The rise of Chinese car brands in the UK - should you buy one?

The new wave of Chinese electric/hybrid cars boasts futuristic styling and advanced tech. They’re also more affordable than many rivals. But questions remain about long-term reliability and access to servicing. Read our deep-dive on Chinese cars to help you decide whether or not you should buy one.

If you asked someone in the early 2000s: “Would you buy a Chinese car?” the likely answer would be: “I didn’t know China even made cars.”
Indeed, 20-plus years ago Chinese cars were a rarity on UK roads.

MG acquisition

But that all began to change in 2005 when the Nanjing Automobile Corporation (NAC) purchased MG Rover Group. Then, in 2007, NAC was bought out by fellow Chinese automotive firm SAIC, which set about re-launching the MG brand.

18 years later, MG is a roaring success. Year-to-date, the marque has sold more than 75,000 vehicles in the UK.

SAIC’s gamble on the old British heritage brand has certainly paid off: MGs are seen everywhere from London to Bangkok to Sydney.

The rise of Chinese cars: UK expansion in the 2020s

But fast-forward to 2025, and Chinese car brands are no longer simply relying on established marques to build their reputations. Their home-grown brands are just as alluring.

Chinese car company BYD (“Build Your Dreams”) is a prime example. Despite being a very young Chinese electric/hybrid car firm, it has sold more than 43,000 cars in the UK this year alone, up from just 7,433 in 2024 over the same period. That’s a staggering 488% increase year-on-year.

The most popular BYD model is the BYD Seal U DM-i (plug-in hybrid SUV), followed by the all-electric BYD Seal (sedan), Dolphin (hatchback), and Sealion 7 SUV.

Another Chinese brand, Jaecoo, is also doing great business in the UK, driven mainly by its Jaecoo 7, and the J7 SHS (Super Hybrid System).

Additionally, some non-Chinese brands like Tesla and Dacia (the latter being owned by Renault) build some models in China, and some of these are exported to Britain.

Most popular Chinese brands in the UK in 2025

Why are Chinese brands so successful in the UK?

Unlike France and Germany, whose citizens show a strong preference for locally built car brands like Peugeot and BMW, in the UK such economic nationalism is simply not possible because there are no UK-owned production car companies.

This means that UK consumers are likely to view brands less emotionally, preferring to ask the questions:

1. Will it meet my needs?
2. Can I afford it?

How good are current Chinese models?

Here’s a run-down of the best-selling Chinese models available to buy in the UK right now, and why Brits are buying them.

BYD Seal U DM-i

£33,200 - £33,315 - Entry-level (Boost trim)

Chinese cars tend to attract solid, rather than glowing, reviews. The best selling BYD Seal U DM-i, for example, received 3 out of 5 stars from What Car?. The Exchange & Mart, meanwhile, gave it a score of 6.7/10.

It has been praised for its value, long electric range (a major anxiety point for would-be buyers), quiet EV driving, a plethora of technology, stylish interior (especially the rotating screen), and efficient DM-i hybrid system where the engine mostly acts as a generator, providing a smooth, electric-like feel with minimal range anxiety. However, it lost points for ride quality and headroom. Nevertheless, BYD is a Chinese car firm with a lot to prove.

MG HS SUV

£24,995 to £26,245 for the petrol SE trim

The unimaginatively named “HS” SUV, meanwhile, is the best selling model from MG. It has sold 27,388 units this year so far making it the 8th-most popular car in the UK. It’s a large family SUV that comes in petrol, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid versions, and has become known for great value, space, and features. What Car? Gave the HS 4 out of 5 stars, while BBC’s TopGear awarded a 6/10 score.

Jaecoo 7

£30,000 to £30,115 for the base petrol Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) model

But no conversation about Chinese cars in the UK would be complete without mentioning the Jaecoo 7, another straightforwardly-named model, which has seen a lot of success on these shores. Indeed, back in September 2025 it became the 4th most popular car in the country, before dropping to 8th position as of November 2025.

The Jaecoo 7 has gone from being completely unknown 12 months ago, to being one of the top 10 best selling cars in the UK.

The motoring press have praised the 7 as a great-value, tech-packed SUV with a premium-feel, spacious interior and strong standard features (panoramic roof, big screens, heated seats) making it feel more expensive than its budget price tag suggests, especially within the realm of hybrid models.

Affordability: Do Chinese cars offer good value?

According to a survey by Tempcover, price is the most important factor among Brits looking to buy a car with 51% of respondents saying this was key. (This was followed by "reliability" 41% and “size/practicality” 33%).

With this in mind, the pricing of the above models has doubtlessly played a factor in their success; they do represent good value, especially considering the included tech and features.

However, they are not always the cheapest. For example, the MG HS SUV starts at around £25,000. This is by some measure more costly than some SUVs, such as the Suzuki Ignis (from around £18k) and the budget-focused Dacia Duster (from about £18.8k). However, the MG HS is bigger, more comfortable, and has more tech than these models making paying the premium very much worth it.

The Jaecoo 7, too, is widely considered very fairly priced, perhaps even cheap, at around £30,000. It offers significant luxury features, tech (like large touchscreens, heated seats, panoramic roofs), and premium styling (some say it resembles a Range Rover) for a price point similar to more basic family SUVs like the Nissan Qashqai or VW Golf. It undercuts rivals like the Hyundai Tucson and Land Rover Evoque substantially.

Last but not least, the BYD Seal U DM-i is also considered fairly priced, even excellent value. For a plug-in hybrid SUV with so much space, tech (like the rotating screen), and long electric range, £33,000 is an attractive price and often (depending on trim) undercuts key rivals like the Kia Sportage/Hyundai Tucson while offering similar or better features.

How reliable are Chinese cars?

When it comes to reliability and Chinese automotives, it’s tricky to generalise. What’s certain is that Chinese cars have seen a marked improvement in reliability over the years, although they may not have reached the levels of some European, Korean or Japanese marques.

Then there's the ‘newness’ factor. BYD is a very young brand, so it may take some years before we discover just how reliable it is. Already there have been some reported glitches with hazard lights on the Seal U DM-i, while the suspension has been described as “unsettled”.

The Jaecoo 7 is also a very new model, so how reliable it is long term remains to be seen. However, it aims to inspire buyer confidence with a generous seven-year/100,000-mile warranty.

MG, meanwhile, has had mixed reliability reviews for some years but that doesn’t seem to have impacted its sales figures. More specifically, the MG HS is another very new model, so reliability is something of a mystery.

What about servicing?

Getting a BYD serviced can be hit-or-miss; many owners report excellent, quick fixes for minor issues under warranty, but significant concerns exist regarding long waits for parts, booking appointments, and unresponsive customer support. These issues are to be expected as the brand scales up, leading to potential delays and frustration with major repairs.

Jaecoo, too, is still establishing itself so there could be some issues with getting prompt services. However, official retailers offer trained technicians, genuine parts, and dedicated service plans via partners like Assurant.

Buyers of MGs, meanwhile, are likely to feel more confident about servicing. It’s generally easy and convenient to get an MG serviced in the UK, with nationwide chains like Halfords and Kwik Fit providing manufacturer-spec services that, importantly, won't void your warranty.

Should you buy a Chinese car?

The likes of BYD, MG and Jaecoo have wowed UK car buyers with their advanced tech and affordable prices. However, the reliability of some of the newest models is yet to be proven over the long-term. They also tend to depreciate in value quicker than some of the more mature marques from countries like Germany, Korea and Japan.

How easy it is to get a BYD or Jaecoo serviced is a little unclear, with the much more established MG offering more peace of mind on this front.

Overall, high tech and low prices could make buying a Chinese car an attractive proposition, with the caveats mentioned.

Finally, as with any can you are looking to purchase, be sure to take any prospective model for a test drive first.