Omoda 7 road test: New plug-in hybrid crossover in Israel

Earlier this month, UK car sales data was published, marking another milestone in the Chinese conquest of the global automotive market. The best-selling car in the United Kingdom in March, considered the strongest sales month of the year, was the JAECOO 7, a Chinese crossover. And this is in a country that gave the world the Mini Minor, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Aston Martin, and Land Rover. Waiter, someone spilled soy sauce on my shepherd’s pie.

As usual, we were ahead of the trend: The JAECOO 7 has been the best-selling car in Israel since 2025, not only 2026. This year also saw an acceleration in local sales of a twin model of the JAECOO, the Chery Tiggo 7, and in recent weeks another sibling is starting to gain ground: The Omoda 7. Three plug-in hybrid crossovers from China’s Chery Group, which suddenly pushed Hyundai-Kia out of the lead this year in Israel’s car market after 15 years. 42% of new cars sold here in the first quarter were made in China, the highest Western market share for Chinese cars. In the UK it is still only 15%. For now. Chery has split its brands between two importers: The parent brand with Freesbe (formerly Carasso), and JAECOO and Omoda with Colmobil, with more on the way.

The Omoda is positioned slightly above the JAECOO, but in Israel their pricing is similar: From NIS 180,000 to NIS 200,000. The Omoda is larger: 4.66 meters long with a 2.72-meter wheelbase, compared to 4.55 meters for the Chery and 4.50 meters for the JAECOO, which share the same 2.67-meter wheelbase. Its trunk offers 540 liters, compared to 480 in the Chery and only 340 liters in the JAECOO.

Unlike the JAECOO 7, whose design was shamelessly copied from the Range Rover Evoque - perhaps another reason the British like it - the Omoda has a more original and equally successful design. Dynamic and sporty, with a sharp front end. The test car also came in a special concrete gray color, a 3,000 shekel optional extra, strongly resembling the stealth gray of an F-35 fighter jet. Stylish and topical.

Simple mechanical door handles rather than hidden electric ones, but inside you find the familiar Chinese mix. Clean design, with an 8.8-inch instrument cluster and a 15.6-inch infotainment touchscreen. It includes wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, plus an app for unlocking, monitoring charging, and remotely turning on the air conditioning so the car is comfortable in summer.

There are almost no physical buttons. Air conditioning, audio system, and even mirror adjustment are controlled through the screen. Some functions can be assigned to steering wheel buttons, but like other Chinese cars copying Tesla’s approach, it is distracting and forces drivers to look away from the road - an issue regulators are increasingly addressing.

We drove the mid-level “Harmony” trim with light interior colors, and the cabin feels well-equipped and refined. The front seats have electric adjustment, heating, and ventilation. They are good overall, though slightly lacking lower back support. The seating position is high, and the steering wheel adjustment range is somewhat limited.

In the rear, there is one of the most spacious back seats in cars under NIS 200,000, with excellent knee room, comfortable seats, air vents, and charging ports.

The trunk has an electric tailgate revealing a generous 537-liter capacity. It includes lighting, hooks, a power outlet, and additional compartments under the floor for cables and storage, as well as the 12V battery. There is no space for a spare wheel.

Three trim levels are offered.

Alight (NIS 180,000) includes 19-inch alloy wheels, panoramic roof, 15.6-inch screen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, electric driver and passenger seats, synthetic leather upholstery, surround cameras, and smart key.

Harmony (NIS 190,000) adds wireless phone charging, electric tailgate, front seat heating and ventilation, and fragrance system.

Vision (NIS 200,000) adds massage and leg support for the passenger seat, head-up display, automatic parking system, upgraded sound system, and a central screen that moves on a rail.

Seven airbags (eight in the higher trims), autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, blind spot monitoring, and more. The Tiggo 7 and JAECOO 7 both received 5 out of 5 stars in European crash tests, while the Omoda 7 has not yet been tested.

A 1.5-liter turbocharged petrol engine producing 143 hp works alongside an electric motor producing 204 hp. In Europe, the manufacturer claims a combined output of 342 hp, but in Israel the importer avoids stating this figure - and rightly so. The car feels quick, but not like it has nearly 300 hp at the front wheels. Still, acceleration is brisk, both from a standstill and during overtaking. There are three driving modes - Eco, Normal, and Sport - plus the option of full electric or hybrid driving. Even in Eco mode, performance remains strong.

The manufacturer claims 92 km of electric range; we achieved 75 km. With the 18 kWh battery charged, the car still prioritized electric driving in hybrid mode, but after 130 km it switched on the petrol engine and kept it running. In this hybrid state, fuel consumption of 14–15 km per liter was achieved - reasonable for this size, but not particularly economical.

The Tiggo 7 and JAECOO 7 are not strong in this area, and the Omoda is slightly better. The suspension does not handle bumps and speed humps very well, but it is quieter in operation than its siblings. Grip in corners is good, but the disconnected steering does not match the sporty design.

The Omoda 7 looks better than it drives, yet still offers good value for money. In the size range of long-wheelbase Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage hybrids, it is cheaper and better equipped, and also offers electric driving for dozens of kilometers. It has distinctive design, lots of space, strong performance, but frustrating ergonomics and handling that still needs refinement. With pricing identical to the JAECOO 7, and more space for passengers and cargo, there is finally real competition for the sales leader - even if it comes from the same group.

6 years or 150,000 km for the vehicle, 8 years or 150,000 km for the battery