Omoda 7 Super Hybrid System review: The best Omoda so far

While a full petrol version of the Omoda 7 will roll out later in 2026, for now we have the plug-in hybrid version, what Omoda proudly lists as its ‘Super Hybrid System’ or SHS to its friends. This pairs a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine with two e-motors; one drives the front wheels, the other is used for regenerative braking. Combined, the output is 201bhp and 269lb/ft of torque. Also Omoda claims it has an electric-only range of 56-miles. That’s more than enough for a few days of the daily school runs, shopping trips and/or return commutes to the office. Plus the SUV is packed to the gunwales with excellent kit as standard, and in hybrid form it starts at £32,000. That’s an eye-catching price given it is going head-to-head with rivals such as the VW Tiguan and Kia Sportage. So, is it really the best Omoda in the range? It was time to find out.

Just remind me about Omoda? Since its arrival in the UK it has rapidly established a strong following, buoyed by the fact — being part of the giant Chery Group of Chinese car manufacturers — it already has an established dealer network of more than 100 showrooms set up in the UK. Omoda, of course, was the first Chery Group member to enter the UK, and was subsequently followed by Jaecoo and then Chery itself. A fourth brand, Lepas, will follow later this year. So, where does the Omoda 7 sit? Not surprisingly, it settles nicely between the Omoda 5 and 9. It’s closest rival? The Jaecoo 7. Interestingly, while both share many of the same parts, the Omoda 7 is not only larger, but cheaper. It also enters the highly competitive C-segment family crossover space in the UK, the market place which now accounts for the majority of new car sales. So this is a very important model for Omoda.

Engine, performance and economy The plug-in Super Hybrid System — interesting how almost every manufacturer is now prefacing ‘hybrid’ with ‘super’ — mates a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine with two e-motors, as detailed earlier. Omoda says the hybrid will hit 62mph from standstill in 8.4secs. Interestingly, the company’s technical people always state that its performance figures across the group are ‘downplayed’, so don’t be surprised to learn it’s actually quicker than the official figures. It is though limited to a max speed of 112mph. In addition to the petrol unit there’s an 18.3kWh battery, which it’s claimed will give you 56-miles of electric-only driving. The good news? That’s more than the Kia Sportage Plug-in. It is though 20-miles less than the VW Tiguan eHybrid’s 77-miles. That said, VW’s 1.5TSi eHybrid does start at £42,875. Like all plug-in hybrids, official economy figures are monstrously unrealistic due to the way they’re calculated across the industry, so don’t expect to get anywhere near the 403mpg quoted by Omoda. It does though emit just 23g/km CO2. As I mentioned, a full petrol version will follow later in 2026, priced from £29,915. It’ll be the same 145bhp 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol already slotted into the Omoda 5, and be paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch auto.

What about charging? Good point. The great news is it’s fitted with 40kW DC rapid charging, meaning you can charge the battery from 30-80% in just 20-minutes. Always handy.

Right, how does it drive? Pretty much like an electric car, if I’m honest. And yes, I know it has a 1.5-litre petrol unit at its core. But what’s important to realise is the engine largely serves as a generator. The clever system ensures the battery always maintains a charge of around 20%. This, in turn, ensures that whatever the state of the battery, it feels consistent with its power delivery and smoothness. The driver has access to three levels of regenerative braking, all of which have none of the vagueness that often plagues plug-in hybrids. It is annoying though there’s no paddles to change the regenerative; instead you need to dive into the touchscreen. On the road there’s no denying the Omoda 7’s dynamics are the best of any other Omoda, Jaecoo or Chery I’ve driven. The most immediate and biggest improvement is there’s now more feel to the steering. While it firms up on motorway driving, its lightness in city centre environments makes navigating your local supermarket car park a dawdle. More good news. The Chinese boffins have listened to the feedback from UK drivers of the early cars which entered the country. They were renowned for their ear-assaulting cacophony of bings and bongs as the over-sensitive safety systems kicked in. That challenge has been resolved as, during my test drive I never once felt the need to turn any of them off. Progress indeed. Interestingly the car’s ride seems to float between at times being a tad too soft, and then becoming firm. I put that down to the various road surfaces my test route took me, which included a number of what must have been Buckinghamshire’s most notorious roads for potholes. And worth highlighting, the car sits on 20in alloys with fairly slim tyre walls. That said, they do look fantastic.

What about inside? It’s the most modern interior seen in an Omoda yet, and simply vast. Even with my preferred high seating position, there was loads of headroom. There’s acres of space for six-footers to recline and relax in the rear and boot space stands at a huge 639-litres, that’s around 180 more than in the Jaecoo 7. It’ll also carry 140-litres more than a Mini Countryman. Plus there are a number of decently-sized storage cubbies dotted around the cabin. The cabin is dominated by the centrally-mounted 15.6-inch touchscreen which is strewn with various sub-menus. There’s a lot hidden away behind the screen, but thankfully the system has super-quick response times. Just a pity there aren’t more physical switchgear buttons, knobs and dials. Unfortunately, even the electric mirror adjustment is tucked away in the touchscreen. Quality around the cabin is good, with lots of soft-touch materials in high-line areas which will get a lot of viewing. Below decks, probably quite understandably, areas like those around the glovebox and internal door releases get more of the hard-plastic treatment. And what few control buttons there are, are indeed good quality, as are the excellent seats. One other thing, which I’ll let you make your own decision on. Tucked away within the climate control menu there’s a “fragrance system”. You can select from three scents and three strengths. It’s not something that appeals to me, but I’m sure a good percentage of buyers will love it. Thankfully for me, it was good to learn the three cartridges that provide each scent can be removed from under the centre console. Phew!

Trim levels, prices and warranty The hybrid range starts from £32,000 for the plug-in hybrid in Knight trim and £35,000 for the top-spec Noble. And across the two models the standard kit is excellent. Not only is there synthetic leather seats with memory function, a cooled wireless smartphone charger, a 540-degree exterior camera that lets you ‘see’ through the chassis, plus a heated leather steering wheel, but you also get insulating ‘silent glass’. The Noble spec adds a panoramic sunroof, ventilation and lumbar adjustment for the front seats, plus a Sony 12-speaker sound system. And of course, there’s a full suite of safety tech as standard across the range. Honestly, do you really need any more stuff? All models get a seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty. On top of this, the PHEV’s battery is covered by a separate eight-year or 100,000-mile warranty too.

Verdict So, to answer my own question: yes, this is definitely the best car from Omoda, so far. Not only that, but it’s most probably the best in the wider Chery Group. There’s no question the Omoda 7 significantly closes the gap on its competition from more established car manufacturers from Europe. And it does so while still delivering more standard kit than its rivals, all at a price which significantly undercuts those European rivals. If you’re entering the market for a plug-in hybrid family crossover/SUV, then I’d suggest you’d be silly at least not to consider the Omoda 7.

Facts and figures Omoda 7 Super Hybrid System Price: From £32,000 Powertrain: 1498cc four-cylinder turbocharged petrol, twin electric motors, Power/Torque: 201bhp/269lb/ft Transmission: Automatic gearbox, front-wheel drive Top speed / 0-62mph: 112mph / 8.4sec Battery size: 18.3kWh (total) Electric range: 56-miles Fuel economy 403mpg (WLTP) CO2: 23g/km Dimensions (L/W/H): 4660mm / 1860mm / 1650mm On sale: Now