Following the success of its 5 and E5 cars, the “affordable premium” Chinese brand Omoda has launched this plush plug-in hybrid SUV, said Car magazine. The 9 combines a “giant” 34.5kWh battery and a 1.5-litre petrol engine to give 443bhp, and a “best-in-class” EV-only range of 93 miles. It can sprint from 0-62mph in just 4.9secs, and its top speed is 124mph. “This is easily Omoda’s best effort yet.”
The Omoda 9 is “unashamedly geared towards comfort rather than sporty handling”, and, as such, it’s not much fun to drive, but it is an “excellent cruiser”, said Auto Express. Quick yet “soft”, the 9 is most at home on zippier roads and motorways; it’s a bit “wishy-washy” on country roads. It feels “reassuringly solid” and visibility is good but the steering is vague and the brakes are “a little grabby”.
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