The Omoda 9 is not the car to choose if you want to seek out the twistiest route home. It is designed to get you there quickly - and, ideally, without using any petrol along the way.
If the Omoda name means little to you so far, that is understandable. The Chinese brand is a recent arrival on the Portuguese market and is still establishing its presence there.
The Omoda 9 is its flagship model, and a clear statement of what the brand intends to offer: a large plug-in hybrid SUV with four-wheel drive, extensive technology, a lengthy equipment list and specifications that could have come from… a sports car.
The Ferrari F50 is one of my favourite supercars. It has a Formula 1-derived V12, only 349 were built and, when it arrived around 30 years ago, its 520 bhp placed it among the planet's most exotic and fastest cars.
Today, a Chinese family SUV with room for five occupants, massage seats and a battery capable of covering more than 100 km without burning petrol has even more power: 537 bhp. It is a good illustration of how the power landscape has changed. Outputs of around 500 bhp, once the preserve of exotic supercars, can now be found in SUVs with no sporting ambitions whatsoever.
That is exactly the heart of the matter. The Omoda 9's 395 kW (537 bhp) and 650 Nm look impressive on paper and enable it to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.9 seconds. They also set expectations that the rest of the car cannot always meet.
Styling is heading in the right direction
A clearly defined identity remains something many Chinese manufacturers are still working towards, but Omoda deserves credit for its efforts.
While its “sister” brand Jaecoo has drawn criticism for the obvious resemblance between its models and those of a certain British marque, Omoda has taken a more original route and sought to establish a shared visual identity across its range.
In the Omoda 9's case, the design is imposing and able to draw attention, particularly after dark, when its light signature stands out most. It is a shame it does not look lower, if only to better match the power it delivers. The 20-inch wheels help, yet the Omoda 9 still appears tall, almost as though it were standing on stilts.
The Omoda 9 interior offers more than screens
Like the exterior, the Omoda 9's cabin has some character, even if only because it does not feel like a lazy copy-and-paste exercise, as is the case with the interiors of countless Chinese rivals.
There are two 12.3-inch screens, but also physical controls and a centre console which, as well as providing plenty of storage, wraps the driver in something of a cocoon.
It is comfortable, visually appealing and pleasant to spend time in. The ergonomics are convincing, too. Retaining physical buttons for certain functions is a positive, while the steering-wheel controls, despite being touch-sensitive, are easy to understand and operate.
In terms of quality, the materials are pleasing both to the touch and the eye, although the test car displayed a few unwanted noises. This is an area where there is still room to improve.
Room for everything
Whether seated in the front or the rear, Omoda 9 passengers benefit from generous space. Rear occupants have ample legroom, as well as a few “luxuries”, including heated seats, climate-control settings and electrically adjustable backrest recline.
The boot tells a slightly different story. Officially, it offers 471 litres up to the parcel shelf and 660 litres to the roof, rising to 1783 litres with the rear seats folded. Given its exterior dimensions, though, I expected more from an SUV of this size.
Power in abundance
After spending the first few kilometres appreciating the Omoda 9 for what it is - a quiet, comfortable SUV - its 537 bhp raised a different question: what happens when you try to drive it in the manner its specification sheet suggests?
The answer comes quickly. Despite its substantial output and adaptive damping, the suspension is clearly tuned for comfort. Its set-up is too soft for more committed driving, allowing excessive body movement through bends.
The steering also falls short of what the figures might imply. It is not especially communicative, while both its precision and response speed are merely average.
With six drive modes in total - Eco, Normal, Sport, Snow, Sand and Off-road - the Omoda 9 certainly does not lack choices. In reality, however, I was left feeling that two would be enough: Normal and another dedicated to off-road driving.
Eco mode restricts the plug-in hybrid system's response too heavily, without delivering any obvious consumption benefit. Sport, meanwhile, not only drains the battery at an unusually rapid rate but also makes the chassis's limitations more apparent. It is like handing a megaphone to someone who was already speaking loudly.
What is all that power for?
No matter how much manufacturers persist in giving SUVs extremely high outputs, the reality is that they will mostly be used for family duties or urban journeys. That is precisely where the Omoda 9 shines, making the most of its many cameras - one would hope some independent film productions do not have as many - and the smoothness of its plug-in hybrid system.
Provided you avoid the ballistic launches, especially in Sport mode, it is entirely possible to cover a comfortable 80 km without using a drop of petrol. On the motorway, the Omoda 9 also proves to be a capable cruiser: it is quick, stable and not excessively thirsty. Even with a depleted battery, average consumption was limited to 7.5 l/100 km.
The questions arise when the corners begin. Four-wheel drive provides plenty of traction and helps put all that power down, but it cannot disguise either the tall body or the softly tuned suspension.
Its off-road abilities deserve a positive - and surprising - mention. The ground clearance that compromises the dynamic experience on tarmac becomes a useful ally away from the road. Combined with four-wheel drive and the dedicated Snow, Sand and Off-road modes, it makes the Omoda 9 a more capable SUV than its styling would suggest.
Perhaps the Omoda 9's greatest paradox is this: its 537 bhp helps sell it, but does not necessarily make it better. The figure looks excellent on the specification sheet and guarantees impressive straight-line performance, but it also creates dynamic expectations that the chassis cannot fulfil.
With less power, it would still be quick and would probably be easier to appreciate for what it genuinely does well: carrying a family in comfort and with plenty of room, while relying solely on electric power for much of the time.
It comes down to the numbers
This is where the equation begins to make sense. At around €52,900, the Omoda 9 provides 537 bhp, four-wheel drive, a 34.46 kWh battery, up to 145 km of WLTP electric range, charging from 30% to 80% in around 25 minutes and an exceptionally comprehensive equipment level.
Is that a lot of money? Undoubtedly. But when you consider what is included, the balance of price, power and equipment is difficult to overlook.
This is where Omoda plays its strongest card. It is neither the best SUV in the segment to drive nor the most refined, but it offers an impressive amount of car for the money.
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