Omoda 9 2026 News

New BYD hybrid family SUV rival emerges
By Tim Gibson · 25 May 2026
Chery has just updated its Omoda 9 large SUV in China and it could be headed to Australia next. Omoda Jaecoo Chief Commercial Officer Roy Munoz told CarsGuide earlier this year to expect more activity on the Omoda front in Australia in 2026.This new Omoda 9 will not be a part of that push though, with the Omoda 7 expected to launch first, in the second half of this year. The updated Omoda 9 just revealed in China has not been confirmed for Australia, but if it does make its way here, it will be some time in 2027. There have been some minor updates for the new model, with tweaks to the exterior design representing an improvement drag coefficient, and subsequent fuel economy. Inside the cabin, Omoda claims there is a better air quality filter.The updated Omoda 9 is available in China with a 2.0-litre petrol engine, producing 192kW or 1.5-litre turbo-petrol plug-in hybrid set-up, producing 265kW.  The Chinese version now has a 20kWh battery, with an all-electric driving range of 120km, according to lenient CLTC standards. A DC fast charge from 30 to 80 per cent takes around 17 minutes. It is unclear what the new Omoda 9’s set-up choices might look like Down Under, but the current PHEV-only model has a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine and three electric motor set-up, producing 395kW. It is equipped with a much larger 34kWh battery pack granting it up to 169km of EV range.The Australian model is only available with all-wheel drive, but from 2027 all models in China are no longer optional with AWD. Chery Australia has been contacted for comment to establish whether this will be the same deal in Australia. The current model starts in Australia from $61,990 (before on-road costs), but this latest example in China will cost up to the equivalent of roughly $30,000. The Omoda 9 is the Chery sub-brand's only model on sale in Australia at the moment, and is the most expensive car in Chery Group’s domestic line-up.It will continue to be a rival to the BYD Sealion 6 as well as the closely-related Chery Tiggo 9.
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