Mat’s Car of the Day: the Omoda 9 offers Audi Q5 levels of luxury for £15,000 less

This is the Omoda 9, and it’s a Chinese SUV which looks modern and offers great value for money. You can think of it as an alternative to cars like the Audi Q5 eHybrid and Volvo XC60, but it costs an awful lot less than those cars.

I’ve reviewed the Omoda 9 for the Carwow YouTube channel, and here are three things I like about this car, three things I don’t and some tips on how to get the best deal.

Three things I love about the Omoda 9

1. Powerful plug-in hybrid engine with massive electric range

All versions of the Omoda 9 use a 1.5-litre petrol plug-in hybrid engine with a whopping 449hp, meaning it’ll do 0-60mph in 4.9 seconds. It’ll also do more than 90 miles on electric power alone, which is good news for company car drivers because it means the BiK rates are quite low. The system itself is smooth and quiet, making it pretty relaxing to waft around in.

2. Posh, tech-laden interior

When I first got into the Omoda 9, I was really impressed by the interior quality. In many ways it feels posher than an Audi Q5, with lashings of soft-touch leatherette and solid switchgear. All cars also come with a sunroof, a 14-speaker Sony sound system, heated and ventilated front and rear seats and an excellent surround-view camera system.

3. It’s really spacious

All occupants can get comfortable in the Omoda 9. Even with a lanky driver behind the wheel there’s acres of rear legroom, and headroom is surprisingly generous for a car with a sporty sloping roofline. The 660-litre boot is also a whopping 140 litres bigger than the Audi Q5’s, making it more practical.

Omoda 9 deals: how to get the best price

The best thing about the Omoda 9 is the price, because it costs about the same as a plug-in hybrid Audi Q3 while being more similar in size to the larger Q5. It starts from £45,000, and the only optional extra you need to pick is the colour. You can also pay an extra £1,500 for the Black Noble version, which adds blacked-out styling and a suede headliner.

By comparison, a plug-in hybrid Audi Q5 starts from just over £59,000, and it’ll be north of £70,000 by the time you’ve added enough options to match the Omoda’s standard kit list.

To sweeten the deal even further, you can currently save over £3,000 on a new Omoda 9 through Carwow. That’s why it’s important to check out Carwow’s latest deals to make sure you’re getting the best price.

Three annoying things about the Omoda 9

Things aren’t all rosy with the Omoda 9. Here are three annoying things to consider before parting with your cash.

1. Rubbish driver aids

We spent six months living with the Omoda 9, and in that time the adaptive cruise control proved to be pretty hopeless. It bounces you between lane lines, and the steering wheel fights you if you try to guide it back on track. We stopped bothering with it in the end.

2. Confusing infotainment system

The Omoda’s infotainment system isn’t the easiest to navigate, and it’s pretty laggy as well. Turning on your heated seats is a multi-prod process, unless you use the voice commands, and the menu layouts are a bit confusing. At least you get some knobs for your climate control.

3. It’s not brilliant to drive

One area where the Audi Q5 lives up to its price tag is on the road, because it’s really comfy and feels planted through the bends. The Omoda crashes over bumps and wallows around corners, which doesn’t give you the confidence to utilise all 449hp.

That said, Omoda has just updated this car with a new suspension setup from the Jaecoo 8 which should go some way to remedy this. It’s also so much less expensive than the Audi that you may be willing to look past it.

Car change? Carwow!

Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.

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