2025 is the Chinese Year of the Snake, so slither into one of the best cars the country offers.
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 12 Chinese car brands coming to the UK will help get you up to speed.
Best Chinese electric cars
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
BYD Atto 3
If you want a car that fancies itself as a life coach, get the BYD Atto 3. Every time you go to open the boot, you’ll see the motto ‘Build Your Dreams’. Inspiring. But the Atto 3 also impresses with its super-futuristic interior that doesn’t look like anything we’ve come to expect from European brands. For a start, there’s some actual colour on the upholstery and dashboard, and guitar strings on the door cards.
Shop used BYD Atto 3 cars for sale
GWM Ora 03
Formerly called the Ora Funky Cat, the Ora 03 is a retro-styled electric hatchback from the pen of a previous Porsche 911 designer. You can see that in the design, can’t you? The Ora 03 might seem unfamiliar, but it actually has close links to Britain, because the electric Mini Cooper shares its underpinnings with the Ora and is built in the same factory.
Shop used GWM Ora cars for sale
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.
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.
Smart #1
What’s cooler than naming your car after a hashtag? Well… quite a lot actually. Luckily the name is probably the worst bit of the Smart #1, and the interior feels both premium and characterful. Performance is strong and its safety record is exceptional, even if the infotainment system is fussy.
Shop used Smart #1 cars for sale
Maxus T90
An electric pickup is the perfect choice for businesses looking to clean up their local emissions, and the Maxus T90 is one of the only options right now. Boasting a 200+ mile range and a bold grille, the T90 offers a one-tonne payload and a 1,500kg towing capacity.
Best Chinese hybrid cars
MG3 Hybrid+
The difference between the old MG3 and the new one is a vast chasm, and shows how far the reborn MG brand has come in a decade back on sale in the UK. The latest MG3 is one of the best superminis on sale, with an engine that’s both economical and powerful, and an easy-going driving experience. Interior quality is decent enough, practicality is fine but it’s noticeably cheaper than a Toyota Yaris hybrid.
Shop used MG3 cars for sale or read our MG3 review
Jaecoo 7
From a distance you might mistake the Jaecoo 7 for a Range Rover, and the new brand – an offshoot of Chinese megacorp 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 all used hybrid cars and used electric cars on sale at Motorpoint.
