Omoda C9 1.5T PHEV Explore AWD

The most luxurious Chinese product we've sampled to date gains its maker's impressive plug-in hybrid powertrain solution. Can it carry its suitably premium price tag?

- 

Tested in our December 2024 issue, the flagship model in Chery’s premium Omoda family of vehicles impressed us with its sense of occasion, stylish finishes and specifications list, and, as a showcase for the rate of development and problem-solving that this Chinese carmaker has demonstrated over a relatively short time.

To recap, the sister car to the Omoda C5 was introduced in two derivatives, the front-wheel-drive Inspire and the all-wheel-drive Explore. Both feature a 2.0-litre turbopetrol engine and an 8-speed automatic transmission; the more expensive model distinguished by a slightly more premium cabin and a bouquet of terrain modes linked with its AWD drivetrain.

A striking-looking package that, from a distance, has an air of svelte sophistication that could be mistaken for a Lexus or one of the smaller Range Rovers, the C9’s exterior dimensions, including a 4.7-metre profile, broadly mirror those of the modern BMW X3.

The points of comparison don't end here, though, as there are plenty of “nods” to Mercedes-Benz within the Omoda’s impressively well put-together cabin. These include the door-mounted electric seat adjustment, the column-mounted transmission lever and the scrolling cover for the centre console. Regardless, where elsewhere we've noted some Chinese brands resorting to novelty (think rotating display screens) to wow potential buyers, the C9 stands out for feeling genuinely premium.

Omoda’s 24.6-inch, single-piece curved display, which houses the infotainment system and digital instrumentation, adds to this level of sophistication. It must be said, however, that the fussy and overcomplicated workings of the former, not helped by haptic steering-wheel-mounted controls that become illegible once sunlight hits them, slightly taints the user experience.