Best Chinese SUVs

If you are looking for a family-friendly SUV there’s never been more choice, particularly given the rapid pace at which Chinese brands have been launching new models. These newcomers are hoping to tempt buyers away from established names with an offer of comfort, value and technology, but which ones are worth considering?

Here’s our list of the best Chinese SUVs…

Omoda 7

The Omoda 7 is the middle child of the line-up, and we think it’s Omoda’s best model so far; it’s sleek, well-priced and frugal to run. We’ve been living with a plug-in hybrid version on long-term test, and we are impressed by its 50-mile electric only range and the 50+ mpg we are getting once the battery runs low. This is definitely the powertrain to go for, though a petrol option is also available. However, we are less keen on the fiddly infotainment, and we’d love some more physical buttons. Still, it’s not a bad package overall and much more keenly priced than a Nissan Qashqai.

​Find out more about the Omoda 7 here

Lease an Omoda 7 here​

Geely Starray EM-i

The Geely Starray EM-i is a very similar proposition to the Omoda 7. It’s another family-friendly plug-in hybrid, this time with up to 84 miles of range. Geely is the owner of big names including Volvo, Polestar and Lotus, and Geely called upon Lotus know-how to support with the Starray’s suspension set up. Don’t go expecting Scandi chic and Lotus handling, though. The Starray is all about practicality and comfort wrapped up in a reasonably priced package. Alternatively, there’s the all-electric EX5 if you are ready to make the full switch.

​Find out more about the Geely Starray EM-i here

Lease a Geely Starray EM-i here​

Xpeng G6

Just like Tesla, Xpeng is also investing heavily in AI, robotics and flying cars, but the comparisons don’t stop there. The Xpeng G6 bears more than a passing resemblance to the Model Y with its almost identical proportions and minimalist interior. However, the Xpeng undercuts the Tesla on price, and it comes with more kit as standard. We prefer the G6’s infotainment, too, not least because it’s compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, something Tesla doesn’t support. The only downside is the G6 can’t go quite as far on a single charge as the Model Y. Still, a real-world range of nearly 300 miles is not to be sniffed at.

​Find out more about the Xpeng G6 here

Lease an Xpeng G6 here​

BYD Seal U DM-i

BYD hasn’t been in the UK for long but is already a household name. The Seal U DM-i plug-in hybrid is one its most popular models and we can see why. With its twirling central screen, panoramic sunroof, heated and ventilated front seats, head-up display, 360-degree camera, the list of standard equipment is as long as your arm. The Seal U won the Best In-Car Technology award at Autotrader’s Drivers’ Choice Awards 2026 as voted for by owners and with up to 78 miles of all-electric range, it should be very cheap to run.

​Find out more about the BYD Seal U here

Lease a BYD Seal U here​

Chery Tiggo 8

The Chery Tiggo 8 is a lot of car for your cash; it’s an imposing seven-seater for the price of a Kia Sportage. There’s a choice of a petrol engine or a plug-in hybrid system branded as a ‘Super’ hybrid. As with all the cars in this list, we’d choose the plug-in hybrid over the petrol version every time as it is significantly more efficient and smoother to drive, even if you don’t plug it in. We like the all-around camera view on the central screen, though a clearer driver display with larger graphics wouldn’t go amiss.

​Find out more about the Chery Tiggo 8 here

Lease a Chery Tiggo 8 here​

Lepas L8

Lepas is pitched as the poshest brand from the wider Chery Group, though its first model – the L8 – has plenty in common with its cousins from Chery, Omoda and Jaecoo. Under the sleeker looks, there’s the familiar plug-in ‘Super’ hybrid system providing up to 56 miles of all electric range and aside from the optional ‘Mystic Purple’ paintwork there’s no obvious stand-out feature. However, the overall package is smart, there’s loads of interior space and the integrated fragrance system adds a whiff of sophistication.

​Find out more about the Lepas L8 here

Lease a Lepas L8 here 

Changan Deepal S05

The Changan Deepal S05 is available as either a fully electric car or a plug-in hybrid and both feel more composed on the road than many of their rivals. The Deepal S05 follows the same blueprint as the rest of this list offering plenty of room and bags of mod-cons for a very reasonable price. Its party piece is the pivoting central screen able to tilt towards the driver or passenger. We think this is more useful than BYD’s rotating display and we also liked the head-up display fitted to range-topping models.

​Find out more about the Changan Deepal S05 here

Lease a Changan Deepal S05 here​

Aion V

Beauty is subjective, of course, but to our eyes the all-electric Aion V is a very odd-looking thing, and its rugged exterior is juxtaposed to its plush and spacious interior. It’s certainly more distinctive than the other cars on this list, though, and if the design doesn’t catch your attention the promise of an eight-year warranty, eight-year roadside assistance, eight years of servicing and eight years of MOTs will. Fully kitted out versions come with massage seats and a handy central storage box with heating and cooling settings. It’s not the quickest or sharpest car to drive, but it does have a real range of up to 270 miles on the motorway and there’s plenty of room in the back to seat three comfortably.

​Find out more about the Aion V here 

​Lease an Aion V here​

Jaecoo 5

The Jaecoo 7 may be a UK bestseller, but we prefer its baby brother, the Jaecoo 5, available with either petrol or electric power. The latter badged as the E5 and this would be our preferred option; the petrol engine is noisy and unrefined, while the electric version is much smoother. The Jaecoo E5 may not be as well-rounded as a Kia EV3 or Skoda Elroq, but it is cheaper to buy, so you can splash out on the range-topping model with the panoramic sunroof, 360-degree cameras, Sony sound system, heated steering wheel and heated and ventilated front seats.

​Find out more about the Jaecoo E5 here 

​Lease a Jaecoo E5 here​

MG IM6

IM is a stand-alone brand in China, but it sits under MG’s umbrella in the UK as a more premium sub-brand. The IM6 is another Model Y rival packed with tech and creature comforts. One of its most intriguing features is the ‘crab mode’ allowing the car to crawl sideways in and out of awkward spaces, while Performance models have more power than most sports cars. This seems bonkers in a family car, so we recommend choosing the single-motor Long Range model with up to 388 miles of range. Sticking with more practical matters, the IM6 has loads of room for all the family, with plenty of rear legroom and a more spacious boot than the IM5 saloon.

​Find out more about the MG IM6 here 

​Lease an MG IM6 here​

Chinese SUVs compared...