The Omoda C9 finally went on sale in South Africa this month, ushering in a new chapter for the up-and-coming manufacturer.
While the majority of Chinese cars introduced over the last few years have prioritized the affordable end of the market to great success, automakers like Omoda are starting to take aim at the high-end SUV segment with units like the C9, and first impressions say it will fit in quite nicely.
We had the opportunity to briefly sample the new SUV on a short but scenic drive around Cape Town, where the C9 was able to show off its upmarket performance and interior.
Premium experience
First impressions count for a lot when it comes to the luxury segment, and the C9 certainly delivers with its striking diamond pattern front grille and prominent daytime running lights.
The roofline has a gradual curve that can give it a crossover coupe appearance at times depending on the angle, and the flush door handles and shiny 20-inch alloys certainly look the part when pulling up to a fancy hotel.
Inside, you’ll be met with large comfortable seats with perforated leather upholstery, and a similar finish can be found on most of the cabin surfaces including the door lining and the lower dashboard.
There are two 12.3-inch screens for the driver and infotainment systems, and three stylish knobs in the centre console for the climate control and driving modes.
Other aspects of the design may be familiar to anyone who has driven a German SUV, as the Omoda uses a steering wheel stalk for the gear selector in place of a stick.
There’s also an accommodating sealable storage area in the console, and the adjustments for the electric front seats are found in the doors.
A few details that I particularly liked included two storage slots for smartphones so both the driver and passenger have somewhere to put their devices, and the media screen has dedicated volume controls which make good use of the extra space in the screen bezel.
Under the hood of the C9 is a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, which puts out a rather impressive 197kW and 400Nm.
That’s more power than what you’ll find on most of its rivals, and you can certainly feel it when you put your foot down with responsive acceleration regardless of the speed you were already travelling.
The eight-speed gearbox is smooth to the point you won’t notice most changes, and there are paddle shifters on the wheel, though I found it’s better to leave the transmission to its own devices as the manual shifts felt clunky in comparison.
One thing to mention is that Chinese cars have a reputation for being quite thirsty, and while the trip was far too short for me to make any comment about the consumption I achieved, I imagine that the the sensitive throttle will likely see most owners go past the official figure of 8.5l/100km.
In return, you get a responsive drive with easy-to-select drive modes for things like Normal, Eco, and Sport, as well as off-road settings should you pick up the 4×4 version.
One other benefit of the four-wheel-drive models is that they come with upgraded suspension with continuous damping control, which was incredibly comfortable even while we were tackling tight corners around Chapman’s Peak Drive.
The cabin is also exceptionally quiet even at high speeds, so our morning with the C9 turned out to be both enjoyable and relaxing.
User-friendliness is another area where a lot of Chinese cars have stumbled in the past, with overly complicated software menus and aggressive driver assistance programmes, but I’m happy to report that the C9 is one of the best examples I’ve come across so far.
For starters, just about every assistance setting from lane-keep assist to the blind-spot monitors and a speeding warning are all clearly displayed in a single drop down menu, making it effortless to locate and adjust or turn off the functions you don’t want.
The driver display can render the surrounding area including sprites of other cars and even pedestrians, and there’s a heads up display for your basic info if you think the main screen is too busy to look at all the time.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is supported and easy to set up, and the default user interface is fairly straightforward after a few minutes of experimenting.
There’s plenty of other equipment to play around with, too, from a 12-speaker Sony stereo to heated front and back seats, and a sweet-smelling fragrance system for the climate control.
The cabin itself is a little dark even with the panoramic sunroof open, but to be fair, the weather was rather miserable during our stay in the cape.
Final thoughts
At a starting price of between R785,000 and R885,000, the new Omoda is one of the pricier models from the People’s Republic in South Africa, but it still manages to undercut its competition by hundreds of thousands of rands.
According to a company spokesperson, the C9 is taking aim at big players like the Audi Q5, BMW X3, and Mercedes-Benz GLC, which start at R1,018,200, R1,136,417, and R1,264,948, respectively.
Of course, brand loyalty is a big factor in this segment, but the Omoda C9 certainly has what it takes to compete on paper with its powerful engine and lengthy spec sheet, even before you consider its long-term value with its 7-year/200,000km warranty, 7-year/100,000km service plan, and additional 10-year/1-million kilometre engine warranty.
When you consider that the C5 has already taken Omoda to the 15th spot on the list of the best-selling brands in South Africa, it’s not hard to imagine that the company will be able to replicate its success with the very competitively-priced new C9.
Omoda C9
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