OMODA 7 SHS test drive: ZERO emissions label, 279 hp and more appeal than we expected

The OMODA 7 SHS arrives with one of those spec sheets that, on paper, seem designed to dispel prejudices. It is a plug-in hybrid SUV 4.66 metres long, with 279 hp, up to 92 kilometres of homologated electric range, a ZERO emissions label and a price that puts it in a very competitive position against many of its direct rivals. But reading the data is one thing; living with it during a real journey is quite another.

Our first contact took place in a particularly interesting scenario: a trip from Madrid to Segovia, with Pedraza as the final destination. In other words, a route combining city traffic, motorway, secondary roads, changes of pace, climbs, bends and the kind of journey that shows whether a hybrid family car is efficient only on paper or also convincing when asked for more than crawling between traffic lights.

From Madrid to Pedraza: traffic, motorway and secondary road

The answer was clear: the OMODA 7 SHS performed outstandingly on every type of road. In the city it moves with the smoothness typical of an electric car when the battery has charge; on the motorway it holds cruising speed with great ease; and on secondary roads, like those leading towards Pedraza, it proves it has more than enough power to tackle overtakes, slopes and changes of pace without feeling strained.

It is not an SUV that seeks to sell sportiness, nor does it need to. Its strength lies elsewhere: in how effortlessly it does everything. Its 279 hp do not feel like a showroom figure, but like a genuine reserve of thrust available when needed. The car responds with conviction, yet without abruptness, and that is precisely one of the virtues of its plug-in hybrid system.

The SHS system: power without abruptness

The SHS name stands for “Super Hybrid System”. Under that designation works a PHEV propulsion system combining a 1.5 TGDI DHE four-cylinder petrol engine, a dedicated DHT hybrid transmission and an 18.4 kWh battery. The set delivers 205 kW, equivalent to 279 hp, and 365 Nm of peak torque.

Beyond the numbers, what matters is how it works. The electric and combustion parts coordinate very naturally, without jerks, without noticeable interruptions and without forcing the driver to keep track of which energy source is moving the car at any given moment.

During the Madrid–Segovia–Pedraza route, the PHEV system worked with notable maturity. In urban stretches and low-demand situations, the electric motor takes on most of the work, with an immediate and silent response. On fast roads, the petrol engine kicks in discreetly, providing support when the car needs to maintain speed or gain thrust.

When the battery runs low, the car does not fall apart

One of the important points in any plug-in hybrid is what happens when the battery is no longer in its most favourable zone. In the OMODA 7 SHS, the system keeps working like a conventional hybrid, with electric assistance during acceleration phases and low load. This avoids the feeling of a “heavy and thirsty car” that sometimes appears in other PHEVs once the battery is depleted.

The fuel consumption obtained in our test was between 2 and 2.5 l/100 km, a particularly interesting figure considering the type of route, the size of the vehicle and its power. As with any plug-in hybrid, the final figure will depend greatly on the battery’s initial charge level and on how disciplined the user is about plugging in, but the OMODA 7 SHS makes clear that its approach is not limited to achieving a good homologation figure. Used well, it can deliver very reasonable consumption on real roads. Its real strength, however, is that it is a car with which we can perfectly well complete most journeys without charging the battery. And, for its power-to-weight ratio, it manages very contained consumption of barely 6–6.5 litres at a legal road speed.

Up to 92 electric km: the key is charging it

The homologated electric range of up to 92 kilometres is one of its main selling points. In daily use, that figure allows many trips to be covered without using petrol, especially on urban or peri-urban routes.

In a city like Madrid, where Low Emission Zones are part of everyday life, the ZERO emissions label is not a mere commercial hook: it is a practical advantage. It allows access with fewer restrictions, freer movement and genuine use of the electric operation on everyday journeys.

Charging is also well resolved for the type of car we are discussing. The battery accepts alternating current charging of up to 6.6 kW and direct current charging of up to 40 kW. At a home point, a full charge can be completed in about three hours, while on fast charging it can recover a significant part of the range in around 20 minutes. It does not intend to replace a pure electric car, but it does allow it to be used during the week as a mostly electric car if charged regularly.

Quiet, comfortable and very much designed for travelling

What surprises most about the car is not just how it goes or how much it consumes. It is how comfortable it is. The OMODA 7 SHS is designed for travelling, and that is noticeable from the first kilometres. The soundproofing is very well executed, the double-layer glass helps isolate the cabin, and the active noise cancellation system reinforces that sense of a silent bubble that is so appreciated on long journeys.

On open road, that serenity becomes one of its main arguments. It does not convey nervousness, does not demand constant corrections and filters road irregularities well. The suspension clearly prioritises comfort, which is logical in a family-oriented SUV.

In the city, moreover, it feels more manageable than its dimensions might suggest, with light steering and simple responses in manoeuvres, narrow streets or car parks.

Plenty of space for family travel

Interior space also counts for a great deal. With a length of 4,660 mm, width of 1,875 mm, height of 1,670 mm and wheelbase of 2,720 mm, the OMODA 7 SHS sits in a very interesting area of the market: roomier and more practical than many compact SUVs, yet without reaching the size of a large SUV from the upper segment.

There is a good sense of space up front, rear passengers travel with plenty of room, and the boot, offering between 537 and 1,294 litres, reinforces its profile as a family car.

A spectacular screen, but with an important trade-off

The cabin leaves a positive impression in terms of design, presentation and perceived quality. There are pleasant materials to the touch, apparently good fit and finish, and a very prominent technological stage. The 8.88-inch digital instrument cluster and the large 15.6-inch central screen with 2.5K resolution concentrate much of the on-board experience.

In the Premium trim, moreover, the screen can slide towards the passenger side at any moment, a striking, different and very eye-catching solution during a first encounter.

But that same solution carries an important downside. To accommodate the electronic system that allows the screen to slide, OMODA has had to sacrifice all the space that would normally be occupied by the glovebox, including that storage compartment so useful day to day. In other words, we gain a very spectacular technological feature but lose a basic practical solution. And in a family car, that trade-off is noticeable.

Too much inside the screen

Here comes the main “but” of the OMODA 7 SHS. Because it convinces on space, comfort, power and efficiency, but less so on its determination to move almost every function onto the screen.

The multimedia system is fast, visually attractive and fairly intuitive, supported by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 processor, 12 GB of memory and 128 GB of storage. The problem is not that the screen works badly. The problem is that there are simply too many things inside it.

On the move, physical controls for basic functions are missed. Not everything should depend on touch menus, especially in a car aimed at families and long-distance travel. Technology should make life easier on board, not force the driver to divert more attention from the road than strictly necessary.

It is a general trend across the industry, but in the OMODA 7 SHS it is especially evident because the rest of the car conveys a very logical, very comfortable and very well-resolved sense of use.

A high driving position and a very prominent centre tunnel

The driving position also deserves comment. It is high, even when lowering the seat, which will please those who want a commanding view of the road, but may not convince those who prefer to feel more integrated with the car.

The centre tunnel, for its part, offers a lot of room for objects and partly compensates for the absence of a glovebox, although its volume and height can make it feel bulky.

A lot of equipment from the Pure trim

On equipment, the OMODA 7 SHS plays one of its best cards. From the Pure trim it already includes 19-inch wheels, LED headlights with automatic high and low beam switching, roof rails, heated steering wheel, heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry and start, acoustic glass, 15.6-inch central screen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, wireless phone charging, rear-view camera and 19 ADAS systems.

The Premium trim adds 20-inch wheels, a 540-degree panoramic camera, front parking sensors, ventilated front seats in synthetic leather with electric adjustment and memory, panoramic sunroof, auto-dimming interior mirror, exterior mirrors with memory, sliding digital screen, four-zone intelligent voice control and an eight-speaker Sony sound system.

It is a very complete specification and, above all, very well aligned with what someone looking for a modern family SUV expects.

Price: one of its strongest arguments

The price rounds off the argument. The OMODA 7 SHS starts at €42,900 in Pure trim and €45,900 in Premium trim before aid. With launch campaigns, financing and application of the Auto+ programme, the Premium trim can drop to €32,990.

In a market where plug-in hybrid SUVs tend to get expensive easily, this proposal places the model in a very competitive position.

Verdict: a very convincing family PHEV, though not perfect

After testing it between Madrid, Segovia and Pedraza, the conclusion is clear: the OMODA 7 SHS is not only an interesting car on price. It is a very complete, comfortable, spacious family SUV with a plug-in hybrid system that works with remarkable smoothness.

It has more than enough power for travelling, a useful electric range for daily life and a level of comfort that fits its approach very well.

Does it have room for improvement? Yes, mainly in ergonomics. The absence of physical buttons does not convince me, and the sliding screen, though spectacular, forces you to give up the glovebox and a storage space that is missed in a family car. But the whole works. And it works very well.

OMODA has understood that today’s buyer wants a ZERO emissions label, space, technology, efficiency and a reasonable price. The OMODA 7 SHS delivers all of that with an attractive presentation and a driving experience more convincing than many might expect. It is not perfect, but it is one of those cars that, once driven, is understood far better than on paper.

Technical specifications of this car

Off-RoadOmoda 72 versions · from 42,900 €