The 2026 Omoda 9 Super Hybrid PHEV is offered in a single Virtue trim, and its interior leans more towards comfort and space than visual minimalism. The cabin features black leather seats (a mix of real and synthetic materials), electronically adjustable front seats, good-quality finishes, and physical climate dials in the centre — which are genuinely useful day to day and a welcome break from screen-only controls.

Front-row practicality is strong. Storage is generous, with usable space in the centre tunnel, a large centre console bin, and a wireless phone charger that worked reliably throughout the week. USB connectivity is adequate, though slightly awkward — the USB-A port sits on the passenger side, which can be annoying depending on where your phone is mounted, but it’s not a dealbreaker. One small frustration from a testing point of view is that the system only shows fuel consumption over the last 50km, rather than a longer-term average, which makes it harder to track week-to-week efficiency.

In the second row, the Omoda 9 impressed. For most of the week, we ran two car seats, but for imagery and YouTube filming we successfully fitted three across: two forward-facing harnessed seats (Mother’s Choice Focus and Maxi-Cosi Tuva LX) plus a Maxi-Cosi Mico Plus baby capsule. There are two ISOFIX points on the outboard seats and three top tether anchors, all easy to access. We didn’t use ISOFIX in either configuration, so families using convertible seats or ISOFIX-compatible capsules will want to factor that into their setup.

The top tether points are easy to reach, and the headrests are simple to adjust or remove when needed — a small but important detail when installing multiple seats. Rear doors don’t open a full 90 degrees, but there’s enough clearance to comfortably install a baby capsule. The second row offers recline, and while there may be sliding adjustment, it wasn’t something we needed to rely on. Importantly, there was no compromise to front-seat space with the car seats we used, which is a big win for taller front passengers.

Kids’ comfort is well considered. There are air vents in the B-pillars (a big tick), a completely flat rear floor that makes climbing in and out easy, and the step-in height isn’t too high for young kids. The rear outboard seats are also heated, which I'm sure the kids will appreciate on colder mornings. We didn’t spot rear USB ports, so that’s something worth double-checking at a test drive if device charging in the back matters to your family.

Cabin storage is practical rather than clever. There’s plenty of space for “mum life” essentials — wipes, snacks, sunnies and drink bottles — with door bins, centre console storage and additional room under the centre tunnel. Door pockets handle standard bottles well, but won’t comfortably fit a 1L bottle, which is worth noting if you travel everywhere with an emotional-support Frank Green like I do.

The infotainment screen is large and modern without feeling overwhelming. Both wireless and wired Apple CarPlay worked reliably, connected quickly, and stayed stable throughout the week. That said, switching between Apple CarPlay and the vehicle’s native settings does take some getting used to, especially when you’re trying to adjust things on the go. Beyond the physical climate dials and the EV/HEV selector dial, most controls live in the screen.

The gear selector is a stalk on the steering column, which may feel unfamiliar at first, but quickly becomes second nature. There’s no app connectivity for remote vehicle access or charging management, which feels like a miss at this price point — especially given some rivals, like GWM, offer this.

Boot space is one of the Omoda 9’s standout strengths. It easily fit a double pram plus around six shopping bags, with room to spare. The boot floor is flat, the loading height is very manageable — at 5’3” I had no issues lifting items in and out — and there’s plenty of usable storage space. While the tailgate is powered, there’s no hands-free kick function, which would have been ideal when juggling kids and bags. The second row doesn’t have built-in window blinds, but the privacy glass is very dark, which largely offsets that.

We didn’t fold the second row during our week because car seats were installed. I will mention the boot cover/shade has about a 2-3 inch gap between the second row seats which is great if you're installing car seats without having to remove the cover but if you want to fit longer items in your boot I found it frustrating as we had to remove it in and out of the car just to get a few extra inches of clearance with the luggages. 

Overall, the Omoda 9 delivers strong family practicality. It doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel, but it does the important things well: excellent second-row space, easy car seat installation, a genuinely usable boot, and comfort features families will actually notice. The infotainment system takes time to learn, and the lack of app connectivity is a downside, but in day-to-day family life, the space, layout and comfort are what stand out most.

The 2026 Omoda 9 Super Hybrid is a strong performer when it comes to car seat compatibility, particularly for families with babies and young children who need space and flexibility across the second row. It offers two ISOFIX anchor points on the outboard seats and three top tether points, all easy to locate and access, supporting a wide range of baby capsules, rear-facing seats, forward-facing seats and booster seats.

In real-world testing, we were able to successfully install three child seats across the second row. For our imagery and YouTube filming, this included two forward-facing harnessed seats (Mother’s Choice Focus and Maxi-Cosi Tuva LX) alongside a Maxi-Cosi Mico Plus baby capsule. Installation was straightforward, with no need to force or compromise positioning, and headrests were easy to adjust or remove as required. While ISOFIX is available, we didn’t rely on it for either configuration, so families using ISOFIX-compatible capsules or convertible seats will want to check individual seat fit at a test drive.

Rear door openings don’t extend to a full 90 degrees, but there was enough clearance to comfortably install a baby capsule, even during repeated in-and-out use. Parents in the newborn or capsule stage shouldn’t find this restrictive, though wider-opening doors would make things even easier.

Rear-facing car seat space is generous, and one of the Omoda 9’s strengths is that front-row space was not compromised with the seats we tested. Taller front passengers won’t need to significantly adjust their seating position when using common rear- or forward-facing seats. The second row offers recline, though with car seats installed this wasn’t necessary, and flexibility remained good without needing to slide the bench.

For families with one or two children, or those planning for three across using carefully chosen seats, the Omoda 9 provides excellent usability. The flat rear floor, wide cabin and easy access to anchor points make daily installs, adjustments and transitions far less stressful — an important consideration for growing families juggling different seat stages over time.

The 2026 Omoda 9 Super Hybrid comes with a strong suite of active safety and driver assistance features as standard, based on the Virtue specification offered in Australia. Safety technology is comprehensive and clearly aimed at family use, with a heavy focus on collision avoidance, driver awareness and low-speed manoeuvring support.

Here’s what’s standard on the 2026 Omoda 9 Super Hybrid:

Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) include:

• Forward collision warning (FCW)

• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)

• Emergency lane keeping (ELK)

• Lane departure warning (LDW)

• Lane departure prevention (LDP)

• Adaptive cruise control (ACC)

• Traffic jam assist (TJA)

• Integrated cruise assist (ICA)

• Blind spot detection (BSD)

• Lane change assist (LCA)

• Rear collision warning (RCW)

• Rear cross traffic alert (RCTA)

• Rear cross traffic braking (RCTB)

• Door opening warning (DOW)

• Speed limit information function (SLIF)

• Speed control assist (SCF)

• Driver monitoring system (DMS)

• Automatic parking assist (APA)

General safety systems include:

• Brake override system (BOS)

• Hill descent control (HDC)

• Hill start assist control (HAC)

• Seatbelt reminder alerts for all seating positions

• Seatbelt pretensioners (front row and second-row outboard seats)

Airbags (eight in total):

• Driver and front passenger airbags

• Front side airbags

• Side curtain airbags

• Front centre airbag

• Driver knee airbag

Family and parking safety features include:

• ISOFIX anchor points (two positions)

• Three top tether anchor points

• Front, rear and side parking sensors

• Reverse camera

• 360-degree around-view monitor

The 2026 Omoda 9 Super Hybrid PHEV is officially rated a 5-star ANCAP safety car. All variants sold in Australia and New Zealand have been tested to the latest ANCAP protocols.

The Omoda 9 achieved high scores across all major ANCAP categories, including adult occupant protection, child occupant protection, vulnerable road user protection, and safety assist systems. This means it performed well not just in crash testing, but also in how effectively its technology helps prevent accidents in the first place.

For families, the child occupant score is particularly important. The Omoda 9 demonstrated strong protection for children in car seats, supported by a combination of structural safety, airbag coverage and advanced braking and collision avoidance systems.

Active safety plays a big role in the Omoda 9’s rating. Systems like autonomous emergency braking, lane keeping assistance, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and adaptive cruise control all contribute to reducing the likelihood of everyday accidents — especially in busy school zones, car parks and stop-start traffic.

When combined with its extensive list of standard safety features — including multiple airbags, a front centre airbag, ISOFIX anchor points, top tether anchors, and a 360-degree camera — the Omoda 9 presents as a well-rounded and reassuring choice for family buyers.

Overall, the Omoda 9’s five-star ANCAP rating and strong performance across both crash protection and driver assistance categories reinforce its position as a safe, modern family SUV suitable for everyday parenting life.

If you’re looking at the 2026 Omoda 9 Super Hybrid PHEV, this is very much a buy-now car, not a model that feels like it’s about to be replaced. It’s a new entrant aimed squarely at families who want to step into a plug-in hybrid SUV without paying luxury-brand money, and it shows just how serious Omoda is about breaking into the Australian PHEV space.

So, should you buy it? Yes — for the right family.
The Omoda 9 makes a strong case for families who want a well-equipped, spacious and tech-heavy PHEV, but who are also budget-conscious. It offers a large cabin, excellent second-row space, strong car seat compatibility, a genuinely usable boot, and a long list of standard features that would often cost much more in other brands. Add in the eight-year unlimited-kilometre warranty and capped-price servicing, and it delivers a reassuring ownership package for families who plan to keep their car for a while.

That said, this isn’t a “buy without comparing” situation. If you’re shopping in this segment, I would absolutely recommend cross-shopping it against other PHEVs like the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, Mazda CX-60, BYD Sealion 6, and GWM Haval H6 PHEV. They’re all targeting similar buyers at similar price points, and each brings a slightly different balance of space, tech, efficiency and brand familiarity. It’s also worth noting that the Jaecoo J7 PHEV sits under the same Omoda Jaecoo umbrella and shares some similarities, making it another logical comparison.

Omoda's move to offer an eight-year warranty is a big confidence play for Australian buyers. While long-term reliability and resale are still unknown compared to brands like Toyota or Mazda, the warranty does take some of the risk out of ownership. If resale is a major concern, it’s worth doing extra homework — jumping into owner groups on Facebook or TikTok can give you a better sense of real-world experiences before committing.

Price-wise, the Omoda 9 isn’t the cheapest PHEV in its class, but it does justify its asking price with more space, a larger battery, strong electric performance, and a feature list that feels closer to entry-level luxury than budget. You’re getting a lot for your money — just not the decades-long brand history some buyers prioritise.

Who should buy it?
On paper, I'd suggest the Omoda 9 Super Hybrid PHEV to families who want a budget-conscious, luxury-feeling SUV, who are curious about plug-in hybrid ownership, and who don’t want to spend upwards of $80K to get into a well-equipped PHEV. It’s particularly well suited to one- or two-child families who value space, comfort and tech, and who are happy to take a test drive and compare properly before deciding.

If that sounds like you, the Omoda 9 is absolutely worth adding to your shortlist — and definitely worth getting behind the wheel of during the test drive phase.