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First Drive: Omoda C9 PHEV and Jaecoo J7 SHS
Five years ago, brands like Volvo, VW and Rolls-Royce planned to electrify a large portion of the globe by 2030 to cut down on emissions. However, electric-only cars have struggled to gain popularity due to infrastructure concerns, environmental implications during production, and the price of the vehicles, locally as a result of little in the way of government incentives. These factors position hybrid vehicles as the way to go, at least for the time being.
As you may know, a big issue we have seen, specifically in Chinese vehicles, is the generally higher fuel consumption. It seems, though, that Omoda and Jaecoo have an impressive solution for their clients, with two new plug-in hybrids.
Although these two new models were launched at the same time with the same PHEV DNA, they are vastly different from one another, and as far as specs go, the options are nearly identical to the top-spec ICE models, so I won't dwell on all the bits and bobs to avoid endless repetition, as there is some impressive engineering to unpack. So let's begin with Omoda’s performance SUV.
Omoda C9 PHEV
Omoda is positioned as the Chery Group's more luxury- and tech-focused brand, and I must say the new C9 is a stunning car, inside and out. It now boasts a claimed output of 440kW and 915Nm. Yes, you read that correctly. This performance bump is largely due to the addition of four electric motors with a 3-speed dedicated hybrid transmission and a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine. This allows for a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 4.9 seconds. On paper, this sounds quite thrilling.
In practice, when the battery is fully charged, this 440kW provides rapid acceleration, but once it reaches 100km/h, it loses some steam. Once half the battery is depleted, you are left with a reduced 200kW output. This optimises battery usage and allows for faster energy recuperation. It launches hard, but in the corners, there is a large amount of weight which throws the car around, and the brakes could be more responsive, but its performance is only one part of the story.
The C9’s new PHEV system is designed to offer impressive performance, but it also provides an incredibly frugal drive. Its 34.5kWh battery and the driver's use of frugal throttle inputs offer a full electric range of 150km. However, once the battery and the combustion components work together, you can achieve a range of 1,200km for a claimed average consumption of 5.9l/100km.
It's fast and frugal, but my experience with a braking exercise from 160km/h, an emergency lane change at 60km/h and driving it on the road, I can't help but come to the conclusion that it needs further refinement in how it copes with body roll and throttle response when accelerating off the line and out of corners. I would love to see some sharper brakes on future models, as from 160km/h you can easily depress the brake pedal to the floor. While the braking power is sufficient, it could be intuitive, offer better feedback and have firmer compression.
At R999,900, it's one of the faster SUVs for the price, and it has several features that offer peace of mind, which we'll discuss soon.
Jaecoo J7 SHS
The second model, and also forming part of the Chery Group, is the Jaecoo J7 SHS. Before we dive into the mechanics of this car, I must mention that the SHS name is the new naming convention for both Omoda and Jaecoo’s PHEV vehicles. It has yet to be included on the C9 PHEV, but it will be the brand's designation for PHEV vehicles going forward.
Now the J7 is a car I wasn’t expecting to surprise me, unlike the C9. The J7 is an eco-warrior without the performance elements. But this doesn’t mean it's slow. The J7 SHS comes with a similar 1.5-litre turbocharged engine with a single electric motor and a battery capacity of 18.4kWh, so there is less weight and rapid energy recuperation than what you'd get with the likes of the C9 PHEV. It produces 255kW and 525Nm with an almost immediate throttle response and a 0-100 km/h time of 8.4 seconds. In fact, unlike most Chinese cars we have driven, the throttle calibration of the J7 SHS is pretty much spot on.
As for its ride quality, well, it is buttery smooth and quiet, and the cabin's build quality was comparable to premium German manufacturers. We took it out onto a skid pan to see what it would be like in a more dynamic and low-grip environment, and it excelled there too, revealing just the right amount of body roll for a comfortable yet dynamic SUV. It's playful too, and although it's front-wheel-drive, the rear end can step out on you if you really throw it around. It's responsive and fun and one of the better Chinese cars I have driven.
But the core of the J7 SHS’s design is frugality, and it too excels here. With an EV-only range of 90km, a total range of 1,200km and total consumption of 4.9 litres/100km it is fuel efficient, especially for its size. Despite having the largest screen I have ever seen in a car, the addition of a smaller driver's instrument display helps when quickly referencing driving information, while the overall infotainment system's user experience is easy to use and uncomplicated for the most part. My only gripe with this car was the location of controls for items such as your mirrors. All of these are controlled by the screen and can be hard to find for the first time.
Ownership
The car's performance and experience, though, only form one half of the equation. What does it cost? Well, the C9 PHEV comes in at R999,900, and I know that any family car coming in at the one bar mark, especially a Chinese vehicle, may not get budget beaters excited but when considering the performance, styling and tech available, it is priced competitively. It guns for the likes of the BMW X3, Audi Q5 and Mercedes-Benz GLC, and it matches its competitors on specs and outguns them on performance, but the more established brands do have that tried-and-tested reputation with more refinement in their execution.
On the other hand, the J7 comes in at R689,900, which is an optimistic price point. It is one of the most affordable PHEVs you can buy, and that doesn’t mean it feels entry-level. It’s a well-put-together car that competes with the likes of the Toyota RAV4, VW Tiguan and Kia Sportage with a dash of Range Rover inspiration. But with a top-end price that low, for all the bells and whistles and a really impressive PHEV system, it's definitely a model worthy of consideration.
Peace of mind is the last topic that we need to cover, and it aligns with the theme of this story: the numbers are impressive. You receive a 7-year/200,000km standard warranty on both vehicles, a 5-year/75,000km service plan on the C9 and 7-year/100,000km service plan on the J7. Also, the first owner receives a 10-year/1,000,000km engine warranty, a 10-year/200,000km electric drive unit warranty that includes the power motor and power motor control unit. Lastly, a 10-year/unlimited-kilometre battery warranty for the first owner is included, which changes to a 10-year/200,000km warranty for the second and subsequent owners. To further add to the near-endless aftersales additions that make buyers' eyes widen, the first 250 C9 and J7 customers will receive a free home charger valued at R13,500.
Conclusion
Overall, it seems that the Chinese are listening to our concerns, and some brands are acting accordingly, particularly from the leading Chinese manufacturers like the GWM and Chery brands. The J7 was the first Chinese car that was marked with a premium description that I feel fits the bill. It’s a frugal and fun SUV, filled with working tech and intricate design aspects, offering a good driving experience.
The C9 is nearly there, but I feel the focus was perhaps skewed more towards performance, as a few tweaks to its suspension, throttle calibration and seating position would significantly elevate this car's driving qualities. On the plus side, both cars can charge from 30 to 80% in under 25 minutes. What we have learnt is that Chinese cars are consistently improving and Jaecoo has some impressive developments to come if the J7 SHS is anything to go by.
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