of just how rapidly the scenery is shifting.

The Omoda 9 SHS I've just been swanning around in goes quite some way in explaining why. Literally, in fact, given that this plugin petrol/electric hybrid has a claimed electric-only range of 93 miles, which I found plausible in my time with the SUV/coupe crossover. A few years ago such a feat would have been thought impossible; yet here we are.