OMODA 7 review

Driving position

A family SUV like the OMODA 7 needs no explaining. By this point, we’re all familiar with the higher driving position that affords us extra visibility when driving and parking.

One thing we did notice, though, was that there wasn’t as much adjustability in the driving position as, say, a Nissan Qashqai.

The seat could do with going just a little bit lower, and the steering wheel could do with coming out just a little bit further.

All pretty minor improvements, but OMODA prides itself on collecting (and actually reacting to) customer feedback, so we’re hopeful these improvements will be made pretty soon, which is really positive.

The smaller ‘5’ got an update around a year into its production, so the same could happen to the ‘7’.

OMODA also noted that the steering wheel has been designed to resemble a gaming console controller – you can hold it on either side and reach the few buttons with your thumbs.

‘Few’ being the operative word, because it’s a really simplistic design with multi-function scrollers. A far more intuitive design than throwing a catalogue of buttons at the wheel, which some other manufacturers do.

Tech and features

OMODA 7 trim levels

– Knight

– Noble

As we’ve come to expect from the whole Chery family (including Chery, OMODA and JAECOO), no trim level is a bad trim level. There’s only good, and better.

Entry-level Knight has everything you need, so the attention-grabbing low purchase price isn’t just there to get you in and force you to spend more money on upgrades.

In terms of screens, you get a wide letterbox-style 8.88-inch display behind the wheel with a couple of different display options – we had ours set to MPG, as most drivers probably would.

It’s fixed to the dash rather than the steering column, so some steering wheel positions can slightly obscure the screen, but not drastically.

Then there’s the main 15.6-inch screen. The homepage is set up with your preferred widgets, but wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are there for more familiar operation anyway.

All OMODA 7 cars also get faux leather seats, a heated steering wheel, 50W wireless phone charging with an integrated cooler to keep your phone from overheating, keyless entry and a 540-degree parking camera (360 degrees, plus underneath the car once you’ve driven far enough).

The opening panoramic sunroof and the 12-speaker Sony sound system in the Noble are the biggest upgrades, as well as a powered boot lid, cooled front seats and an in-car fragrance dispenser.

Much like you get in BMWs twice the price, the OMODA 7 lets you fill three scent cartridges at any given time.

It sounds gimmicky, but it’s really not. It’s a far cleaner way of adding a scent to the cabin than hanging a paper tree from the rear-view mirror, and you can choose from three strength levels depending on your preference.

For reference, the in-car scent cartridges slot in underneath the floating console.

If only every car had this. We’re big fans.

Engines and power

OMODA 7 performance stats

– Power: 147 to 204hp

– 0-62mph: 8.4 to 10.4 seconds

– Top speed: Up to 118mph

– Driven wheels: Front-wheel drive

Petrol power, only available in entry-level Noble spec, comes from a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine with 147hp.

We’ve driven this engine in the mechanically-similar Chery TIGGO 7 – it's quick and smooth enough for most, but with a 0-62mph time of 10.4 seconds, there’s no huge sense of urgency.

At least the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission gives it a smooth enough drive in most conditions.

OMODA expects to sell more plug-in hybrids, badged SHS-P (the plug-in version of the Super Hybrid System), because not only are they cheaper than most other plug-in hybrid family SUVs on the market, but they’re generally cheaper than most self-charging and mild hybrids too.

It’s a 204hp setup with a 0-62mph time of 8.4 seconds and a 55-mile electric-only range.

The DHT (Dedicated Hybrid Transmission) setup makes the most of the running gear and supposedly has nine different running modes.

All you need to know is that the OMODA 7 SHS-P is an electric-first hybrid, so the electric motor does most of the driving and the petrol engine generally gets used as a generator to top up the battery.

At certain speeds, OMODA says it’s more efficient to use petrol to drive the wheels, but this is less common.

We’ve driven this setup in multiple cars and always come away impressed with the smooth drive and acceleration.

Unless you’re really flooring it with an empty battery, the engine barely ever runs at more than tickover either, so it’s pretty quiet.

Handling and ride comfort

Compared to earlier models, OMODA says it’s improved suspension rigidity for improved composure.

It’s still on the softer, more wallowy side, so don’t think of it as driving similar to a hatchback, but it’s considerably better at handling potholes and poor surfaces than many rival SUVs, such as the Kia Sportage.

That being said, the steering could do with being a bit more responsive. It’s a comfortable setup for town and city driving, but the OMODA 7 does start to show its weaknesses in country lanes.

Boot space

OMODA 7 boot space

– Boot space: 639 litres

– Incl. Rear seats folded: 1,417 litres

The OMODA 7 is right up there with one of the biggest boots in class. At 639 litres, it’s barely beaten by the VW Tiguan and not much else.

Better still, it’s a big, flat load area so it’s a totally usable space. Plus, the boot opening is wide. It doesn’t really get much better if you need a sensible family SUV.

Rear seats

Though it’s fairly similar to the JAECOO 7 in terms of its underpinnings, it’s a longer car, so rear-passenger space also grows.

Legroom is good, as is headroom, but the sloping roofline does reduce headroom a touch compared with boxier cars, like the J7.

On the whole, we’ve got no complaints in this department.

Storage solutions

Like other OMODA and Chery cars, the ‘7’ has a floating centre console design with a large storage area underneath.

On the top, there’s some extra storage for things like keys and twin cupholders under a sliding cover, and even more storage under the armrest.

Two phone holders (one of which is a wireless charger, the other just a holder) sit underneath the tablet-style touchscreen.

Safety

19 ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) are included on the OMODA 7, including adaptive cruise control, lane centring, a 540-degree camera and autonomous emergency braking.

Euro NCAP hasn’t independently crash-tested the OMODA 7, but the bigger OMODA 9 got five stars, as did the JAECOO 7 and Chery TIGGO 7/TIGGO 8.

Fuel economy

If you’re worried about fuel economy, avoid petrol power. The same engine in the smaller, lighter OMODA 5 claims 31mpg, and 36mpg in the Chery TIGGO 8.

On the flip side, the OMODA 7 SHS-P's 18.4kWh battery is good for 55 electric miles.

Even long-distance, mixed driving should get you north of 50mpg, which is seriously impressive. Most other plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) barely get 50mpg once their batteries drain.

Reliability

Understandably you may have some questions about OMODA’s reliability, but you really needn’t worry.

It’s a new brand to the UK, but it’s already well-established in China and other markets where its cars sell in the thousands.

Plus, you get a seven-year/100,000-mile warranty to keep you covered long-term.