The OMODA C9 SHS Review – A Plug-in Hybrid To Consider
It’s easy to consider that all Chinese cars are “the same” – but some seemingly offer great value for money and a competitive edge over their counterparts. One can regard the Omoda C9 PHEV as a competitor that would probably hold its weight in that fight against the closest rival.
As the title suggests, this C9 model is a plug-in hybrid that not only offers great travel range but also does not feel like one is “hauling” a heavy vehicle. The C9 PHEV is a high-performance SUV in Omoda’s line-up the sees a 1.5L turbocharged engine paired with dual electric motors to deliver 440kW and 915Nm of torque – and this is where the fight comes in. This combination sees the car with a claimed range of over 1100KM’s of travel range; I say “claimed” as we managed to get 1048KM from a full tank with the batteries being fully charged as well.
It is worth noting that travel ranges are equally affected by ones driving habits, and this will impact just how distance you would get out of the car. In saying that, it would be theoretically possible to travel from Johannesburg to Cape Town with the car at full capacity in both fuel and battery charge.
The exterior is “clean” for a lack of better words – the front light bar has been laid out like art that comes alive at night when the pulsating lights give the car a lot more character. The diamond grill looks like it has been molded perfectly to complete the ‘face’ of the car.
Moving to the rear, we see how the light design has been extended to create a ‘simplistic’ synergy on the car. The party pack is how the integrated rear lights pulsate as you plug the car into the charger and act as an indicator to let you know when you are done charging.
The interior also feels a lot plusher than expected, it is a luxury SUV after all. The leather seats do feel comfortable and suited for long distance travel, which will work in one’s favour as you attempt to fully empty the tank and the batteries through your travels.
I personally liked how the climate controls were not embedded into the infotainment system where there are physical dials to manage control just above the fast-charging wireless charging pads for both the driver and the front passenger.
This is where my frustration starts though – the infotainment integration. I personally am not a fan of all the necessary features being placed into the infotainment system, as I will find myself fighting between my passenger adjusting their climate and me trying to navigate back to Apple Carplay or Android Auto in a bid to continue my navigation for example. The system is fast however and I need to make mention of that, though it does not seem to ‘keep memory’ after the driver has set certain preferences during their drive; yes, it ‘resets’ back to default setting after each stop.
A few notes on the safety features included in the Omoda C9 SHS:
- Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
- Automatic Braking (AEB)
- Blind-Spot Monitoring (BSM)
- Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA)
- Rear Cross-Traffic Brake (RCTB)
- Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
- Lane Change Assist (LCA)
- Lane Departure Prevention (LDP)
- Integrated Cruise Assist (ICA)
- Traffic Congestion Assist (TCA)
Barring these few misses in terms of features and integration, it is also worth noting that the Omoda C9 SHS still seems like a great buy – especially considering that it is priced at R999 900. We are note sure what else you would even spec on this model for it to break the R1 million rand mark but are very much happy to give it a try.
Omoda now also offers an international warranty recognition across global network, so customers would be covered no matter where they purchased their vehicles. This is included on to the 5 Year/150 000km warranty, a 1 000 000km/10 year warranty on the engine and a comprehensive 7-year or 100,000 km service plan (whichever occurs first) as standard.
