The Omoda 7 might be the aspirational family-sized SUV you thought you couldn't afford. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.
Ten Second Review
The Omoda 7 widens this Chinese brand's offering by targeting customers looking for an ambitious mid-sized SUV. Value, frugality and comfort are the keynotes here - with a dash of Omoda-style fashion. And the option of Plug-in Hybrid power.
Background
Our market is being flooded with new Chinese brands, but their products will remain small segment players until they really are engineered for the European market. Some Oriental makers are getting this message quicker than others and one of them is Omoda - specifically with this car, the Omoda 7.
Like its Chinese contemporaries, Omoda launched into our market (with the compact Omoda 5 in 2024) selling a re-badged Chinese model with some token Europeanisation (in that case via parent group Chery's European development centre in Raunheim). In contrast, the Omoda 7 mid-sized SUV we look at here is the marque's first vehicle developed specifically for export.
Engines and Tech Spec
Ownership conglomerate Chery has directed Omoda to offer the '7' here with two engines. The entry-level option is the brand's usual 1.6-litre TGDI petrol unit, which offers 147PS and 275Nm of torque, making 62mph in 10.4s en route to 118mph.
The alternative is to have your Omoda 7 in Plug-in Hybrid form with what the group likes to call its 'SHS', or 'Super Hybrid System'. The name suggests something quite revolutionary but actually, the projected EV range here - about 56 miles - isn't even quite as good as VW Group rivals (though it's better than competing Stellantis Group models).
The drivetrain is the same as that used by Chery's Jaecoo 7 SHS (and PHEV versions of the Chery Tiggo 7 and Tiggo 8), which means there's a 1.5-litre petrol engine mated to an electric motor energised by an 18.3kWh battery. This SHS model only comes in 2WD form but does have its share of clever tech, using the engine and brake regen system to always keep the battery above 0% of charge. So even if you forget (or aren't able) to plug in, you'll still find the car reverting to electric motion around town.
Though the petrol engine in this PHEV is at 1.5-litres slightly smaller than the 1.6-litre unit used in the conventional models, the SHS system's total output is of course superior, rated at 204PS, with 365Nm of torque; enough to get the car to 62mphin 8.4s en route to 112mph. The car always starts under EV power and you can drive in pure electric mode up to motorway speeds - or with the engine and motor working together in unison. When the engine cuts in, it does so pretty seamlessly.
Design and Build
Omoda says the styling of this '7' is intentionally restrained. "Those who polarise and cater to extremes cannot achieve high volumes", says the company's strategy chief. It's certainly conventional in terms of size - at 4.66m long - think Toyota RAV4 or Kia Sportage. The one really interesting styling touch comes at the front end which has a distinctive and very complex grille pattern flanked by narrow LED headlights. This really comes alive after dark with an eye-catching array of glowing hexagons, while at the same time the rear lights become illuminated spiral elements, with 'O-Universe' lightning bolt-shaped illumination.
Inside, the screens are a 15.6-inch central touchscreen and a 10.25-inch digital instrument display. The main central monitor powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8155 chipset, means the system is fast and fluid. It's also paired with wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and seamless OTA/FOTA updates as standard. From there, the driver can see the 540-degree camera with transparent chassis view, as well as easily swipe down to enable things like the 21 ADAS systems and custom preferences.
Otherwise, it's pretty standard Oriental fare, so there are virtually no physical buttons. Most functions are dealt with by screen menus, though there are two rotary dials on the steering wheel and a couple of switches for essential functions. Build quality seems fine and as you might expect, there's plenty of standard kit.
Enter into the rear via the flush door handles and you'll find class-appropriate standards of leg room for a mid-sized family SUV. Headroom isn't too badly affected by the rearward-sloping roof. Out back, there's 639-litre boot with the TGDI, which falls in size to 590-litres with the SHS.
Market and Model
Omoda usually seeks to undercut its more premium Chery Group brand partner Jaecoo, so with this Omoda 7, prices start from around £30,000 - with around £2,000 more needed for the PHEV. there are two trim levels, base 'Knight' and (if you choose the SHS) top 'Noble'.
The base 'Knight' trim offers premium technologies within a strong value proposition, including a heated eco leather steering wheel, dual-zone air-conditioning, a six-speaker SONY audio system, a cooled 50W wireless smartphone connection and 19-inch alloy wheels.
The top 'Noble' trim adds a 12-speaker SONY system, six-way electric adjustment for driver and front passenger, heated and ventilated gaming-inspired seats, a power tailgate, a 1.45m panoramic sunroof and 20-inch alloy wheels. It also introduces an air-conditioning fragrance system and four-zone voice control - firsts for any UK-delivered OMODA.
The saving over established mainstream branded models at first glance looks great - if you're comparing against PHEV models like the Volkswagen Tiguan eHybrid, the Skoda Kodiaq iV and PHEV versions of the Ford Kuga, the Kia Sportage and the Hyundai Tucson. Though we should point out that the Omoda SHS is similarly priced to a BYD Seal U DM-i; and undercut by an MG HS PHEV.
What about safety kit? Well to justify this car's 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating, there are up to 21 advanced driver assist systems, including Autonomous Emergency Braking, Forward Collision Warning and an Intelligent Avoidance System that alerts you if you're about to pass too closely a wide vehicle like a truck. You also get Lane Departure Prevention, an Intelligent Active Speed Limit system, a Driver Monitoring System and Safe Exit Warning. Plus Lane Change Assist, Emergency Lane Keeping Assist and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert.
Cost of Ownership
You shouldn't expect much from the base 1.6 TGDI petrol engine, which is rated at 31.2mpg on the combined cycle and 168g/km of CO2. Much better to stretch to the SHS Plug-in Hybrid version. The big draw of PHEVs over even the very best EVs is drive range. This Omoda 7 can travel up to 745 miles on a single tank of petrol with a fully charged battery. That battery is 18.3kWh in size. The efficiency figures are much the same as those for this model' very close Chery Group cousin, the Jaecoo 7 SHS. For reference, that car achieves a combined fuel economy figure of 403mpg, or 47mpg with the battery in a high depletion scenario. And it delivers emissions of 23g/km of CO2.
This Omoda Plug-in Hybrid model's CATL-made battery can be DC fast-charged at up to 40kW, which allows it to charge from 30-80% in about 20 minutes. AC charging this Omoda from a typical 7.4kW home wallbox will take six hours 30 minutes. The PHEV model also offers Vehicle-to-Load capability so that external devices can be charged from the drive battery via a 3.3kW charging plug.
Most new brands offer comprehensive warranties and this one is no different. Omoda includes a 7 year/100,000 mile warranty with all its cars. And an eight year battery warranty. Servicing needs are quite frequent; for both powertrains, garage visits are needed every year or 10,000 miles, whichever comes first. Affordable servicing plans are available though, at point of purchase and servicing turnround times will be aided by a UK parts warehouse established in cooperation with DHL. There's 24/7 RAC roadside assistance too, which renews with each service up to the end of the warranty.
Summary
This ought to be a much more palatable kind of Omoda for Europeans, given that it's been developed primarily for our continent. At first glance with this '7 though, it's difficult to see where that extra promised 'European-ness' lies; certainly not in the screen-dominated largely switch-less cabin.
The styling is perhaps a little more restrained than the Oriental norm - though it has its interesting touches. And the choice to focus on a Plug-in Hybrid powertrain certainly fits with European market trends. Overall though, the '7' is still a mid-sized Chinese SUV for people who like mid-sized Chinese SUVs. Still, that was enough for Omoda to sell their smaller '5' model in decent numbers here. For the short term, it may be enough for this '7' to make its sales numbers too. In the longer term though, like its Chinese rivals, Omoda needs to do more.
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