Serving as the best of both worlds, a Chinese SUV has proved that hybrids are king, as the OMODA 9 made a 730-mile journey through nine countries on a single charge and tank of fuel.
In the blue corner, EVs have landed punches to be the cleanest cars available to the masses.
Over in the red, combustion engines have been as reliable as time itself when it comes to long journeys.
But why fight when EVs and combustion cars can work in harmony to prove that hybrids are king?
OMODA 9 SUV proves hybrids are king with 730-mile single charge journey
The Omoda 9 isn’t officially on the roads yet as the Chinese startup is set to roll out its first ambitious and affordable SUV models in 2026.
But it’s already flying the flag for hybrid vehicles.
As a mix of your classic Range Rover ICE cars and a modern Lamborghini Urus EV, the best of both worlds SUV is hopeful that it can be the leader in long-range driving.
And it’s already proven to be a resounding success.
In a nine-country-long road trip test, the OMODA 9 managed to hit its maximum 730-mile range, which, for a $55,000 car, is seriously impressive.
Kicking things off in the UK, it quickly hit up a route that crossed into Europe, taking the tunnel to France first and passing through six more countries on the way to its final destination in Austria.
The nine-country journey did take some liberties, counting Luxembourg, which is roughly the size of Houston, Texas, and Liechtenstein, which is comparable to Santa Monica, California.
But there’s no denying the 730-mile range.
“This wasn’t about just proving range. It’s about redefining what a plug-in hybrid can do,” OMODA UK CEO, Gary Lan, said.
Can EVs catch up with long-range journeys?
It seems that having an engine and a battery pack is cheating the system when it comes to maximizing the range of cars.
Launching in August 2025, the Jetour Shanhai L7 Plus hybrid promises a wild range of 932 miles on a single charge, which is up there with the biggest distances available.
But while hybrids are king, for now, EVs are quickly gaining pace and staying power.
Mercedes-Benz is making ground in this department, creating a 600-mile EV with the ‘holy grail’ of battery technology.
Then there’s the super ambitious Huawei EV. Despite being just a concept for the time being, the company claims to have made a car with a 1,864-mile range, thanks to an advancement in the development of solid-state batteries.
But for now, the OMODA 9 is leading the charge for hybrid cars, and it might be the perfect choice for road trip enthusiasts when it hits the road in 2026.
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