The flagship of the Chinese brand has landed in the UK, with a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach and emphasis on refinement. By John Challen.

What is it? D-SUV How much? From £44,990 Economy: 43.6mpg (WLTP) Emissions: 38g/km

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Having introduced itself with the Omoda 5 and E5 models last year, Omoda has chosen its flagship as its next arrival in the UK. This D-segment SUV has elegance, refinement and technology at its heart – and some established players in its sights as competition.

It might be a D-segment size, but the Omoda 9 SHS (Super Hybrid System, the company’s take on the PHEV) is priced from £44,990, which undercuts a number of other models in the field, without compromising on quality, spec or comfort. One of the car’s key selling points is an ‘everything as standard’ approach and therefore there’s just one spec grade.

Omoda is going all-in with the ‘9’, as it features premium materials inside and out, acoustic glass to keep interior noise to a minimum and technologies such as a 540° panoramic view camera, an air purification system and audio speakers in the driver’s headrest. This last innovation in that list was one we were very keen to sample – and it proved very effective, with clear sound quality. Other additions to keep all occupants happy include: a 1.3m-long sunroof; heated and ventilated adjustable seats front and rear; intelligent all-wheel-drive; electromagnetic suspension; reclining rear seats; a 24.6-inch curved display and a 660-litre boot, which expands to offer 1,783 litres when the rear seats are folded.

There’s no full electric options, which might disappoint some drivers, but the PHEV, sorry, SHS, system is a more-than-capable substitute. In total, there are more than 700 miles available from the powertrain, with up to 93 being in electric-only mode. Power comes from a 1.5-litre petrol engine with 157hp and 215Nm of torque. To help maximise fuel efficiency and performance, six core technologies are included in the engine, including intelligent thermal management and hybrid turbo charging. Working alongside the engine is a three-speed transmission with 225hp and 390Nm, where two high performance drive motors work independently or in tandem to generate the electrical power. The final element is a 34.46kWh battery pack, which help enable all those electrical miles. That gives a total power output of 449hp and 700Nm, enabling a zero to 62mph time of 4.9 seconds. Charging-wise, the battery can be replenished from 30-80% in just 20 minutes.

In practice, the powertrain works very effectively and seamlessly switches between modes, deepening on speed, road type and throttle input. All of the engineering efforts from the development team have paid off because the Omoda 9’s cabin is a very serene place to be, regardless of the speed.

A few comments were made about elements of the infotainment system – change the fan and the main screen doesn’t default for about 30 seconds – but we were assured these would be fixed with a software update, which is pretty standard these days. But overall, the car is a fine proposition and hits all the right spots in terms of interior, comfort, refinement and overall performance.

The Lowdown

Omoda 9 SHS

Key fleet model: 1.5T SHS Noble

Thumbs up: High and extensive spec, pricing, refinement

Thumbs down: No EV option for fleets, infotainment interface

Seven-word summary: Everything as standard could help secure success

Also consider: Range Rover Velar, Škoda Kodiaq, Volvo XC60