OMODA 7 review: The family PHEV that punches hard on value

Join us as we take a closer look at the OMODA 7, the plug-in hybrid family SUV that's quietly making the established names look overpriced

OMODA might still be a relatively new name on UK roads, but the brand is making serious moves in the family SUV market.

The OMODA 7 is one of the latest arrivals, and it's a big one. At 4.66 metres long, it's pitched squarely against the Volkswagen Tiguan and Hyundai Tucson.

The difference? It costs considerably less.

With its Super Hybrid System (SHS) combining a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine with an 18.4kWh battery to produce 204PS and up to 56 miles of pure electric range (WLTP Comb), this is a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) worth your consideration.

It starts at £32,000, comes loaded with tech, and brings a seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty as standard — all while sitting in the 9% Benefit in Kind (BiK) bracket for company car drivers.

It makes a promising proposition. But does it live up to the hype? We got behind the wheel to find out.

What we drove:

Model: OMODA 7 SHS 18.4kWh Auto

Body style: SUV

Power: Plug-in Hybrid Electric (204PS)

Battery: 18.4kWh

Range: Up to 56 miles (WLTP Comb)

Acceleration: 0-62mph in 8.4 seconds

Colour: Obsidian Black

Specifications correct at the time of publication

Sharp, bold, and built to turn heads

The OMODA 7 makes a strong first impression.

That signature diamond matrix grille dominates the front end, giving it a bold, distinctive face that OMODA fans know and love.

Strong character lines sweep across the body, giving it a dynamic, purposeful stance. The floating roofline dips into a coupé-like slope towards the rear, which looks genuinely sleek, though it does eat into rear visibility somewhat.

Around the back, the X-shape mirrors the front end nicely. It's a considered, unified design that holds together well, even if the rear does draw the odd comparison to a Range Rover Velar (though this isn’t a bad thing either).

We had the OMODA 7 in Obsidian Black, and it suited the car well.

Dark, brooding, and premium-feeling to its core, it's a colour that flatters those strong body lines.

The 19-inch alloys round things off without overcomplicating the look, and the choreographed headlight display when you lock and unlock is a nice flourish that adds to the premium feel.

Is it the most original design on the road? Not entirely.

There are hints of Lexus RX in that busy side profile. But at this price point, it's a sharp, well-resolved package that commands attention on the road.

Roomy, well-equipped, and full of clever touches

Step inside and the OMODA 7 is vast, to say the least. Plenty of headroom, good legroom front and rear — those in the six-foot-and-over club will be very comfortable.

And it's not just us humans who are well catered for. The boot comes in at 590 litres, which is genuinely impressive for a plug-in hybrid.

A 15.6-inch infotainment screen dominates the dashboard with 2.5K resolution, making it sharp, crisp and quick to respond. The sub-menus take a little getting used to, but once you find your way around, it does the job well. Alongside it sits an 8.88-inch digital instrument cluster.

Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay come as standard, and the customisable ambient lighting adds a splash of personality to every journey.

Silent glass and privacy-tinted rear windows keep both noise and light out, which adds to the sense of calm inside the cabin.

One unique feature worth calling out: A fragrance system with three scents. They make the cabin smell divine, although they were more Febreze than Chanel.

The seats are inspired by gaming chairs, with six-way power adjustment for the driver.

The passenger seat was manual on the car we drove, which took away some of that premium feel.

The seat cushion is also short and flat, and the high seating position means comfort on longer journeys is questionable.

Adjusting the mirrors via the steering wheel buttons is fiddly and unintuitive, and the ISOFIX covers are definitely a two-handed job.

Noble trim adds ventilated seats, lumbar support, a panoramic sunroof, and a 12-speaker Sony sound system.

Capable and composed, but don't expect fireworks

The star of the show is the Super Hybrid System. It's seamless, quiet, and genuinely impressive — you'd barely know the petrol engine was there even under hard acceleration. It feels like an EV, and that's no bad thing.

204PS and instant electric torque make it feel sprightly at low speeds, and merging onto a motorway is completely stress-free. The 0-62mph time of 8.4 seconds won't set pulses racing, but it's more than adequate for everyday use.

At higher speeds though, things get a little less convincing.

The OMODA 7 feels shaky and unsettled on faster roads, and you feel every bump. The ride is soft but easily upset by sharper intrusions. Road noise is average too, which is surprising given the silent glass.

The steering is light across all three drive modes and lacks real feedback, and there's a nervousness to it that doesn't exactly inspire confidence. Push it into a corner and the body roll is noticeable.

The OMODA 7 is very much a cruiser, not a corner carver.

And the regenerative braking? We’d recommend leaving it on a gentler setting. The heavier settings kick in with a delay, making deceleration difficult to control and the overall experience less refined.

That sloping roofline already limits rear visibility, and the big headrests make it worse. Worth bearing in mind.

On the plus side, the turning circle is surprisingly good for a car of this size, and the ADAS features are refreshingly unintrusive — you can complete a whole journey with them switched on and still arrive with your sanity intact.

Three drive modes are available: Eco, Normal, and Sport. Sport firms things up, but doesn't transform the car much.

Going the distance? It's got you covered

With 56 miles of pure electric range (WLTP Comb), the OMODA 7 covers most daily commutes without touching a drop of petrol. And with a total combined range of up to 745 miles, longer trips are stress-free too.

When it does come to charging, the OMODA 7 supports DC fast charging up to 40kW, taking the battery from 10-80% in as little as 20 minutes. That's a genuinely useful figure for top-ups on the go.

When the battery gets low, the petrol engine takes over. Well over 40mpg is achievable without using the battery — commendable for a car of this size and weight. The 23g/km CO2 figure also plays a big part in securing that 9% Benefit in Kind (BiK) bracket.

The range readout in the driver's display can be a little misleading though. Even when the battery has depleted to the point where the engine kicks in and the car won't go into pure electric mode, it can still show nine miles of electric range remaining.

It's a quirk rather than a dealbreaker, but worth being aware of.

There's also no conventional trip computer that can be reset, which makes tracking real-world economy trickier than it should be.

The Super Hybrid System ensures the battery never fully depletes though, maintaining a minimum charge at all times so full power is always available when you need it.

What's good, and what's not

The OMODA 7 makes a strong case for itself, though it's not without its compromises

The good bits:

• Super Hybrid System is seamless and impressively quiet — feels like an EV
• 56 miles of pure electric range (WLTP Comb) covers most daily commutes
• DC fast charging from 10-80% in as little as 20 minutes
• Vast interior with genuinely impressive boot space at 590 litres
• Signature diamond matrix grille and strong exterior design give it real road presence

The not-so-good bits:

• Feels shaky and unsettled at higher speeds
• Ride is soft but easily upset by sharper intrusions
• Range readout in the driver's display can be misleading
• Rear visibility is limited thanks to the sloping roofline and headrests

What's the verdict?

Overall rating: 6/10

The OMODA 7 makes a genuinely strong case for itself — and the PHEV powertrain is the biggest reason why. Seamless, quiet, and impressively refined, it's one of the better hybrid systems we've driven at this price point.

The value proposition is equally hard to ignore. At £32,000, it undercuts the Tiguan eHybrid by £11,000 and the Tucson PHEV by £7,000.

That's a significant gap, and the OMODA 7 makes the most of it with a vast interior, generous boot space, and a seven-year warranty that adds real peace of mind for a newer brand.

The driving dynamics do let it down somewhat.

It's shaky at speed, the ride is easily unsettled, and the steering lacks real feedback. It's not the most exciting car on the road. But it was never trying to be.

For the right buyer, this is a very compelling package.

If you want a practical, well-equipped family PHEV that covers your daily commute on electric and doesn't cost the earth, the OMODA 7 deserves a serious look.

Top five reasons to consider the OMODA 7:

1. Seamless, impressively quiet PHEV powertrain
2. 56 miles of pure electric range (WLTP Comb) for daily commuting
3. Vast interior and 590-litre boot
4. Starts at £32,000 — thousands less than comparable rivals
5. Seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty as standard

Would we recommend leasing an OMODA 7?

Absolutely — especially if you're after a practical, well-equipped family PHEV that delivers where it counts without breaking the bank.

The 56-mile electric range (WLTP Comb) handles most daily commutes without touching petrol, the PHEV powertrain is genuinely impressive, and that seven-year warranty means you're covered for the long haul.

Yes, the driving dynamics have their limitations. And yes, the established rivals are more polished behind the wheel.

But for thousands less, the OMODA 7 offers a lot of car for the money — and that's a very hard argument to counter.