What is the new Omoda 4? Size, specs and alternatives
Car changing is a big deal
The new Omoda 4 is the latest in a long line of hybrid SUVs from the Chinese brand, and it’s a small SUV which will face some stiff competition when it goes on sale later this year. Here’s everything you need to know about this car, as well as five alternatives you may also want to consider.
This is the new Omoda 4, and it’s a small hybrid SUV which sits below, you guessed it, the Omoda 5 in the Chinese brand’s lineup. It looks nothing like the other models in the range, with an angular design and a new interior layout.
Here is everything you need to know about the new Omoda 4, as well as five alternatives which you may also want to consider if this Chinese SUV takes your fancy.
New Omoda 4 design and interior
The Omoda 4 looks like it was designed using nothing but a ruler and a pencil, because it’s all pointy angles and sharp creases. The zig zag rear light bar is pretty similar to the Omoda 7’s, but other than that it looks totally different to any other Omoda model.
It’s a similar story inside. The Omoda 4 still follows the basic Chinese SUV recipe: horizontal lines across the dashboard and a massive central screen with two phone pads beneath it, but the carbon fibre-style trim on the centre console and dashboard gives this car a sportier vibe than the larger Omoda 9, and the red cover on the start button is giving Lamborghini vibes.
New Omoda 4 engines
From launch, the Omoda 4 will be sold with a hybrid engine. It’s the same one you’ll find in the Omoda 5 and Jaecoo 7, and uses a 1.5-litre petrol engine paired with an electric motor to make a combined 224hp.
It can drive at low speed on electric power alone, making it more economical around town, but if you want the full EV experience then an electric version will follow soon after.
This will likely use the 204hp motor from the Omoda E5, as well as the 61kWh battery from that car, delivering around 260 miles of range.
New Omoda 4 alternatives: which cars will it be going up against?
The Omoda 4 is a small hybrid SUV which we expect to cost less than £25,000 when it goes on sale later this year, making it cheaper than the Omoda 5. That’s dirt cheap for a hybrid car. Here are five alternatives you might also be considering.
1. Chery Tiggo 4
The most obvious alternative is the mechanically-similar Chery Tiggo 4. It costs just under £20,000, making it one of the cheapest hybrid cars on the market, and comes with plenty of interior space and standard equipment. It may only be average to drive, and there’s an annoying hump in the boot floor, but at this price it’s easy to forgive these drawbacks.
2. Toyota Yaris Cross
The Toyota Yaris Cross is one of our favourite small hybrid SUVs because it’s great to drive, well-equipped and comes with a generous 10-year warranty if you keep it serviced within Toyota’s dealer network. At just over £27,000, it’s quite a bit more expensive than the Tiggo 4, but it’ll also return over 60mpg in real-world driving which is around 10mpg more than the Chery.
3. Volkswagen T-Cross
You can get a Volkswagen T-Cross for around £24,000 at the time of writing, and for that you’re getting a well-made, spacious and comfortable small SUV. It’s a shame that there’s no hybrid option, but the range of petrol engines on offer are all smooth, peppy and frugal enough to not break the bank at the pumps.
4. Renault Captur
If you’re after class-leading tech, the Renault Captur has one feature you’ll love. The Google-based infotainment system is as easy to use as your smartphone, and comes with apps like Spotify and Google Maps built in. The interior is pretty posh as well, especially for a car costing just over £22,000 with a petrol engine, but the suspension is firm over bumps.
5. Ford Puma
The Ford Puma is currently the best-selling car in the UK, although the Jaecoo 7 is nipping at its heels. It’s fun to drive, smart to look at and has a huge boot for a small SUV, but the interior feels cheap in places and the rear seats are a bit cramped. You still get loads of kit for £25,500 though.
So those are the top five cars the Omoda 4 will have to compete with. We’ll be driving this new Chinese offering as soon as it hits UK shores, so stay tuned for our full review once we’ve given it a thorough test.
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