It is almost impossible to dissociate the arrival in Portugal of the Chinese Omoda from its compatriot Jaecoo. Because both are often presented together in their own communications; because they are both part of the Chery Group, the largest Chinese car exporter; because their respective models obviously share various components and technical solutions; and because they arrived almost simultaneously in the national market – where they are represented by the JAP Group (just like Nio, and its sub-brand firefly).
Interestingly (or perhaps not…), similarly to what happens with Jaecoo, Omoda also begins its activities in national territory with the launch of two SUVs. The more affordable one, fully electric; the more equipped one powered by a sophisticated and powerful plug-in hybrid engine – but both offering a general warranty of 7 years or 150,000 km, and 8 years or 160,000 km for the “high voltage” battery, and, perhaps more importantly, promising to focus on a quality/price ratio that is hard to match.
Looking at the Omoda 5 EV, it won’t be hard to guess its origins, despite a youthful and dynamic design, dominated by sharp shapes and aerodynamic lines, with 18” wheels standing out and the placement of the battery charging socket at the front. On the other hand, with a length of 4424 mm, a width of 1830 mm, a height of 1588 mm, and a wheelbase of 2630 mm, the living space promises to be generous for the class; the trunk capacity ranges from 380-1075 liters; and in an extremely well-equipped interior, even in the base version, the highlights include a curved screen that combines two 12.3” monitors, leather seats (the front ones being sporty, with integrated headrests), wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connections, and an induction charging system for smartphones.
Utilizing a structure composed of 76% high-strength steel, the Omoda 5 EV is powered by a front electric motor with 204 hp and 340 Nm, allowing it to achieve 0-100 km/h in 7.6 seconds, and a top speed of 172 km/h. It is powered by a battery with LFP (lithium iron phosphate) chemistry and a capacity of 61.06 kWh, sufficient for an announced range of 430 km in the combined WLTP cycle, with the ability to recover from 30%-80% of its charge in 28 minutes at a 80 kW fast charging station, or in about 4 hours using the onboard 11 kW charger.
Proposed at €34,900 in the Comfort version, the Omoda 5 EV costs €37,490 in the top Premium variant, as it includes, as standard, configurable multicolor ambient lighting; heated steering wheel and seats (the front ones are also ventilated, and the driver’s seat is electrically adjustable); electrically operated tailgate; electrochromatic interior mirror; Sony sound system with eight speakers; 360° panoramic view camera; head-up display; LED daytime running lights; heat pump; and, optionally, two-tone paint. Final note on the 16 driving assistance systems offered by both versions, and on the App that allows remote control of various vehicle functions.
At the top of the Chinese manufacturer’s offering is the Omoda 9 Premium, sold for €49,900, in a single equipment level, which includes practically everything one could imagine in this category. With a coupe-style body format, its exterior appearance aims to convey a sense of “modern luxury,” through a dynamic, cosmopolitan, and aerodynamic design (Cd of 0.308). Notable features in this regard include the Full LED headlights, retractable door handles, the frameless parametric front grille, door opening via NFC card (contactless type), 20” wheels shod with Michelin tires, and the electric panoramic roof with an area of 1.3 m².
To offer ample habitability and a trunk capacity that varies between 471-1004 liters, the Omoda 9 measures 4775 mm in length, 1920 mm in width, 1671 mm in height, and has a wheelbase of 2800 mm. Its interior features two 12.3” screens (one serving as a fully digital instrument panel, and the central touch screen designed to control the infotainment system) gathered in a curved panel, along with a 50” augmented reality head-up display. Among the standard equipment, which includes various “luxuries,” are the leather steering wheel with a flat bottom section, leather seats (electrically adjustable both in the front and rear, with the front seats having four adjustment functions, each with three intensity levels, and the driver’s seat featuring speakers integrated into the headrests), the Sony sound system with 14 speakers, eight airbags, and 19 driver assistance systems.
But what really makes a difference in the most equipped SUV marketed in Portugal by Omoda is the mechanics, and, very especially, its plug-in hybrid powertrain, where the 1.5 TDI gasoline engine with 142 hp and 215 Nm (turbocharged, operating on the Miller cycle, with an announced thermal efficiency of 44.5%) is assisted by a front electric motor of 224 hp and 390 Nm, and a rear electric motor of 238 hp and 310 Nm – also included in the set is an auxiliary front electric motor, which essentially operates as a generator, and a 3DHT three-speed transmission, so that, in total, there are eleven available gear ratios, due to the way the three from the transmission combine with the various ways the three traction motors work together. With all-wheel drive, and a combined output of 537 hp and 650 Nm, the Omoda 9, despite weighing 2270 kg, claims 0-100 km/h in 4.9 seconds, and a top speed of 180 km/h. On the other hand, by using a CATL battery with no less than 34.46 kWh of capacity, the promised range, in fully electric mode, is a very significant 145 km (1100 km when combining both power sources). It is also noteworthy that it has the capacity for fast charging at 65 kW, allowing for a 30%-80% charge in 25 minutes, although it can also be charged via alternating current through the onboard charger of 6.6 kW. Additional notes: a consumption of 7.0 l/100 km in the combined WLTP cycle when the model is operating in hybrid mode; independent suspensions on all four wheels (MacPherson at the front, multilink at the rear) with active damping; and the seven driving modes available to the driver (Normal, Eco, Sport, Sand, Mud, Snow, and Off-road).
