With petrol powered and fully electric Omoda 5s already available, the full hybrid SHS-H version was a bankable certainty. It's here to plug a powertrain gap at the smaller end of the company’s offering, sitting underneath the new Omoda 7 and at the opposite end of the scale to the large Omoda 9. Being a hybrid, the usual jaw-dropping efficiency claims are present with the SHS-H claiming a total driving range of over 650 miles and up to 53mpg (WLTP). It has received a visual bump with a new grille, fresh bumper design and classy alloy wheels. It looks a little like a modernised Land Rover Evoque on the outside (if you squint) and on the inside will feel very familiar to anyone who’s driven a Chinese-made compact SUV in the sense it has lots of tech, lots of spec and even a Sony sound system squeezed in at the highest trim level. Where the 5 SHS-H will grab you is with its price. There are some cheaper hybrid small SUVs out there, but Omoda has a knack for making affordable vehicles that feel a lot posher to drive than they really are. This is no exception!
The Omoda 5 SHS-S features the company’s efficient ‘Super Hybrid’ system, but petrol power means tailpipe emissions and a full hybrid means no option to plug in and charge the battery yourself. The 56mpg rating is good and may mean people fill up less, but how can we guarantee that? Omoda did respond to our sustainability questions, but question marks remain. For example, we were told Omoda’s vehicles have high reusability rates and that 76 per cent of its packaging comes from renewable or recycled materials … but it wasn’t explained if there are any recycled materials in the actual vehicles!
Running costs for an OMODA 5
“There’s no requirement to plug in and charge a battery, so all of your refills will be at the pump”
Here’s the major play for the Omoda 5: efficiency with style. The new self-charging ‘super hybrid system’ is made up of a 1.5-litre petrol engine, 1.83kWh battery and 51-litre fuel tank that delivers a WLTP driving range of over 650 miles and up to 53mpg. There’s no requirement (or ability) to plug in and charge a battery, so all of your refills will be at the pump. This means you’re at the mercy of petrol prices and the efficiency of the hybrid system. At least the 650-mile range seems very achievable with normal day-to-day town driving. Longer journeys and use of the car’s sport mode will consume more petrol … which is probably the most obvious statement we’ve ever written in a review! Don’t forget, the already competitive pricing can be made even more affordable if you break it down on finance or find a good lease deal.
Expert rating: 3/5
Reliability of an OMODA 5
“Every Omoda 5 is covered by the company’s excellent seven-year/100,000-mile vehicle warranty”
A new hybrid system has been packed into the latest versions of the Omoda 5, so long-term reliability is difficult to speculate on. However, every car is covered by the company’s excellent seven-year/100,000-mile vehicle warranty and an eight-year/100,000-mile battery warranty. Omoda car owners can access the shared network of dealerships (with partner brand Jaecoo) giving peace of mind that you probably won’t have to travel far if anything unexpected happens. As we said, long-term reliability is difficult to judge on an established car with a new powertrain, but the score here is given for the long warranty and dealer access. We’ll keep you updated on long-term reliability here.
Expert rating: 3/5
Safety for an OMODA 5
“The previous 5s already have a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating, so the new SHS-H version inherits that”
The latest Omoda 5s boast 20 safety systems, including the usual assistance and control packages such as emergency braking, lane keep assist and more. The previous 5s already have a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating, so the new SHS-H version inherits that and boosts safety with improved chassis strength. The top trim level also nets you a great surround view camera system that makes awkward parking manoeuvres a doddle. The seating positions in the front (as you’ll read about below) are very contained without being too constrictive, which just makes the car FEEL safe to drive. We like this.
Expert rating: 4/5
How comfortable is the OMODA 5
“Omoda has done a great job making you feel safe and supported, while still providing room to breathe”
We’ll get to the point, the Omoda 5 feels good to drive more because it’s so comfortable. At first glance, the interior looks like it might feel crowded with a big centre console between the front seats, but it’s actually more snuggly than crowded. Omoda has done a great job making you feel safe and supported, while still providing room to breathe. The car’s two trim levels have some effect on the cabin experience with the entry trim ‘Knight’ giving you all the connectivity and comfy seating you could ask for. Notably, the dual 12.3-inch digital displays (one for infotainment, one for the instruments) are sharp and angled towards the driver eliminating potential neck strain, which is appreciated. The highest trim, ‘Noble’, increases comfort by adding an excellent eight-speaker Sony sound system, ambient interior lighting (of course), and heated and ventilated front seats. It’s a lovely cabin that feels like a good middle ground between SUV and saloon. The top trim level is definitely the one we’d choose after our test drives in both.
Expert rating: 4/5
Features of the OMODA 5
“The 5 SHS-H feels very close to being the definitive version of this affordable family car”
Aside from those features we’ve already mentioned, the entry-level Knight trim gives you 18-inch wheels, full LED lighting, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and voice control. Noble has all the above, but notably features a very useful 540-degree surround-view camera even if we thought you could only have a 360-degree surround view! It’s always gratifying to drive a car that has a well-equipped features list at entry level, and equally pleasing to see a top trim that adds some really useful features. We joked about the surround-view cameras, but the display was sharp and incredibly useful. The 5 SHS-H is not a small car by any means and a good camera system makes shelling out on the top trim worth it. While the new 5 SHS-H looks similar to its previous incarnation, it has a new front grille and bumper design that looks really cool, and there’s a choice of five paint colours. It’s all of a sudden feeling very close to being a definitive version of this affordable family car.
Expert rating: 4/5
Power for an OMODA 5
“You'll choose the 5 SHS-S because you want a good day-to-day family car that won’t break the bank”
The 5 SHS-H is not going to win any land-speed records, but it’s no slouch either. These days you don’t need big engines to get good power, and this powertrain proves it. Like we said earlier in the review, the 5 SHS-H is about style and efficiency. You choose it because you want a good day-to-day family car that won’t break the bank. You’ll get away from traffic lights, roundabouts and junctions confidently and safely. You’ll get up to motorway speeds in eight seconds and happily cruise the journey away. It’s very much a point and press car to drive, which means that it’s not overly exciting to drive, but it looks stylish, feels safe and provides a good mpg rating… so there it is.
