Jaecoo Omoda C9

Following its September preview, Jaecoo’s latest release, the highly-anticipated Omoda C9, officially launched in Malaysia.

Petrol-powered, the D-segment coupe SUV is the first Omoda model under Jaecoo, and is based on the Exceed RX (Yaoguang) model sold in China.

Locally-assembled (CKD - Shah Alam), available via Jaecoo Malaysia are two variants (Omoda C9 2WD - MYR 168,800, Omoda C9 AWD - MYR 188,800).

Prices (OTR, w/o insurance) include a standard vehicle warranty (seven years/150,000 KM). 

Three (single-tone) exterior colours (Matte Grey - MYR 3,000, Khaki White, Carbon Crystal Black). One (single-tone) interior colour (Black).

The Omoda C9 has a modern and multi-tiered dashboard, linked to a wide-high-rising (island-style) centre console (storage - cooling system).

Soft-/hard-touched (leather/hard panels), it sees a single-tone (Black) colour scheme (dash, steering wheel, centre console, door panels) with contrast trims (Silver).

Filling-up the space are the driver/central displays (24.6-Inch single-piece - instrument cluster, infotainment), slim air-conditioning vents, and ambient lights (rhythmic).

Inclusively, the layout is ergonomic with the equipment purposefully-arranged and easily-accessible (driver-centric, user-friendly).

One half of a twin setup, equipped is a 12.3-Inch fully-digital driver display (instrument cluster) with an Auto-Head-Up Display (A-HUD).

Comfortable, the interior sees variant-specific upholsteries (leatherette - C9 2WD, leather - C9 AWD) in a single-tone (Black) colour scheme.

Variant C9 2WD gets electric-powered (front - six-way-driver, four-way-passenger, driver-memory, driver-welcome, driver-controlled passenger-seat-adjust switch, lumbar, heat, ventilation/rear - 60:40 split-fold, backrest recline, heat) seats.

Variant C9 AWD gets electric-powered (front - eight-way-driver, four-way-passenger, driver-memory, driver-controlled passenger-seat-adjust switch, lumbar, heat, ventilation/rear - 60:40 split-fold, backrest recline, heat) seats.

Included are armrests (front - centre console, rear - centre seat fold-out), and panoramic glass sunroof (electric - slide/tilt, sunshade).

A wide-bodied five-seater, the cabin offers generous space, providing ample interior mobility for the occupants (front, rear).

Sufficient head-, shoulder-, and leg-room.

Practical storage areas. E.g., door/seat back pockets, centre console partitioned/caverned spaces (armrest storage - cooling function - under storage), and a glove box.

Mounted is a two-spoke-flat-bottom steering wheel, wrapped in leather (Black) with contrast trims (Silver).

Features are multi-function (touch-sensor - Bluetooth, Media, voice recognition, vehicle settings), gear lever (right stalk), and manual/electric (C9 2WD/C9 AWD) column adjustments (tilt, telescopic).

Drive is aided by an Electric Power Steering (EPS) system.

Provided are four cup holders (two - front, rear), and four bottle holders (two - front, rear).

Multiple power outlets. E.g., four USB ports (two-front, two-rear), two 12 V sockets (one-front, one-trunk), and one wireless charger (front - cooling vent).

Accessing its electric-tailgate (handsfree - auto-sensing, remote-key fob) opens up to 660-Litres (rear seats up) and 1,783-Litres (rear seats down) of load capacities.

Tipping the scale at 1,786 KG (C9 2WD) and 1,876 KG (C9 AWD), the Omoda C9 measures at 4,775 MM long, 1,920 MM wide, 1,671 MM tall, and with a wheelbase spanning 2,800 MM.

Sportily-planted, its exterior exudes a modern outlook, emphasised by angularly-chiselled and -dynamic proportions.

The front-end sees a mildly-dipped bonnet, angular quarter panels, a full-faced grille (‘Diamond Matrix’ - air intake, borderless), and a sculpted bumper (lower/corner vents, ‘OMODA’ script - Chrome).

Accentuations are body trimmings (Black - top bumper bar, vents, side mirror arms, side window surrounds/Grey - bonnet tip strip, under-guard, lower side doors), body cladding (Black - bumper, fenders, side sills), and roof rails (Grey).

Athletically-wide, it continues the modern aesthetic, emphasised by angularly-sculpted and sharply-cut contours.

The rear-end sees a mildly-dipped coupe-esque roofline, a roof-edge spoiler (‘Warcraft’-shaped), angular quarter panels, an upright tailgate (‘OMODA’ script - Chrome), and a sculpted bumper (Black - diffuser, quad exhausts).

Accentuations are body trimmings (Black - top tailgate bar, bottom spoiler, D-pillars, side window surrounds/Grey - under-guard, lower side doors), body cladding (Black - bumper, fenders, side sills), and roof rails (Grey).

Fiercely-sleek, the headlamps are framed sharp and slim with bumper flowing DRLs (‘Sigma’ - Greek letter inspired). Installed are full LED units.

Features are LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL), sequential turn signals, automatic On/Off, Intelligent Headlamp Control (IHC), and welcome lights (rhythmic - C9 AWD).

Contemporary, the tail lamps are housed in a full-width strip design (lightbar) with wrapped-around edges. Installed are full LED units.

Features are sequential turn signals, automatic On/Off, and welcome lights (rhythmic - C9 AWD). Paired to the setup is a high-mounted brake light (spoiler-integrated).

The side mirrors (dual-tone - body-colour-Black) are electronic-powered (auto-fold, adjust), with turn signals, blind-spot indicators (Blind Spot Detection - BSD), heating (electric), and memory.

Fitted are ventilated (front) and solid (rear) disc brakes with variant-specific-coloured callipers (Silver - C9 2WD, Red - C9 AWD). 

Drive is aided by an Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold system.

Sportily-designed, fitted is a set of 20-Inch multi-spoke (dual-tone - Silver-Black) alloy rims, wrapped in 245/50 R20 (front, rear) Michelin ePrimacy tyres.

The Omoda C9 features the following suite of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).

Grouped are Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Integrated Cruise Assist (ICA), Traffic Jam Assist (TJA), Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB), Blind Spot Detection (BSD), Front Collision Warning (FCW), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Rear Collision Warning (RCW), Emergency Lane Keeping (ELK), Lane Changing Assistance (LCA), Lane Departure Assistance (LDA), Active Speed Limit (ASL), Departure Ahead Inform (DAI), Door Opening Warning (DOW), Intelligent Headlamp Control (IHC), Fatigue Reminder (FR), and Driver Monitoring Systems (DMS).

Other standard systems include HD Panoramic Camera (540-degree), Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Emergency Brake Assist (EBA), Traction Control System (TCS), Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist System (BAS), Brake Override System (BOS), Multi-Collision Brake (MCB), Start Assist (Hill Hold Control), Hill Assist (HA), Hill-Start Assist Control (HSC), Hill-Descent Control (HDC), Speed Limit Reminder (SLR), Electronic Speed Limit Settings, and Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

Passive safety, includes eight airbags (driver-passenger, front sides, front-rear-side curtains), seatbelts (anchors, reminders, pre-tensioners), ISOFIX (two - outer-rear-seats), parking sensors (front, rear), parking cameras (reverse, 540-degree), door ajar warning, emergency brake signal, automatic-central-locking doors, electric-child-safety lock, automatic-dimming rear-view mirror (interior), automatic wipers (rain-sensing), automatic headlamps (On/Off), double-glazed glass (acoustic/heat-insulated - windscreen, windows), and anti-theft (engine immobiliser security alarm).

Equipped are variant-specific drive modes. Three (C9 2WD - ECO, NORMAL, SPORT) and seven (C9 AWD - ECO, NORMAL, SPORT, SAND, MUD, OFF-ROAD, SNOW).

Completing the twin setup, installed is a 12.3-Inch touchscreen central display (infotainment).

The setup supports Apple CarPlay/Android Auto (wireless), voice assistant, navigation, USB, and Bluetooth.

Entertainment is piped via a Sony Surround Sound setup (eight speakers - C9 2WD, 14 speakers - C9 AWD). Included are headrest speakers (driver - C9 AWD).

The Omoda C9 harbours a 2.0-Litre four-cylinder 16-valve turbocharged direct-injection (TGDI) petrol engine, producing 257 HP and 400 NM.

Fitted is an eight-speed automatic transmission (steering stalk gear shifter).

Variant-specific, the power is transmitted to the front (C9 2WD) and all four (C9 AWD) wheels, via Two-Wheel Drive (2WD) and All-Wheel Drive (AWD - JAECOO ARDIS) systems.

Fuel tank capacity is at 65-Litres.

The Omoda C9 features these conveniences. 

E.g., Keyless Entry (engine Start/Stop, NFC entry access key card, push-button electric door release system), remote/key fob control (air-conditioner), automatic headlamps (On/Off, high/low beam), automatic wipers (rain-sensing), front armrest (centre console storage - cooling system), steering wheel (multi-function, electric column adjustments, EPS, voice assistant), wireless charger (cooling system), panoramic glass sunroof (electric - slide/tilt, sunshade), electric-tailgate (handsfree - auto-sensing, remote-key fob), Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold, electric-powered side mirrors (auto-fold, adjust, BSD), auto-dimming rear-view mirror (interior), dual-zone automatic air-conditioning (rear air-vents, N95 air-filter), in-car air-fragrance system (three cartridges - C9 AWD), electric-powered seats (front, rear), interior lighting (LED - ambient, map, cabin, boot), parking sensors (front, rear), parking cameras (reverse, 540-degree), and double-glazed glass (acoustic/heat-insulated - windscreen, windows).

Installed is a setup (C9 2WD, C9 AWD) of dual-zone automatic air-conditioning (rear air-vents, N95 air-filter), with an in-car air-fragrance system (three cartridges - C9 AWD).

Propping-up the chassis is a suspension setup of MacPherson struts (front) and multi-link (rear), featuring Continuous Damping Control (CDC) adaptive suspension (C9 AWD).

Comfortably spacious, safe and suitable for a daily-driver. The ride quality is firm, agile and well-balanced, with a smooth powertrain delivery.

Good sound insulation, covering all the NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) aspects, providing a refined and peaceful cabin experience. Courtesy of the equipped double-glazed glass (acoustic/heat-insulated - windscreen, windows).

The Omoda C9 by Jaecoo is a great coupe SUV. First, it offers a strikingly edgy exterior appeal, and great interior space.

Second, its shell envelopes a tech-savvy cockpit, featuring a myriad of advanced connectivity, safety systems, and creature comfort features.

Ultimately, its build quality is satisfactory inside and out, and the Omoda C9 is surely a contender in its segment.