Chinese cars typically have lots of tech at low prices. Here are the best of a growing bunch.
China’s huge car industry is quickly becoming a strong part of the British and European car market – in fact, Chinese brands are already well established in countries like Norway and the Netherlands.
Keep a keen eye out and you’ll notice more and more Chinese cars on our roads, with unfamiliar logos and models that look kind of familiar but not completely. Our guide to the the many Chinese car brands coming to the UK will help get you up to speed.
MG4
We start with one that you’ll probably recognise. MG’s rakish electric hatchback is a smash hit, being great to drive, spacious, well equipped and excellent value – undercutting European rivals like the Volkswagen ID.3 and Renault Megane E-Tech. There’s also a boiling hot MG4, the XPower, that matches a Lamborghini Urus for acceleration.
Shop used MG4 cars for sale or read our MG4 review
Polestar 2
It might feel as Swedish as Ikea and Abba, but Polestar is Chinese through and through. Owned by the Geely megacorp (which also manages Smart, Lotus and the company that makes London's black cabs), Polestar's cars are built in China and then stuck on a container ship to join the likes of Volvo on our shores. The Polestar 2 is the brand's most affordable and well-known model, but it's a really good choice – and a great alternative to the Tesla Model 3. A maximum range of over 400 miles, a minimalist interior and built-in Google infotainment software help the 2 to stand out.
Shop used Polestar 2 cars for sale or read our Polestar 2 review
MG3
The first MG3 was on sale for a decade and only stood out for its low price. Meanwhile, the new one has a long list of talents, especially if you pick the hybrid petrol engine. This version sports an automatic gearbox, the ability to hit 64mpg and strong performance – thanks to a powerful electric motor and a large 1.8kWh battery. With such a focus on electric power, refinement is strong, too. Whichever engine you pick, you'll get an intuitive interior and the balance of MG's seven-year warranty.
Shop used MG3 cars for sale or read our MG3 review
Chery Tiggo 8
It might sound like a Winnie the Pooh character from the future, but the Chery Tiggo 8 is a polished all-rounder. Chery is a family-orientated brand, and the seven-seat Tiggo 8 impresses with spacious seats, a big boot and lots of standard equipment. Upgrade to the top-spec car and you even get a business-class front passenger seat with various massaging and recline functions. The Tiggo 8 is available as a plug-in hybrid (with 56 miles of EV range and an electric-first driving experience) or as a standard petrol car – and the latter is about two-thirds of the price of rival seven-seaters like the Skoda Kodiaq.
Shop used Chery Tiggo 8 cars for sale or read our Chery Tiggo 8 review
Leapmotor B10
The Leapmotor B10 doesn't do much to push the envelope of futuristic styling, but the Stellantis-backed startup has focused on shoehorning in as many features and as much space as possible. For sub-£30,000 you're treated to the likes of a panoramic sunroof and a screen that wants to make your phone redundant. Although you'll need your phone because it can be used as a key. Safety is really strong, which is partly why the B10 is really good as a family hauler. The electric B10 promises up to 270 miles on a charge and an eight-second 0-62mph time, and now there's a range-extender version that gives you the backup of a petrol engine.
Read our Leapmotor B10 review
BYD Sealion 7
BYD probably sells more models than you realise – it now has a seven-strong model range in the UK, having only launched in the UK in 2023. Its top-level electric car, the Sealion 7, is expensive but it's a genuinely impressive model. It's stylish, spacious, powerful and feels better-built than other Chinese cars we've tested – in fact, it's pretty much up there with the likes of Mercedes and Audi. All Sealion 7s are quick, while the dual-motor version is absolutely rapid.
Read our BYD Sealion 7 review
Geely EX5
Geely is best known for its stewardship of Volvo, Polestar, Smart, Lotus and the London taxi maker LEVC, but now it's selling cars under its own name as well. This EX5 is fully electric, or there's the Starray range-extender hybrid – both are short of kerb appeal but strong on value. Lotus has apparently fettled the suspension for UK models, and the Geely twins are very comfortable. Just don't expect the responses of a Lotus Elise.
Read our Geely EX5 review
Omoda E5
The strikingly styled Omoda E5 is a crossover that’s cheaper than a lot of alternatives from legacy brands. Starting at just over £33,000, the E5 is spacious enough for a family and has plenty of on-board tech – a must for buyers in Omoda’s home market. There’s also a petrol-powered Omoda 5, which doesn’t feel at all gamechanging but it is very cheap, starting from £25,000.
Shop used Omoda 5 cars for sale or read our Omoda E5 review
BYD Seal
A Tesla Model 3 rival that looks just as sleek, the BYD Seal has its stats nailed – it’s efficient, powerful and goes up to 354 miles on a full charge. The Seal also has a high-quality interior that feels a little more substantial than what you get in the American Tesla.
Jaecoo 7
From a distance you might mistake the Jaecoo 7 for a Range Rover, and the new brand – an offshoot of Chery – aims to offer luxury and off-road ability. But at far less than a Range Rover – prices for the plug-in hybrid start from £35,000.
Shop used Jaecoo 7 cars for sale
Shop all used hybrid cars and used electric cars on sale at Motorpoint.
