REVIEW: Omoda C9 PHEV delivers dazzling performance, but it's the refinement that really impresses

Chinese SUVs have been selling up a storm in South Africa thanks to their keen price tags, fashionable styling, and luxurious interiors, but they're not without niggles.

Most often, they're criticised for a lack of drivetrain refinement, with power delivery that's not altogether smooth in many cases and efficiency that's sub-optimal to say the least. But having driven a few of the Chinese hybrids in the past year, I can tell you that those drawbacks largely do not apply to the so-called new energy vehicles.

The most impressive so far was the Omoda C9 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) that I spent a week with recently, which proved impressive both on paper and in the real world, much like its smaller sibling, the Jaecoo J7 SHS.

At a shade under R1 million, you might say it's pricey "for a Chinese vehicle" but given the sheer value on offer here, I'd say its pricing is spot on.

Its 105kW 1.5-litre petrol engine might sound modest to you, but consider that the C9 PHEV is primarily driven by its three electric motors - one upfront and two at the back - that collectively add 335kW to the mix. Power goes to all four wheels through a three-speed DHT transmission. 

When the petrol engine and e-motors are called into action simultaneously by a hard stab at the right pedal, the C9 PHEV liberates a massive 440kW and 915Nm, allowing, after a slight lag, a 0-100km/h time of around five seconds. This unassuming crossover can seriously embarrass many hot hatchbacks, including the Golf GTI.

But we suspect that most of the time it's going to be used as a relaxed cruiser, and in everyday conditions, it uses the three electric motors for propulsion.

You can plug it in too, with its 34.5 kWh battery pack offering a claimed electric-only range of up to 150km. Charging takes just 5.5 hours if you have a wall box fitted at home, Omoda says, while a DC fast charger can apparently juice it from 30% to 80% in just 25 minutes.

You can switch between EV (fully electric) and HEV (hybrid) modes quite easily using a rotary dial on the dashboard, but I must admit that it confused me at first (and another colleague who tested a similar car) by refusing to switch to EV mode because "conditions were not met".

While that poor communication initially made me suspect there was a problem with the vehicle, after some deep digging in the drivetrain settings, I discovered that it had been set into 'battery saver' mode. This could be useful for enhancing efficiency if the latter part of your journey was going to take place in heavy city traffic with a depleted battery.

Switching this off allowed me to change to EV mode, but ultimately I decided to leave it in HEV mode to see how efficient (or inefficient) it would be once the battery was depleted.

The C9 consumed 7.2 litres per 100km over a few days of mainly urban commuting, which is impressive for a relatively large crossover vehicle that weighs a shade under 2.2 tonnes. Thanks to a 70-litre fuel tank, the C9 has a claimed total range of 1,100km between fuel stops, assuming you start off with a full battery.

As a series-parallel hybrid, the petrol engine is able to power the wheels directly when maximum performance is needed, but in normal driving it acts as a generator for the battery, allowing it to operate in a highly efficient range, while the electric motor does the actual driving. This results in a somewhat relaxing, EV driving experience, and the petrol motor is hardly intrusive when it does kick in.

The C9 PHEV is quiet on the road, thanks to its comprehensive sound deadening. The ride quality is comfortable on most roads, albeit a touch crashy over harsher surfaces, likely due to the heavy, battery-laden chassis.

Luxurious interior

The Omoda C9 PHEV doesn't just feel premium inside, it is premium inside.

From its elegantly woven leather seats to its striking, jet-inspired centre console in satin chrome, which sweeps into the dashboard, it is a very pleasant visual and tactile experience.

Did I mention that it's loaded with luxury features? Even those in the back get to enjoy heated and electrically adjustable seating, separate climate controls, and plenty of leg stretching space.

Also fitted as standard is a 12-speaker Sony sound system, panoramic sunroof, 50W wireless charging pad, 540-degree surround view camera, and a glut of driver assistance systems, including Adaptive Cruise Control, Traffic Congestion Assist, Automatic Braking, Blind-Spot Monitoring, Lane Change Assist, and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert and Brake.

The cockpit features 12.3-inch dual screens and an Intelligent Voice Command system that responds to "Hello Omoda". 

As with many vehicles these days, most of the functions are controlled via the screen, although in this case, there is at least a rotary dial that shortcuts you to the climate system, while also providing instant access to the demisting functions.

While the infotainment system is relatively user-friendly, some functions, such as the drivetrain and driving settings, do require some screen digging, so it's recommended that you get everything in place before you hit the road.

The boot, accessed through an electrically-operated tailgate, has a claimed capacity of 660 litres, although in reality it is a vast but shallow space that won't accommodate tall and bulky items.

VERDICT

The Chinese are revolutionising the hybrid space, and Omoda's C9 leads that charge with its sophisticated and efficient series-parallel hybrid system that delivers surprisingly brisk performance when called upon.

All considered, it delivers enough refinement and luxury to more than justify its R1 million price tag. The C9 is also backed up by a seven-year or 100,000km service plan and seven-year or 200,000km warranty, with some of the electric drive components covered for 10 years. Seven years' worth of roadside assistance is also part of the deal.

IOL Motoring