DRIVERS who fancy themselves behind the wheel of an upmarket motor may want to look further afield for a cheaper alternative.
While badges like Lamborghini, Ferrari and Rolls-Royce may turn heads, their eye-watering price tag means the supercars are well beyond the means of most motorists.
Chinese cars are now coming into their own with Brits and the manufacturers are making their presence felt on UK roads.
In the three months to September this years, one in ten passenger car sales were Chinese models, as their popularity takes off and new brands offer affordable and appealing motors.
Schmidt Automotive Research, a market intelligence analyst firm, says Chinese companies are tightening their presence in Britain’s new car market at “rapid pace”.
They have doubled their market share year-on-year to challenge the dominance of European, Korean and Japanese manufacturers.
Since 2020, Brits have bought an estimated £19billion worth of Chinese-produced cars, thanks to their value for money compared to more mainstream vehicles, as well as being equipped with the latest gadgets and impressive tech.
They also often boast a resemblance to more aspirational, luxury vehicles that are beyond the means of most drivers.
The Jaecoo 7 is one such vehicle.
It has a starting price of £30,000 and has been dubbed “The Temu Range Rover” and influencers have been taking to social media sites to heap praise on the cut-price vehicle.
Here are six Chinese cars, which are either already for sale in the UK or will be shortly, and have more than a passing likeness to more legacy vehicles.
Omoda 4: The Temu Lamborghini
You could save around £175,000
Jaecoo’s sister brand, Omoda, launched its forthcoming sporty SUV – the 4 – and it quickly gained comparisons with an Italian performance badge.
Comparisons to the Lamborghini Urus, a super-SUV popular with Premier League footballers, have been made thanks to its angular exterior design, in particular the front bumper and nose.
While it might have the stylings of the Urus, under the bonnet though is a completely different story.
With a price tag of around £208,000 the Urus boasts a breath-taking 789bhp, 4.0-litre, twin-turbo V8 engine.
Meanwhile the Omoda 4 is more like a compact crossover to give the Nissan Juke a run for its money.
When it hits the salesrooms next year it will come with either a small petrol engine or an electric version.
The combustion engine will come with a turbocharged 1.5-litre, four-cylinder engine, while the EV option is expected to share the 61kWh battery and drivetrain with the existing Omoda 5, which has an official range up to 257 miles.
As such, the 4 is going to be considerably cheaper than an Urus, expected to ring in at around £25,000 (for the petrol) from 2026.
Zeekr 9X: The Temu Rolls-Royce
You could save around £300,000
The Zeekr 9X is China’s attempt to break into the luxury car market, aimed at taking on the likes of Mercedes-Benz, Audi and BMW but with a significantly lower asking price.
It’s drawn comparisons with the Rolls-Royce Cullinan but will set you back a fraction of the price.
The exact price of the family car hasn’t been announced yet but rumours suggest you could get your hands on one for as little as £50,000.
The Rolls-Royce Cullinan costs around £343,545, so that’s some saving.
The plug-in hybrid drivetrain promises more than 186 miles of EV-only driving but with supercar performance.
Thanks to its luxurious interior it is likely to give the likes of Range Rover something to worry about.
A launch date for the Zeekr 9X has not been announced but it’s expected the brand will start selling its vehicles in the UK from 2026.
ICaur V23: The Temu G-Wagon
You could save around £120,000
This Chinese off-roader is tipped to give the aspirational Mercedes G-Wagon something to worry about.
Chery, the parent company of Jaecoo and Omoda, also owns ICaur – ICar in China – and the brand is a huge hit in its native country.
Its electric V23 is set to become a domestic big seller before it comes to Europe.
The boxy design, though far more compact, has drawn comparisons to the likes of the Ford Bronco, Suzuki Jimny and the new-generation Land Rover Defender.
But thanks to its rear, angular, flat door and wheel box and wide window it’s a dead ringer for the G-Wagon.
In the cabin it’s gone for simplicity, along the lines of an Ineos Grenadier but with a massive infotainment screen.
Anyone wanting a G-Class will have to part with a minimum of £140,000 for the entry petrol version – the EV starts at £155,000 – the ICaur is likely to cost around £22,000.
Jaecoo 7: The Temu Range Rover
You could save around £25,000
Although the Jaecoo 7 only launched in the UK in February, it has already become a hit with motorists.
In the nine months since hitting UK roads it has already sold 21,385 models, making it the best selling Chinese car on these shores.
The family SUV is being positioned as a luxury premium option, ready to take on the likes of Audi, BMW and Jaguar Land Rover.
It’s aimed at the urban elite buyer who would usually opt for the Range Rover Velar, the vehicle it has most commonly been compared to thanks to its styling.
The huge “waterfall” grille at the front is one obvious feature it isn’t from the JLR stable but it does provide a unique look that is likely to make its presence felt.
Jaecoo 7 starts at £30,115, some £25,000 cheaper than the premium British SUV.
While it’s certainly more affordable it is also cost effective to run thanks to its Super Hybrid System (SHS).
It has a range of 745 miles from a full fuel tank and fully charged battery – the latter supplying up to 56 miles of EV-only range if wanted.
The Range Rover Velar PHEV has an EV-only range of just 30 miles.
BYD Sealion 7: The Temu Porsche
You could save around £50,000
When it comes to brand appeal, it’s hard to beat Porsche but that’s exactly what BYD aims to do with its sporty Sealion 7.
The Porsche Macan Electric was the badge’s first battery-powered SUV and the Sealion 7 is looking to steal some of its thunder.
The Porsche though packs a mighty punch with even its entry level model producing 630bhp (470kW), 0-to-62mph in 3.3 seconds, a top speed of 162mph and a full charge range of up to 366 miles.
Meanwhile, the BYD can’t match that, offering 385bhp (390kW), a sprint time of 4.5 seconds, maximum speed of 134mph and range of up to 312 miles.
But over price, the BYD wins hands down.
You’ll have to fork out at least £97,500 for the Porsche, while the Sealion 7 comes in at £47,000.
MG IM6: The Temu Tesla
You could save around £4,000
MG brought its “Intelligence in Motion” (IM) cars to the UK this year and its IM6 looks to take on the Tesla Model Y.
While the IM6 SUV is bigger than the Model Y both have sculpted looks, while the 6 is a little sportier at the rear.
Inside the cabin, the two cars are similar, offering leather-style heated and ventilated seats and panoramic roofs along with ample passenger space.
In boot space, the Tesla has the edge, with 854 litres compared to the IM6’s 665 litres.
Both have minimalist stylings although the Model Y is particularly spartan.
Both also feature lots of tech.
The IM6 features a 26.3-inch infotainment screen with a 10.5-inch portrait touchscreen below for driver functions and vehicle setup.
The Y though boasts a 15.4-inch central screen and an 8-inch rear screen for back passengers.
They both have a whole host of features although the Tesla doesn’t have Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.
The range of the IM6 is either 313 or 388 miles, while the Model Y has between 311 and 391 miles.
Price wise, the long range all-wheel drive Model Y will set you back £51,990 while the IM6 long range is priced at £47,995.
