After plenty of teasers, Jaecoo Malaysia has announced that the Omoda C9 will be launched in exactly a week’s time on December 6. That means the five-seater premium SUV will miss some of the hubbub created by the Kuala Lumpur International Mobility Show (KLIMS) happening concurrently, but it will also give the car some space of its own.
The second of the company’s models to be launched in Malaysia after the popular Jaecoo J7, the C9 is the first Omoda model to be marketed separately from the main Chery brand. As previously reported, the car will be locally assembled in the Jaecoo plant in Shah Alam, with deliveries of the AWD variant set to kick off the following month in January 2025.
The 2WD version will take quite a bit longer, only reaching customers’ hands in May or June. Prices will start from an estimated RM185,000 for the 2WD model, rising up to RM195,000 with all-wheel drive.
Known as the Exeed RX in China, the C9 is powered by the same 2.0 litre turbocharged and direct-injected four-cylinder petrol engine as the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro, here uprated to produce 261 PS and 400 Nm of torque. Also differing from its more humdrum seven-seater sibling is an eight-speed automatic gearbox instead of a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
Underlining its status as a premium vehicle, the C9 will be fitted as standard with adaptive dampers – virtually unheard of under RM200,000. It will roll on 20-inch two-tone multi-spoke alloy wheels shod with 245/50-section Michelin e-Primacy tyres, replete with a full-size spare. The car also boasts a modest 165 mm of ground clearance but a rather more impressive 450 mm maximum water wading depth.
The C9 is the most upmarket model offered by the wider Chery Auto Malaysia group, so it’s no surprise it’s also the largest. Measuring 4,775 mm long, 1,920 mm wide and 1,671 mm tall, the car is 53 mm longer, 60 mm wider and 34 mm lower (befitting its “coupé” designation) than the D-segment Tiggo 8 Pro, while its 2,800 mm wheelbase is a whole 90 mm longer.
It’s a big car for sure, and its mildly recognisable Omoda design language gives it plenty of road presence. Like the electric E5, the C9’s slim LED headlights (featuring cool segmented L-shaped daytime running lights) are joined by a strip with the Omoda badge, while its diamond-pattern grille has since been added to the facelifted Omoda 5.
The car’s considerable length is emphasised by the long shoulder line that stretches from the headlights to the full-width taillights, accentuated by a chrome front fender appliqué. Further evidence of the C9’s upmarket bent are the flush pop-out door handles and blacked-out D-pillars, giving it a “floating roof” look. The rear end is finished off by vertical reflectors and quad tailpipes.
The classy look continues on the inside, where the C9 houses a broad dashboard with full-width air vents and a widescreen display panel with twin 12.3-inch screens. Oodles of soft-touch leather trim adorns the dash, door cards and seats, featuring a quilted stitch pattern in places.
Particular attention has been paid to the centre console, which features stylish silver air-con and drive mode selector knobs (a far cry from the J7, which relegates the climate control functions to the touchscreen) nestled within a cool rectangular trim piece. This is also where you’ll find twin smartphone holders – one incorporating a 50-watt Qi wireless charger – and a roller top-covered storage bin.
The exhaustive list of standard kit includes keyless entry, push-button start, triple-zone climate control (including rear controls, again rare for this price), an air fragrance system, a panoramic glass roof, a head-up display, front double glazing, power-adjustable seats with memory and ventilation, a dash cam, power-reclining rear seats, a 360-degree camera system with a transparency function and a 14-speaker Sony sound system.
The AWD model adds powered steering column and driver’s seat squab adjustment, as well as seven off-road drive modes compared to the 2WD’s three. All models come standard with eight airbags and a full suite of driver assists, including autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, lane centring assist, lane change assist, blind spot warning, a driver attention monitor and a door opening warning.
GALLERY: Omoda C9 2WD
GALLERY: Omoda C9 AWD
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