The Omoda C9 is not just another generously specced Chinese-made medium SUV to join the South African market. It’s a disruptor that competes at the top end of SA’s family car- and German premium brand-dominated executive SUV segments.
It is starting to feel a bit like “rinse and repeat” when it comes to new Chinese car products entering the South African market (the most recent ones you may recall are the GAC GS3 Emzoom and Emkoo), but with its C9 flagship, Omoda hopes to challenge even European premium marques, so it’s a huge deal!
Okay, it’s not unusual for brands to claim they are playing in the premium space when in reality, they’re just indulging in a bit of marketing speak. But Omoda is, in fact, the premium arm of Chery’s O&J division (in case you haven’t worked it out already, the J stands for Jaecoo). And, having arrived at the C9 launch in a Mercedes-Benz, I was interested to see how it would compare with a fellow premium contender.
It feels effortlessly luxurious…
It shouldn’t still come as a surprise, but this midsized crossover coupe (or executive SUV coupe, if you prefer) seems as luxurious and premium as a comparable model from any of our market’s legacy brands.
Several Chinese marques are “nailing the brief” with the look and feel of their new vehicles, not to mention all the tech they cram into the models (at their various price points). Indeed, it is becoming the norm to feel as comfortable and pampered in a Chinese car as you would in say, a German one. This is certainly not something we would have said 5 years ago – to be fair, Omoda was only founded in 2022.
Inspired by the Range Rover Velar…
The reason could be that Omoda has taken inspiration from the brands that inspire – or, in this case, are tied in with – it. You will certainly spot elements of the Range Rover Velar in the C9. Omoda is happy to admit the C9’s styling cues were inspired by the Velar… and its flush door handles are very à la JLR.
The Omoda C9 has plenty of kerb presence, even when clad in Moonlight White, and there are 3 other colours to choose from: Meteorite Grey, Quantum Grey, and my personal favourite, Cosmic Black.
And, because signature lighting is all the rage, the C9 boasts automatic LED headlamps, LED daytime running lights and LED taillights. The AWD derivative furthermore comes with adaptive lights up front.
The launch route, which incorporated some of the Western Cape’s most scenic (read: touristy) roads, served as the perfect backdrop to a car that would be right at home in Cape Town’s upmarket suburbs, such as the Atlantic Seaboard, yet the Omoda C9’s keen price point is likely to see this model pop up all over the country in the coming months. But more on that later, I am saving it for the climax of this review.
Omoda C9 cabin piles on the luxury
Omoda wants the C9 to compete with premium-brand models, so its cabin needs to be extraordinary, which indeed it is: plush, luxurious and superbly comfortable, with soft-touch surfaces in abundance.
I mentioned the Mercedes-Benz earlier, and when ensconced in the Omoda C9, you might be forgiven for thinking that you are seated in one of the Three-pointed Star’s luxury offerings! The newcomer’s transmission lever is a stalk, which mimics a Benz-style column shifter and the electric seat adjustment buttons on the door panel look very similar to what you’d find in a Merc. It’s all rather familiar – I like it.
No review of a Chinese brand’s crossover/SUV would be complete without a lengthy paragraph about all the features and tech it offers – and the Omoda C9 is no exception. There are 2 variants to choose from: the 2.0T Inspire and 2.0T Explore AWD, both of which are generously specced, but I won’t waffle about that here – if you want a detailed breakdown of all the features, read Omoda C9 (2024) Price & Specs.
A 9-speaker Sony audio system is standard, with the 2.0T Explore AWD boasting 12 speakers, some of which are integrated into the driver’s headrest. The front seats are electrically adjustable, heated and ventilated; the Nappa leather-trimmed ‘wheel is also electrically adjustable and heated as standard.
The rear passengers benefit from electrically adjustable (and 60/40-split folding) backrests and seat heating, as well as having a separate climate control console and ventilation outlets. Should one of those passengers require more legroom, there is a “Boss” button that allows you to move the front passenger seat forward. This should prove fun for parents with kids in the back who keep pushing it for giggles…
Up front is a 12.3-inch instrument cluster and 12.3-inch infotainment screen (with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto). The graphics are good, but as with many new vehicles in which so many controls are integrated into the touchscreen, changing the cabin temperature, for example, requires familiarisation.
There are, however, a few shortcut buttons, including one that takes you directly to the climate control screen. A panoramic sunroof is standard, as is a head-up display and a 540-degree camera system.
As consumers have come to expect, the Omoda C9 has a host of safety features and -technologies, but thankfully, they are nowhere near as intrusive as they can be. Even the alert sounds have been dimmed.
What is the Omoda C9 like to drive?
The Omoda C9 is propelled by the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max‘s engine, albeit with a bit more power. In this model, the 2.0-litre turbopetrol engine produces 192 kW and 400 Nm of torque. Power is sent to either the front wheels or all of the wheels, derivative-depending, via an 8-speed automatic transmission.
Both variants offer drive modes, while the Explore AWD includes off-road modes, as well as adaptive damping. There is plenty of oomph on tap, but the ‘box tends to shift a little unexpectedly at times.
Don’t get me wrong, this is an exceptionally refined car for cruising, but if you plant the accelerator pedal too aggressively, the C9 will shoot forward “enthusiastically”, which may startle its occupants (it certainly startled me!) Perhaps the throttle calibration needs a tweak, but this “issue” isn’t unique to the Omoda.
Overall, the newcomer’s ride quality is highly composed, even forgiving and, as I mentioned before (but will reiterate here, for added impact), comfortable. It all adds to the Omoda’s air of luxury and refinement.
While we were driving along the winding Chapman’s Peak Drive, the C9 felt like a large car, or at least more substantial than most family cars/medium SUVs. It commands the road in the way that executive SUVs do. We didn’t pay too much notice to the fuel consumption (the test unit had only clocked up 400 km), but it seemed a trifle high; hopefully, the model will be more fuel efficient once it has been run in.
How much does the Omoda C9 cost in SA?
| Omoda C9 2.0T Inspire | R785 900 |
| OMODA C9 2.0T Explore AWD | R885 900 |
Note that both variants are offered with a R25k discount (October 2024) for a limited time only.
The Omoda C9 comes standard with a 7-year/100 000 km service plan, a 7-year/200 000 km vehicle warranty and an industry-leading 10-year/1 000 000 km engine warranty (for the first owner).
Search for a new/used Omoda model on Cars.co.za
Summary
In a few years, the South African car-buying landscape will be almost unrecognisable! The Omoda C9 will, without a doubt, entice buyers who previously only considered European or Japanese luxury cars. Local new-vehicle buyers are renowned for being “brand snobs”, but even brand loyalists will have to admit defeat as the deals on these cars become too sweet (I didn’t even rhyme that on purpose).
The Omoda C9 comfortably rivals the likes of the Volkswagen Tiguan (and other top-end medium SUVs) and even the 4th-gen BMW X3 (and the other executive SUVs in our market). And, at these prices, which (as explained above) is a launch special for October 2024 and will go up by R25 000 thereafter, Omoda’s proposition seems almost too good to be true, but, believe it – the C9 is going to change the game.
