Chery Omoda 7 PHEV Previewed - Gaming-Inspired SUV, 1,200KM Range

Chery Auto recently introduced the all-new Omoda 7 PHEV at an international dealers and media convention at its headquarters in Wuhu, China. And dare we say, it is a looker that will undoubtedly appeal to the intended younger buyer group.

Despite underpinning a stretched-out Omoda 5 platform, the Omoda 7 PHEV appears completely different from its smaller sibling. For starters, the Omoda 7 comes with a sharp front headlamp assembly and floating roof design instead of the O5’s dual-stack setup, which somewhat reminds us of a certain Lexus model.

Dimension-wise, the Omoda 7 PHEV measures 4,621 mm long, 1,872 mm wide, and 1,673 mm tall with a 2,700 mm wheelbase. To put things in perspective, the Omoda 7 is 247 mm longer than the Omoda 5, 42 mm wider, 85 mm taller, and has a 70 mm longer wheelbase.

According to Chery Auto, the Omoda 7 will be released as a plug-in hybrid for starters, but non-hybrid options will also be available in the near future. The current option is the popular Kunpeng Hybrid system, which is powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine that is mated to a plug-in hybrid motor rated at 154 HP and 220 NM of torque.

During the presentation, Chery claimed that the Omoda 7 PHEV could go up to 95 KM on battery power alone and 1,200 KM when combined with the petrol mill.

On board, the Omoda 7 is designed for the gaming generation, with a 15.6-inch infotainment display that can move from the centre to the passenger side easily being the highlight of the cabin.

Said infotainment display would have a 2.5K resolution and 1,000 NIT brightness, and it could be controlled with physical buttons, voice, or even gestures. During the presentation, it was also noted that the Omoda 7 PHEV's steering wheel was designed to resemble the PlayStation 5 controller.

This gaming motif was also carried over to the seats, which include a unique speaker integration on the headrest. Yes, you read that correctly: the Omoda 7 would have a 12+2 speaker integration, with the +2 speakers located on the headrest.

Elsewhere on the cabin, Chery Auto also claims to be able to suppress noise by 90% and inhibit it by 10 decibels, which helps to quiet the cabin.

It is reported that the Omoda 7 would be released later this year, and given Chery Auto Malaysia's pace in bringing new models into the Malaysian market, we may see the Omoda 7 PHEV on our roads somewhere next year.