2026 OMODA

Once upon a time, buying a Chinese car was a bit like ordering something expensive off Temu. You knew it would probably do the job, but you weren't entirely sure what was going to turn up. The styling was a bit... uninspiring, the interiors had all the charm of a dentist's waiting room, and the specification was hardly going to have you showing off to your neighbours. But by, haven't things changed?! Because just look at this OMODA. Seriously. Look at it!

For starters, it's finished in Chromite Silver, which sounds like something you'd find on the periodic table but actually looks absolutely sensational. Normally, silver is the colour you choose when you've completely given up on having a personality. Not this silver. This silver has ATTITUDE. It gleams; it shimmers and somehow manages to make every other silver car look like a fridge.

And then you open the door. Oh. My. God.

The interior is genuinely gorgeous. Leather everywhere, beautifully finished surfaces, and everything you touch feels like it belongs in something with a German badge and a price tag that would require you to remortgage your house. Except it doesn't have either of those things. Which is rather nice.

And the specification? ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS.

Honestly, I reckon someone at OMODA was handed the optional extras catalogue, misunderstood the assignment, and just ticked everything. Heated front seats? Obviously. But they're also COOLED, because apparently being comfortable in winter isn't enough anymore. Heated steering wheel? Yep. Electric front seats? Naturally. Driver's seat memory? Of course. A panoramic sunroof? Yes, and unlike some of the ones you get these days, this one actually opens! Revolutionary stuff. Then there's satellite navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, enormous alloy wheels, and a 360-degree camera system that lets you see pretty much everything around the car. Honestly, if you manage to reverse into something with this, you should probably consider surrendering your driving licence. It's also got adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance, and more safety technology than NASA had when they put a man on the moon. There are so many features on this thing that I'm genuinely worried I'll need to employ someone full-time just to explain them all.

And here's the really annoying thing for the established manufacturers: it's actually lovely to drive, too. Smooth, comfortable, refined, and an absolutely brilliant place to spend your time. It feels properly expensive. Which is a bit awkward for the people selling cars that actually ARE properly expensive.

But wait. Because we haven't even got to the cleverest bit. It's a plug in hybrid. That means you can get around 50 miles of driving on electricity alone. Fifty miles! For most people's daily journeys, that's absolutely loads. You could drive to work, go shopping, pick the kids up, pop to Little Tesco because you've forgotten the milk again, and potentially not use a drop of petrol. Assuming you remember to plug it in, obviously. Which, knowing some people, is asking quite a lot.

And when you fancy going further afield? No problem. The petrol engine joins the party, and OMODA reckons the combined range can stretch to almost 800 miles. EIGHT. HUNDRED. MILES. That's the sort of distance where your bladder will have given up long before the car does. You could practically drive from Newcastle to the south of France without worrying about finding a petrol station. Although you'd probably want to stop for a sandwich. And possibly a lie down.

So, stunning looks, a genuinely luxurious interior, enough technology to run a small country, electric driving for the everyday stuff, and the ability to cover enormous distances when you need to. All without having to pay German luxury-car money for the privilege. Honestly, if this is what the Chinese manufacturers are producing now, the established brands must be absolutely bricking it.

And frankly, I don't blame them

Features:

Chromite Silver, Artificial Leather - Dark