THEOmoda 9 is the flagship of the Chinese brand and it aims to offer premium-SUV performance and kit at a much cheaper price than its rivals.

At £44,880 the Omoda 9 will give value for money and offer owners stacks of space, a comfortable ride and all the equipment you could want for thousands less than some of its mainstream opposition.

It has a clever powertrain and a long EV range but will probably still find it tough to tempt customers away from established premium brands.

It has been built to provide comfort rather than a sporty drive and with its clever SHS (super hybrid system) it is good for over 90 miles of zero emissions motoring.

The 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine offers plug-in hybrid technology and a large battery that can be fast charged from 30 to 80 per cent in just 25 minutes.

Three modes affect how the powertrain operates. Initial prioritises electric running, while Smart lets the car decide on electric or petrol power and Force enables the engine to top up the battery while on the move. You can also select from the usual Eco, Sport and Normal modes as well as a couple of off-road features that combine with the 4x4 system.

While the Omoda 9 has clearly been built for comfort, it is no slouch and can reach 62mph in just 4.9 seconds and has a top speed of 124mph.

The steering is light to make this big vehicle easy to move around town and it is an excellent and quiet motorway cruiser.

Design-wise the Omoda 9 looks better than some of its Chinese brothers and its coupe-SUV shape is easy on the eye, while its sharp lights and large 20-inch wheels and quad tailpipes (which are fake) give it a sharp appearance.

The interior is just what you would expect with a large twin-screen display dominating. The materials feel good quality and should last well.

If anything there is too much technology and some of it is not welcome, with a voice cutting into conversations randomly and sometimes giving warnings that are not necessary. The infotainment system could be easier to operate as well but the Sony system does sound great.

On the practical front this Omodo offers 660 litres of boot space and if you fold the 60:40 split rear seats this goes up to an impressive 1,783 litres. There is a powered tailgate and lots more storage room inside the cabin.

All the latest driver aids and safety features are included and as a result the SUV has a five-star Euro NCAP rating.

The Omoda 9 SHS offers good value and has many good features like its comfortable ride and clever powertrain.