The Omoda C9 SUV has been previewed in Malaysia ahead of its market launch that will take place in December this year, coming to market as a locally assembled (CKD) model. Given its D-segment SUV positioning, the Omoda C9 measures 4,775 mm long, 1,920 mm wide, 1,671 mm tall with a wheelbase of 2,800 mm, and luggage capacity is from 660 litres to 1,783 litres. This makes the C9 larger than the Honda CR-V, and measures closer to the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro and the Mercedes-Benz GLC, as well as the Toyota Harrier that is possibly its closest competitor.
Visually, the Omoda C9 is identified by
its diamond-matrix front air intake grille, along with its ‘Sigma’ daytime
running lights (DRL) signature, and its doors get pop-out handles. Lighting is
by LEDs for the adaptive headlamps and LED tail lamps, and the tailgate gets an
auto-sensing function. The Omoda C9 will be offered in Malaysia in 2WD and AWD
forms. Powertrain for the Omoda C9 is by a 2.0 litre turbocharged petrol
four-cylinder engine producing 261 PS and 400 Nm of torque, driving
the front, or all four wheels through an eight-speed torque converter automatic
transmission.
In China, the Omoda C9 is sold as the Exeed RX that gets the same engine rated for 249 PS and 385 Nm, driving the front wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. This is also sold in China as a plug-in hybrid with a 1.5 litre turbo petrol inline-four cylinder, and this gets paired with a three-speed dedicated hybrid transmission. Ground clearance for the C9 is 165 mm, enabling a water wading depth of up to 450 mm. Rolling stock is a set of 20-inch alloy wheels shod in 245/50R20 Michelin e-Primacy tyres, with suspension by MacPherson struts in front and a multi-link setup at the rear. It gets Continuous Damping Control (CDC) adaptive suspension all-around too, which is a first in this price range. The C9 2WD gets three drive modes while the AWD variant gets seven drive modes for added off-road capability.
Driver assistance systems offered in the
C9 brings a claimed Level 2.5 ADAS suite, comprised of blind spot detection,
door opening warning, lane departure warning, lane departure prevention, lane
change assist and emergency lane keep assist, along with a driver monitoring
system. On the passive safety front, the Omoda C9 gets eight airbags. Inside,
the Omoda C9 gets a push-button door release system such as those found on
Tesla vehicles. Interior equipment for the C9 includes ambient lighting of the
active rhythmatic variety, with a combined 24.6-inch HD display panel, and
audio is a 14-speaker setup by Sony, including speakers in the driver’s
headrest.
Air-conditioning is a three-zone configuration that features B-pillar vents for the second row, and includes fragrance that employs a proprietary cartridge system that holds up to three scents which can be selected via the infotainment touchscreen. Meanwhile, the front seats get ventilation and the console and dashboard are trimmed in soft-touch leather. The multi-function steering wheel gets shift paddles, and the dashboard also gets a head-up display. Further equipment includes an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with memory for six positions, a built-in digital video recorder (DVR) and a 540-degree surround view camera suite. At the rear, the second-row seats get electrically-powered reclining.
The Omoda C9 is also offered in a matte grey exterior paint finish. This will be the first matte paint finish offered on a locally assembled vehicle in Malaysia. Estimated pricing for the Omoda C9 starts from RM 185,000 for the C9 2WD, and RM 195,000 for the C9 AWD, and registrations of interest for the coupé-SUV have been opened.
