OMODA 7

Already showcased at the 2024 Beijing Motor Show and Chery Automobiles’ headquarters in Wuhu, China, the all-new Omoda 7 will be the Chinese carmaker’s first-ever plug-in hybrid SUV. Based on the smaller Omoda C5, the new upcoming Omoda 7 is a longer version of the former, which makes it a more premium SUV and the new flagship model from the brand. The new Omoda 7 will first be launched in China, followed by South Africa and Middle-East car markets like the UAE in 2025. 

Measuring 4,621 mm long, 1,872 mm wide, and 1,673 mm tall, the Omoda 7 has a wheelbase of 2,700 mm, making it the largest-sized vehicle from the Chinese brand. The overall design language of the Omoda 7 is heavily inspired by the smaller Omoda 5. At the front, this midsize SUV has angular LED headlamps on the sides and a unique-looking honeycomb-inspired grille in the middle. 

The side profile of the Omoda 7 has a couple of striking-looking design elements that have been lifted off from the Omoda 5, such as the slightly sloping-down roofline and a sharp kink below the rear quarter glass panel. This SUV has large 19-inch machined alloy wheels on the side and sleek-looking horizontally-laid LED tail lamps at the back, with these tail lamps having unique zig-zag patterned LED inserts within them.

The cabin of the Omoda 7 has also been showcased already in a dual-tone black and grey theme, with the SUV having a two-spoke multi-functional steering wheel and a rectangular full-TFT instrument console behind it. The centre console has a huge 15.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which can slide towards the co-passenger side of the dashboard. This ‘ultra-sensitive intelligent cockpit’ of the Omoda 7, as the Chinese brand likes to call it, also has a wireless charging pad for two smartphones in the lower centre console.

All the functions of the vehicle, including the climate control, audio system and ride control systems are controlled through the huge infotainment system. The cabin of the Omoda 7 also has a few innovative features like an intelligent voice assistant with four distinct zones, a fragrance system, a 14-speaker sound system with active noise cancellation, powered, heated and ventilated front seats and more. 

While Omoda is yet to announce the specifications of its plug-in hybrid powertrain, it is confirmed to be the 1.5-litre TGDI petrol hybrid engine from the stable of Chery Automobiles. Paired with two electric motors, this hybrid powertrain claims 156 PS of maximum power and an electric-only range of 95 km in other plug-in hybrid vehicles from Chery Automobiles. However, the specs of the Omoda 7 with this powertrain are yet to be confirmed.

The new Omoda 7 will come to the UAE car market in the second half of 2025, and going by its size, it will compete with similarly-priced petrol and hybrid SUVs like Toyota RAV4, Kia Sportage, Hyundai Tucson, and Volkswagen Tiguan. It will also compete with similarly-sized all-electric SUVs, many of which are hailing from the same country where Omoda has its origins.