The Omoda 9’s numbers make impressive reading. This Chinese plug-in hybrid costs less than £45,000 but produces 449hp and can go more than 90 miles on electricity alone. If the marketing were being devised by a market trader, the tagline would surely be ‘Tomorrow’s technology at yesterday’s prices.’
You get a lot of car for the money. The Omoda 9 SHS is a similar size to the Volvo XC60 T6 plug-in hybrid, but costs £10,000 or so less, while having more power and going further on a charge.
However, before you start Googling the location of your nearest Omoda showroom, note that one or two of the numbers aren’t so appealing. The maximum towing capacity of 1500kg is a bit low for such a heavy and powerful car.
What’s more, a quick check of the VIN plate on my test model showed that the capacity in effect drops to 1425kg when the car is loaded to the gross vehicle weight.
The infotainment is fiddly and the 9’s ride and handling aren’t as polished as the best premium SUVs for towing a caravan – but the Omoda doesn’t miss the mark by miles. Official towing gear should be available within a few months. Once it is, the Omoda 9 is good enough to deserve some serious consideration.
For those who have opted for an electric towing option instead, don’t miss my tips on how to charge an EV while towing.
Spec of the Omoda 9 SHS
- Price: £44,990
- Kerbweight: 2195kg
- 85% match: Above max tow
- Max towing weight: 1500kg
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