OMODA 9 SHS: A Four-Motor Hybrid That Promises Everything—on Paper

The OMODA 9 SHS, a new flagship from Chinese manufacturer OMODA & JAECOO, enters the European market as yet another attempt to push boundaries—this time in hybrid technology. According to the company, it boasts the most efficient hybrid system on the market, powered by four motors: three electric and one internal combustion.

The combined output is a claimed 395 kW, or 537 horsepower, with 650 Nm of torque. A 0–100 km/h sprint in 4.9 seconds is impressive on paper. But as with any complex system, questions arise: how often do all those motors actually work in harmony, and does the promised efficiency translate to the real world?

Fuel consumption figures—1.7 liters per 100 km in the combined cycle, and 7 liters when the battery is depleted—clearly stem from China’s WLTP lab conditions, not the realities of everyday highway driving. The electric range is quoted at 145 km, while the total range of 1,100 km assumes the driver behaves exactly as engineers imagined under perfect conditions.

OMODA leans heavily on its so-called 3DHT hybrid transmission and CATL’s M3P battery, developed specifically for hybrid applications. These aren’t unknown names, but the abundance of technical terms may cause more confusion than confidence, particularly given the brand's lack of track record or trust in Europe.

All of this comes with a starting price of €39,900. For that, buyers are promised everything at once: luxury, speed, economy, and a “premium” experience. But with a newcomer whose technology and build quality still need to prove themselves, those promises are best approached with a healthy dose of skepticism.