The trend of Chinese manufacturers undercutting luxury German badges continues as the Omoda 9 SHS SUV UK specification has been announced.
Omoda is the sister brand to Jaecoo, both of which are owned by China's fourth largest automotive giant, Chery – and both brands are in the midst of rapid expansion in the UK.
The five-seater, all-wheel drive Omoda 9 SHS SUV will be the brand's flagship model in Britain.
And it follows the 'everything as standard' approach that the Chery sub-brand bases its affordable offerings around.
Priced at £44,990, the Omoda 9 SHS will in Britain in June and order books are now open.
Here's what we know before we get in the driver's seat to test it on the open road:
Omoda - a sub-brand of China's largest automotive exporter Chery - has unveiled the UK spec of the Omoda 9 SHS large SUV and it'll cost less than £45k
The Omoda 9 is at the forefront of Chery's UK domination plans; the manufacturer only launched in August 2024 with the Omoda 5 and E5 crossover SUVs, and now the 'futuristic crossover SUV' brand has set its sights on the large SUV market with the 9 SHS.
Designed around the 'golden ratio for visual harmony of 0.618', the 9 retains the wide-body stance but with the aerodynamic needs of a hybrid and welcomes you with a dramatic 10-second 134 LED lighting sequence.
It says the 9 SHS is a 'car that drives like an EV and thinks like a hybrid', as the 'Super Hybrid System' delivers an expected combined range of over 700 mile WLTP, thanks to an EV-only range of 93 miles.
And helpfully for new car tax rules its CO2 level is just 40 g/km CO2.
It features the same SHS system as the Jaecoo 7 SHS we recently reviewed; a quiet, self-charging powertrain which can be used in town, on longer drives to eke out the miles or theoretically off-roading.
It also comes with the Omoda three-speed Dedicated Hybrid Transmission (DHT) and six drive modes: Eco, Normal, Sport, Mud, Snow and Off-Road (which makes the most of the electromagnetic suspension and intelligent four-wheel drive system).
The 1.5-litre TGDI engine, dual electric motors and 34.46kWh battery offers a total combined output of 443bhp, managing 0 to 62mph in 4.9 seconds.
Omoda says that the high-performance characteristics (it's faster than the Jaecoo 7 SHS which does 0-62 in 8.5s) 'blends' with the 'elegant, thoughtfully equipped interior' to create the 'quiet luxury' the model's going for.
The 9 comes with acoustically optimised tyres and double laminated glass, which when combined with the quiet, self-charging promises an 'ultra-quiet cabin experience' for the five occupants.
Anh experience that's apparently equivalent to light rainfall or a modern library – 45.8 db at urban speeds.
The Omoda 9 has a 'Super Hybrid System' which combines 93-miles of EV range with petrol-powered driving to deliver 700 miles of total range
The large five-seater promises an ultra-quiet cabin experience' that's apparently equivalent to light rainfall or a modern library – 45.8 db at urban speeds
Everything-as-standard: What do you get?
Omoda is prioritising 'space and sophistication' inside and the 9 is laden with goodies; the Chinese market disruptors are getting a name for delivering as many standard features as the luxury marques for a fraction of the price.
So, there's a 24.6-inch HD infotainment and driver's display, along with ambient lighting, a (cooled) wireless charging pad and a 14-speaker SONY surround sound system that is also mounted in the headrests.
Then for comfort you get heated and ventilated seating for all four outer passengers and even the back seats are electronically reclining.
And the cabin is naturally lit with a 1.3m sunroof, with an air purification system as well.
Omoda hasn't scrimped on the safety tech either because there are 20 ADAS features, a 540-degree panoramic view camera with transparent view, and automatic parking assist.
The 9 SHS comes with an 'everything-as-standard' philosophy which means that you get all of the above for £44,990
Inside you get a 24.6-inch HD infotainment and driver's display, along with ambient lighting, a (cooled) wireless charging pad and a 14-speaker SONY surround sound system
It arrives in June here in the UK, but first deliveries will happen in May. Chery has already built up a 73-strong Jaecoo/Omoda dealership network, and you'll be able to buy the 9 from any of them.
By the end of the year, it says there will be 100 dealerships as the expansion continues at a lightning rate.
As said the Omoda 9 SHS will cost £44,990 and will be covered with a 7-year/100,000 mile warranty alongside an eight-year battery warranty and RAC home start cover as standard.
For reference the BMW X3 30e xDrive (plug-in hybrid) costs from £58,000, the Lexus NX450h+ from £55,000, the BMW X5 xDrive50e is a whopping £85,000 and the Skoda Kodiaq costs £41,935.
Stating that the 9 SHS will come bring 'large SUV levels' at mid-sized SUV cost, Victor Zhang, of Omoda, said: 'The Omoda 9 is an important step forward for us, and it is representative of what modern living should be – beautifully designed, intelligently engineered and with technology that is actually usable.
'The difference is, this isn't a house – it's all found within a car.'
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