The first vehicle from Chery's newly spun-off Omoda marque in Australia will be a mid-size SUV with plug-in hybrid power.
Chery will turn the Omoda name into its own brand with the 2026 Omoda C9, a mid-size to large SUV sized to compete with the Mazda CX-60 and Mitsubishi Outlander, due by the end of September 2025.
And it is set to become the most powerful car that isn't fully electric to be sold by a Chinese brand in Australia, thanks to a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine and three electric motors.
As previously reported by Drive, Chery will drop the Omoda name from the Omoda 5 small SUV to turn it into a standalone brand, sold alongside the Chinese giant's Jaecoo division in twinned Omoda Jaecoo dealerships.
The C9 will be the debut model for the new Omoda marque – not the Chery Omoda 5, which has been renamed Chery C5 – ahead of more models to follow.
It is similar in size to the BYD Sealion 6 plug-in hybrid SUV – but it is not expected to be as affordable.
Given the much-smaller Jaecoo J7 SHS plug-in hybrid ($47,990 drive-away) is priced similarly to a Sealion 6 in its cheapest form, the Omoda C9's additional size and technology could push it beyond $60,000.
It is set to counter the higher price with a roomier interior, and a more powerful plug-in hybrid drivetrain, confirmed to Drive for the C9 by Omoda Jaecoo chief commercial officer Roy Munoz.
It combines a 105kW 1.5-litre turbo four-cylinder petrol engine with two electric motors integrated into the transmission – developing 75kW and 90kW – and a third 120kW electric motor on the rear axle.
With all-wheel drive – against the J7's front-wheel drive – it quotes a "drive power" output of 330kW/700Nm in the UK, but the combined output is also listed as an incredible 455kW.
Either way, it is the most powerful Chinese car sold in Australia that isn't fully electric, ahead of the BYD Shark 6 and GWM Haval H6 GT plug-in hybrids (both 321kW).
Include battery-electric cars, and it is competitive – at least on paper – with the 450kW claimed by the dual-motor Zeekr 009 people mover.
Omoda UK claims a 4.9-second 0-100km/h acceleration time, and a 145km electric-only driving range from a 34.4kWh battery pack, based on European WLTP testing.
It can DC fast charge from 30 to 80 per cent in a claimed 28 minutes, at up to 80kW.
Government approval documents have also been lodged for a non-hybrid version, using a 183kW 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine with an eight-speed auto and front- or all-wheel drive, but it is yet to be locked in for showrooms.
Available features include dual 12.3-inch screens, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 14-speaker Sony sound system, dual-zone climate control, heated and ventilated front and rear seats, and leather trim.
There is also a head-up display, panoramic sunroof, automatic parking, adaptive suspension, and 20-inch alloy wheels.
More details of the 2026 Omoda C9 are due closer to its Australian arrival in the third quarter of 2025 (July to September).
Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family. Highly Commended - Young Writer of the Year 2024 (Under 30) Rising Star Journalist, 2024 Winner Scoop of The Year - 2024 Winner
