A real all-terrain vehicle, not a pretender
In the ancient crossroads of Morocco, where mountain passes and desert sands have tested travelers for centuries, a modern question was posed: can a plug-in hybrid SUV be both genuinely capable and genuinely efficient? Over three days and 1,200 kilometers of North African terrain, the Spanish-branded Ebro s900 PHEV offered its answer — not through marketing claims, but through the unforgiving testimony of altitude, sand, and sustained effort. The result places this Chery-backed hybrid among a rare category of vehicles that honor both the promise of electrification and the demands of the real world.
- The stakes were set deliberately high — mountain passes, desert dunes, and high-altitude crossings designed to expose any weakness in the s900's hybrid architecture.
- A 428-horsepower system pairing a 1.5-liter combustion engine with three electric motors had to prove itself not in a laboratory, but across Morocco's most punishing geography.
- Day two's sand dunes at Erg Lihoudi became the critical test, where the permanent 4x4 system and dedicated Sand driving mode either validated or undermined the vehicle's off-road credentials.
- Fuel consumption of just 6–6.5L/100km across 1,200km of intense mixed-terrain driving silenced doubts about efficiency under real-world punishment.
- The s900 emerges not as a compromise between comfort and capability, but as a vehicle that appears to have resolved that tension — at least across three demanding Moroccan days.
Three days, twelve hundred kilometers, and some of North Africa's most unforgiving terrain: this was the framework Car and Driver used to evaluate the Ebro s900 PHEV, the flagship SUV of the Chery-owned Spanish brand. The Grand Tour Marruecos 2026 was built to answer one honest question — could a plug-in hybrid SUV endure real punishment without compromise?
The s900's powertrain is architecturally unusual: a 1.5-liter gasoline engine paired with three electric motors — one as a generator, two driving the front and rear axles — producing a combined 428 horsepower delivered permanently to all four wheels. A 34.46 kWh battery and 70-liter fuel tank underpin claimed ranges of 140km electric-only and over 1,000km total. The suspension, built on the T2X multi-energy platform, prioritizes interior space and acoustic calm without sacrificing composure through corners.
The first day's push toward the Tizi N'Tichka mountain pass — 450 kilometers of climbing and descending — revealed something unexpected: not raw power, but an absence of fatigue. The cabin stayed composed, the drivetrain unflustered. Day two moved south into sand country, where the s900's six driving modes — including a Sand setting that maintained grip across loose dunes — demonstrated that its 4x4 capability was mechanical rather than merely marketed. The rear electric motor's permanent drive gave the vehicle a genuine traction advantage.
The final stage strung together high-altitude passes near 3,000 meters before returning to Marrakech. Here, efficiency became the headline: daily battery recharging allowed the team to lean on the electric system, and the s900 returned 6 to 6.5 liters per 100 kilometers — a figure that surprised given the vehicle's size, mass, and the sustained demands of altitude driving.
The conclusion was unambiguous. The Ebro s900 PHEV is not a pretender to off-road credibility or long-distance efficiency — it is a vehicle that earned both across terrain that offers no flattery.
Three days. Twelve hundred kilometers. One Spanish-made SUV with a Chinese heart, pushed hard across some of North Africa's most unforgiving terrain. Car and Driver accepted Ebro's challenge to test the s900 PHEV—the flagship of the Chery-owned brand—on a route that would demand everything the seven-seat hybrid could offer.
The Grand Tour Marruecos 2026 was designed to answer a simple question: could this plug-in hybrid SUV survive real-world punishment? The itinerary was deliberately punishing. Mountain passes. Secondary roads. Dirt tracks. High-altitude Atlas crossings. Stretches of genuine desert. The route moved from north to south, a vertical slice through Morocco's most demanding geography, with enough highway sections to test efficiency at speed and enough rough ground to test the drivetrain's resolve.
The s900's powertrain is unconventional. A 1.5-liter gasoline engine producing 143 horsepower works alongside three electric motors—one functioning as a generator, two driving the front and rear axles respectively. Together they produce 428 horsepower delivered constantly to all four wheels. The battery stores 34.46 kilowatt-hours; the fuel tank holds 70 liters. On paper, the vehicle claims 140 kilometers of pure electric range and more than 1,000 kilometers total. The suspension sits on the T2X platform, a multi-energy architecture designed to maximize interior space and acoustic isolation, paired with a soft but composed setup that handles corners without drama.
The first day pushed toward Tizi N'Tichka, one of the Atlas's most significant mountain passes. Four hundred fifty kilometers of climbing, descending, and mixed-surface driving. What struck the test team immediately was not the power—the s900 handled the mountain work with ease—but the absence of fatigue. The vehicle climbed at a good pace, managed long descents without complaint, and the cabin remained composed through every transition. For a vehicle of its size and weight, the comfort was remarkable.
Day two took the team south into Morocco's most singular landscapes. More sand. Dunes at Erg Lihoudi. The route ended in Boumalne Dades. This was where the 4x4 system proved its worth. The s900 offers six driving modes: Eco, Normal, Sport, Snow, Sand, and Off-Road. In Eco mode alone, the rear electric motor drives the vehicle solo, with single-wheel traction. In every other mode, it functions as a permanent 4x4. The Sand mode proved especially effective, maintaining acceleration and grip across loose terrain where other vehicles might have struggled. The permanent rear-wheel drive, powered by the electric motor, gave the s900 a mechanical advantage that felt genuine, not simulated.
The final stage was the most demanding. High-altitude mountain passes clustered around 3,000 meters, strung together in succession, with a meal break in Ait Bou Ghamez before the return to Marrakech. This is where efficiency became the story. Daily battery recharging allowed the team to maximize the electric portion of the hybrid system. The s900 returned fuel consumption figures between 6 and 6.5 liters per 100 kilometers—exceptional for a vehicle of its dimensions and mass, especially under the kind of sustained high-altitude driving that typically punishes fuel economy.
When the test concluded, the consensus was clear. The s900 PHEV 4x4 is among the most capable zero-emission-badged SUVs available for long-distance travel. It delivers genuine comfort through both suspension tuning and sound isolation. It maintains low consumption without sacrificing power for overtaking or sustained climbing. It is a real all-terrain vehicle, not a pretender—capable of maintaining traction across varied surfaces and in low-grip conditions. The Ebro s900 proved it could survive not just a thousand kilometers of Moroccan punishment, but thrive in the process.
Notable Quotes
One of the most capable zero-emission-badged SUVs available for long-distance travel, delivering genuine comfort, low consumption, and real all-terrain capability.— Car and Driver test team consensus
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why does a three-day test in Morocco matter more than a track day or a controlled highway loop?
Because Morocco is real. You get mountain passes that demand sustained power, sand that tests traction systems, altitude that stresses efficiency, and the kind of mixed driving that actual owners face. A track tells you how fast something is. Morocco tells you if it will survive being lived with.
The fuel consumption numbers—6 to 6.5 liters per 100 kilometers—seem almost too good for a vehicle that size. How did they achieve that?
Daily battery recharging was key. The team could start each day with a full charge, so the electric motors handled the initial miles before the gasoline engine engaged. On a long trip where you can't recharge, the numbers would be different. But it shows what's possible when the system is used as designed.
The permanent 4x4 system is unusual for a hybrid. Why keep the rear wheels powered all the time?
It's a design choice that trades some efficiency for capability. In Eco mode, you get single-wheel drive and better range. But in Sand mode or Off-Road mode, that rear electric motor becomes your advantage—it's always there, always ready, without the lag of a mechanical transfer case engaging.
Did the team encounter any failures or weak points?
Not in the reporting. What's notable is what they emphasized: comfort, efficiency, and genuine off-road ability. Those aren't usually the three things you get in one vehicle. Usually you sacrifice one for the others.
What does this test say about Chinese automotive engineering in 2026?
That it's no longer a question of whether they can build something that works. The question now is whether they can build something that works *well*, in conditions where it matters. The s900 answered that.