Omoda 7 review

Introduction

Did you manage to avoid the Labubu craze? You might be asking what on earth we’re on about, but this affordable, mischievous looking doll rapidly found itself as the must-have accessory on people’s bags in 2025. During the same time, Omoda equally found popularity as an affordable new car brand and it’s hoping to continue its sales momentum with the release of a second model, the Omoda 7.

This family SUV is similar in size to the Jaecoo 7, being marginally lower but slightly longer. And, like that rival, it’s available with a petrol engine or as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV). With the latter expected to account for around 75% of sales, the Omoda 7 is being launched as a PHEV first, with the petrol arriving later this year as an entry-level model.

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1.5T SHS 18.4kWh Knight SUV 5dr Petrol Plug-in Hybrid DHT1 Euro 6 (s/s) (204 ps)

Expected annual mileage	5000
Term months	48
Deposit months	12
Monthly payment	£324.63
Initial payment	£3,895.56

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Like the Omoda 5, the Omoda 7 is competitively priced against its rivals, but it promises a smart interior and better driving dynamics than its smaller stablemate.

Even so, it’s going to have its work cut out against the best PHEV family SUVs, including the Ford Kuga, Hyundai Tucson, MG HS and VW Tiguan.

Overview

The Omoda 7’s attractive price tag, good battery range and spacious interior should help draw plenty of attention from potential buyers. However, a fidgety ride and so-so refinement means it’s not quite as polished as pricier rivals. As a result, it edges ahead of the Geely Starray, but isn’t quite as well-rounded as our favourite plug-in hybrid, the MG HS.

Our pick

1.5T SHS 18.4kWh Knight SUV 5dr Petrol Plug-in Hybrid DHT1 Euro 6 (s/s) (204 ps) review

RRP £32,005

Pros

• Lots of interior space
• Good battery range for a PHEV
• Well-priced and well-equipped

Cons

• Not very dynamic
• Most controls are buried in the touchscreen
• Ride and refinement could be better

Our pick

1.5T SHS 18.4kWh Knight SUV 5dr Petrol Plug-in Hybrid DHT1 Euro 6 (s/s) (204 ps) review

RRP £32,005

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Performance & drive

What it's like to drive, and how quiet it is

How fast is it and which motor is best?

The Omoda 7 is currently only available as a plug-in hybrid. It combines a 1.5-litre petrol engine with an electric motor to produce a combined output of 201bhp. A 0-62mph time of 8.4sec is about the same as the BYD Sealion 5, Geely Starray and Hyundai Tucson PHEV, but slower than the MG HS PHEV.

Most of the propulsion is done by the electric motor, and its eagerness to get up to speeds of around 40mph makes it nippy around town. Above this speed, the rate of acceleration tails off a bit before the petrol engine kicks in to lend a hand. When it does, you get an extra surge of power, but some may wish the engine would wake up sooner when you need a quick burst of acceleration.

Otherwise, the petrol engine rarely needs to wake up to lend a hand in Hybrid mode. It mostly acts as a generator in the background but can also power the wheels when needed.

The entry-level 1.6-litre petrol engine will join later in 2026 and appears to be the same 145bhp unit you’d find in the smaller Omoda 5. A 0-62mph time of 10.4sec is roughly on a par with an entry-level Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage.

Is it agile and is the ride comfortable?

The plug-in hybrid version we’ve driven so far has been tested in top-level Noble trim with its bigger 20in wheels, and it sits in the middle of the class when it comes to ride comfort. You frequently experience a mild amount of fidget from its firm suspension, but it does at least have enough compliance to take the sting out of lumps and bumps better than the Geely Starray. We suspect the 19in wheels fitted to the entry-level Knight will offer a better ride.

Even so, the Hyundai Tucson and MG HS are much calmer companions.

It’s a similar story when it comes to handling. There’s a good amount of body control when cornering and you can sense enough grip to help instil more confidence than in the BYD Sealion 5, Starray and Jaecoo 7, but it remains some way off from the likes of the Ford Kuga or VW Tiguan.

Is it quiet and how easy is it to drive smoothly?

The Omoda 7’s accelerator pedal responds naturally in its Eco and Normal drive modes, which makes it easy to drive smoothly. In Sport, it becomes a bit too sharp and jerky to use all the time, especially in stop-start traffic. The brake pedal response is also an improvement over other Omodas and Jaecoos we’ve driven, with a quick response and a well weighted pedal that makes it easy to stop the car smoothly.

You have three different levels of regenerative braking to choose from, although there isn’t a huge difference between them. In Low, it effectively allows you to coast, while its highest setting still isn’t strong enough to bring the car to a full stop.

The Omoda 7’s petrol engine remains quiet most of the time and it’s only when you pin the accelerator pedal that the engine becomes vocal as it works hard. Even so, it’s less coarse than the Starray’s and there are fewer vibrations felt inside than in that rival as well. That said, while wind noise is low, there is more road noise than in the most comfortable rivals in the class.

What’s the range and efficiency like, and how quickly can it charge?

The plug-in hybrid version of the Omoda 7 comes with an 18.4kWh (total) capacity battery that has a good official electric-only range of up to 56 miles. That’s more than 10 miles farther than PHEV versions of the Ford Kuga and Hyundai Tucson, although some way off the 75 miles or so achieved by the Audi Q3 e-hybrid, MG HS and VW Tiguan eHybrid. The Geely Starray can travel up to 84 miles.

Charging times have yet to be confirmed.

“It’s good to see physical switches to adjust between drive modes and whether you want Hybrid or pure electric – it saves you from having to adjust it on the touchscreen” – Lawrence Cheung, New cars editor

Interior

The interior layout, fit and finish

What does the interior look like and is it well made?

The Omoda 7’s interior is a big step up from the smaller Omoda 5 when it comes to quality and visual appeal. First impressions are good, with a mixture of soft plastics and padded leather-like materials on the upper sections of the dash and doors. The buttons and stalks are also nicely damped and even the tweeter grills are made of metal.

True, there are plenty of cheaper feeling plastics lower down, but it feels more upmarket to touch than the Ford Kuga’s interior.

It’s just a slight shame you can only have it with black upholstery because it can feel a little dark inside.

Is the driving position comfortable and is it easy to see out?

With plenty of reach and height adjustment from the steering wheel, along with six-way electric seating adjustment, it’s easy to find a comfortable driving position in the Omoda 7. You need top-spec Noble for adjustable lumbar support, though.

Forward visibility is strong. Even with the seat set to its lowest position, you get a commanding view over the bonnet, while the front pillars are relatively slim and don’t impede your view out at junctions. Meanwhile, large side windows help with your view over the shoulder, although a narrow rear windscreen (partially obstructed by the rear headrests) means rear visibility could be better.

At least you get a rear-view camera as standard on entry-level Knight trim, while upgrading to Noble gets a 360-degree one.

Is the dashboard and infotainment system easy to use?

The Omoda 7 comes with an 8.9in digital driver’s display behind the steering wheel that’s bright and mostly easy to read - we say mostly because some of the font is quite small and the top of the screen can be partially obscured if the steering wheel is set too low.

There is a good amount of information available on there, but it’s quite fiddly scrolling through it using a toggle switch on the steering wheel – you have to press the neighbouring button first each time. It’s also not as configurable as the display in the Volkswagen Tiguan.

So, it’s functional, rather than impressive, but what about the 15.6in infotainment touchscreen?

That’s a bit more positive. It’s positioned within close reach, and the screen’s big dimensions, sharp graphics and swift response times are more impressive than what you get in many rivals. Plenty of icons in the sub menus are also big and easy to aim for, and a lot of useful shortcut icons can be found by swiping down from the top of the screen. The ability to add personalised shortcut icons is due to arrive later with a software update.

Wireless smartphone mirroring for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto comes as standard, and you can use voice control to access it if you swipe away from it into the main infotainment system – the system recognises speech better than in the Geely Starray.

We’d still prefer some physical controls for the ventilation system, but we are glad to see there are buttons on the lower centre console for the heated screens, and switches to select between drive modes and whether to drive in Hybrid or EV.

A six-speaker stereo comes as standard on Knight trim, while a 12-speaker Sony system upgrade comes on Noble.

“It’s great to see some physical controls used in the Omoda 7, but I did find having to dig into the touchscreen to adjust the door mirrors more of a faff than it should be.” – Lawrence Cheung, New cars editor

Passenger & boot space

How it copes with people and clutter

How much space does it have for people?

At 4.6 meters long, the Omoda 7 is slightly bigger than many similarly priced rivals, including the Hyundai Tucson and VW Tiguan (both around 4.5 meters). As a result, there’s plenty of head, leg and shoulder room for a pair of six footers to stretch out up front.

In the back, there’s a generous amount of leg room and plenty of space for feet underneath the front seats. Even with a panoramic roof that’s standard on top-spec Noble trim, there’s plenty of clearance left above your head.

A flat floor means a middle passenger still gets lots of foot room although a slightly raised seat means their head will be closer to the ceiling.

There’s loads of handy storage spaces up front, with long door bins, a big glovebox and a two tier centre console. There’s a storage area on the lower tier, while the upper section includes a pair of cupholders, a storage tray for a pair of phones (including one with built-in wireless charging pad) and a fairly deep cubby underneath the centre armrest.

In the rear, you get door bins big enough for a drinks bottle, a pair of cupholders in the fold-down centre armrest and pockets on the back of the front seats.

How much room does it have for luggage?

Head round to the boot and you’ll find a long load area that will easily swallow enough clobber for a weekend away. However, it’s hard to compare Omoda’s official 639-litre boot capacity with rivals because they quote up to the roof, rather than up to the parcel shelf.

A powered tailgate is standard on top-tier Noble trim but you don’t get a height adjustable boot floor as standard. That said, at least the floor sits almost flush with the boot entrance, so it’s easy to slide bulkier items in and out.

There’s also a storage tray underneath with cutouts to store your charging cable (if wound up carefully) and some smaller items.

To make way for longer items, the Omoda 7’s rear backrest folds in a 60/40 split, which is less versatile than the Tiguan’s 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats. What’s more, the rear bench in the Tiguan and Kuga can be slid back and forth to help you juggle between rear leg room and additional boot space.

“You get a fold down hook and a power socket in the boot, but it’s a slight shame you don’t get levers that can remotely fold down the rear backrest for that added convenience. ” - Lawrence Cheung, New cars editor

Buying & owning

Everyday costs, plus how reliable and safe it is

How much does it cost and what equipment do you get?

With an entry-level price of around £32,000, the Omoda 7 is one of the more affordable plug-in hybrid family SUVs. It’s slightly more than the BYD Sealion 5 and Geely Starray, but matches the cheapest MG HS PHEV. Head up to Noble trim and it’s similar to a top-spec HS Trophy. The Audi Q3, Hyundai Tucson and Volkswagen Tiguan cost significantly more.

For company car drivers, the Omoda 7 sits in one of the lower benefit-in-kind tax ratings, but it is beaten by rivals that offer an even longer battery range, including the HS and bigger-battery version of the Starray.

Even so, all versions come with loads of standard equipment. Entry-level Knight gets 19in alloy wheels, two-zone climate control, keyless ignition and a heated steering wheel. Noble adds a panoramic roof, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, and ventilated and heated front seats.

Is it reliable, and how long is the warranty?

As a brand we’ll have to wait a little longer to see how Omoda fares in the What Car? Reliability survey.

You do get a seven-year/100,000-mile warranty that should give you some peace of mind. That’s more generous than the five year cover from Hyundai, six year cover from BYD and matches the seven year cover from MG. However, the Geely Starray is slightly more generous, with an eight year, 125,000 mile cover.

How safe is it?

The Omoda 7 is yet to be crash tested by safety experts, Euro NCAP, but it does come with lots of standard safety equipment as standard, including up to eight airbags,automatic emergency braking (AEB), lane-keeping assist, rear-cross traffic alert, driver attention monitoring and traffic sign recognition.

“With the PHEV expected to be the best seller, I can understand why the petrol version will only be sold in entry-level trim.” – Dan Jones, Senior reviewer

Buy it if...

- You want an plug-in hybrid with a cheap price tag

- Having loads of front and rear space is important to you

- You’re after an interior with loads of showroom appeal

Don’t buy it if…

- You value a calm and comfortable ride

- You don’t like relying heavily on touchscreens

- You want a car with a proven reliability record

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