The Omoda 4 is Chery Group’s latest attempt at expanding its presence in the electrified small SUV segment. Just weeks before its European debut in Barcelona, Spain, we had a chance to check out the all-electric version in the metal outside the Old Continent.
Here’s everything we experienced during our time with the global-spec Omoda 4 EV, which slots below the Omoda 5:
Design
The Omoda 4 has a bold and sharply styled exterior designed to appeal to young and tech-savvy customers.
The car’s front end has a particularly sporty appearance. Its bonnet features a wide, raised centre section and curves down sharply towards the nose. Narrow daytime running lights flank the bonnet’s leading edge.
Tall, triangular sections at either end of the bumper house the main headlamps and feature claw-like accents that add aggression. The shark-nose-inspired central section comprises a body-coloured closed upper panel and a large, roughly trapezoidal lower grille.
On the sides, the trapezoidal wheel arches, muscular surfacing across the rear doors and haunches, and angular mirrors give the car an aggressive look. Semi-recessed door handles with a conventional pull-type mechanism and a gently sloping roofline add a touch of sleekness.
At the rear, slim combination lamps extend across much of the tailgate and turn downwards at the outer ends, forming mirrored inverted-L shapes. Their sharp graphics echo those of the daytime running lights.
Interior
Inside, the Omoda 4 has a slim dashboard that looks virtually merged with the front door panels and features discreet ambient lighting. Two-spoke steering wheels may be the trend, but Omoda has used a conventional three-spoke unit in this car, featuring knurled thumb wheels on both sides.
A column-mounted gear selector frees up space on the centre console, which integrates switches for the AC, demister, hazard warning lights, door locks and drive modes; two cupholders; a space to keep two smartphones; and a storage box.
The driving information is displayed on an 8.8-inch wide free-standing display with slim bezels, while the infotainment system is controlled via a 13.2-inch 2K portrait touchscreen.
Omoda equips the 4 with features such as electrically adjustable 6-way (driver)/4-way (passenger) semi-bucket front seats, a 50-watt wireless smartphone charger with a cooling function, a 1.9-square-metre panoramic sunroof, and 18 advanced driver assistance systems.
Experience in the Omoda 4 EV
I am 5’7″ tall and faced no issues getting into or out of the Omoda 4, either in the front or the rear. The driver’s seat offers good back and shoulder support, decent under-thigh support, and supportive side bolsters.
I had around six inches of headroom. Visibility is good at the front and sides, while the view through the rear windscreen is adequate but not particularly impressive.
The cabin feels nicely finished for what is essentially an affordable car. The upper section of the dashboard features soft-touch padding, while the lower section uses smooth-finished plastic that still feels premium.
The lower sections of the door panels have rougher hard plastic, but the overall material quality is good. My only complaint is the gloss-black finish on the buttons, which attracts fingerprints easily.
The relatively high-set centre console feels comfortable, while the steering wheel features conventional push buttons and scroll wheels that can also be clicked.
Rear-seat access is equally easy. Foot room is tight, with my shoes only just fitting underneath the front seat, but knee room is generous at around eight inches. The upward angle of the seat cushion helps with thigh support, although the cushion is not quite long enough.
Back support is good, but headroom is limited to around two to three inches. The rear seat does not recline, although its fixed backrest angle is acceptable. It is neither particularly upright nor notably laid-back.
Rear passengers get a fold-down centre armrest with two cupholders, one USB-A port, one USB-C port, two air-conditioning vents, two seatback pockets, and two bottle holders.
Specifications
Omoda plans to offer the 4 in the UK in hybrid and pure electric variants. We saw the electric variant, which has a front-mounted motor producing 160 kW (215 bhp) and 275 Nm (203 lb-ft) of torque and a 65.05 kWh LFP battery pack.
This setup gives the vehicle a 0-62 mph sprint time of 7.1 seconds and a top speed of 175 kph (109 mph).
The 65.05 kWh LFP battery pack has a peak charging input of 119 kW. It can be charged from 20% to 80% SoC in as little as 22 minutes. According to NEDC, it can deliver a range of 553 kilometres. The WLTP figure will be announced closer to launch. Vehicle-to-load (V2L) bidirectional charging support is included.
Release Date
Omoda plans to launch the 4 in the UK with a hybrid powertrain in late 2026. The pure-electric variant we saw will likely follow in the first half of 2027. We expect the former to begin in the mid-GBP 20,000s, and the latter to begin at under GBP 30,000.
Since 2014, I’ve worked as an international automotive editor, attending global motor shows, industry events, media drives, and tracking the latest developments across the sector, with a particular focus on electrified vehicles.
