First Drive: Omoda C9

First Drive: Omoda C9

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Omoda, the luxury offshoot from the Chery Group, looks to make a statement with the launch of its flagship SUV, the C9. Officially launched at the posh and happening Norval Art Foundation in Cape Town, the C9 aims to blend luxury, next-gen tech, and, to an extent, value in a package that can potentially disrupt the entry-level luxury SUV segment.

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First, there’s the design, and Omoda has made a whole hullabaloo about the artsy aspect of the C9’s silhouette. Then again, as we well know, marketing fluff is often as deep as a puddle. While I don’t remember a Mona Lisa from a Monet, I like to think that I do know cars, and if I were to draw parallels here, it doesn’t look run-of-the-mill and is a refreshing change-up from the humdrum SUV mould—an aspect that Omoda has going for it.

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Highlights include that sloping roofline, 20-inch wheels set inside Michelin rubbers, and a geometric front LED headlight lighting pattern with an eye-catching borderless diamond-patterned grille design. Since there are two derivatives on offer, a front-wheel-drive, and an all-wheel-drive, there are subtle differences in terms of specifications. The all-wheel-drive derivative ships with adaptive headlights and a theatrical mirror-projected welcome light, with the most obvious differentiator being red-coloured brake callipers—more last-minute detail than a luxury if I’m honest.

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Inside, it’s a bit of a mixed-bag environment. Quite literally in this instance. Let’s start with the dash, shall we? It’s gone all-digital here with two 12.3-inch screens, framed in glossy piano black. While the tech loadout is exemplary, sifting through all the settings on offer can be cumbersome. In the AWD model, for one, switching between the interior fragrance settings and trying to navigate back to say the phone mirroring interface isn’t exactly intuitive. I’m sure that repeated use and familiarity will remedy this, though.
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The interior fit and finish highlighted that the Omoda C9’s luxury can feel skin-deep at times. The cabin looks and feels good, but upon closer inspection, it comes a bit undone at the seams. The door integrated seat adjustment toggles? A nod to a certain three-pointed star on a rather one-dimensional backing panel. While it’s fully functional on the driver’s side, the functionality, especially on the passenger side, leaves something to be desired.

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Furthermore, the centre console, while solidly assembled and sewn, lacks the bold creativity of the exterior’s design too, with its rising sidewalls that look reminiscent of previous generation British Grand Tourers. There are a few other niggles, but there are also a lot of positive conclusions to be drawn from the cabin. For the audiophiles, there are eight Sony speakers in the two-wheel-drive derivative, while opting for the AWD will see the addition of four speakers, including speakers in the front headrests for a total of 12. The seats are immensely comfortable, and the space aspect inside the cabin is the true highlight. The rear legroom is adjacent to what you’d find in the upper echelons of the three-row luxury SUV class, despite the enormous 660-litre bootspace, so yes, space considerations are up there with the best.

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Under the bonnet, the 2.0-litre turbocharged engine produces 192kW and 400Nm of torque. The 8-speed automatic gearbox swaps gears without fuss, making the most of the engine’s torque band. In the Inspire derivative, power is solely sent to the front wheels, while the Explore AWD model delivers it to all four corners and also brings with it adaptive dampers and a host of additional situational drive modes for potentially slippery conditions.

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Driving the Omoda C9 through a mix of conditions in and around Cape Town revealed just how far the brand has come in a short time frame, undoubtedly thanks to some lessons collected from Chery’s rapid growth. Marketed and positioned as a luxury SUV, the C9 certainly delivers on that promise with a balanced ride that is confident yet plush through most conditions. Body roll is also kept in check, and while the steering isn’t the most talkative, it delivers just enough feedback when demands don't exceed inherent limitations.

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Omoda has firmly plonked its flag in the premium SUV space, bringing with it a daring design, innovative features, and, depending on the value you place on luxury, a competitive price tag. It’s certainly here to challenge the status quo against the likes of entry-level German and British competitors for a relative fraction of the price. Sure, some elements fall short of the premium paragons that it aspires to, but its strengths in design, space, and tech should make it genuinely intriguing when shopping beyond the usual suspects.

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With a 10-year/1,000,000km engine warranty (for the first owner), a 7-year/200,000km vehicle warranty, and a 7-year/100,000km service plan, Omoda seems confident that its C9 will go the distance.


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Omoda C9 FWD: R785,900 (limited-time launch price of R760,000)

Omoda C9 AWD: R885,900 (limited-time launch price of R860,000)

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