The influx of car brands entering the UK from China is well underway. In fact, there are already a number of interesting and very competitive Chinese marques available right now, so we thought we’d have a look at the best on sale in Britain.
There are various Chinese brands not featured in this list - such as Omoda, Jaecoo (both Chery brands) and Leapmotor - who have already made their way to the UK, but their products aren’t quite of the quality to make this elite list. We’re sure their time will come. And there are even more Chinese brands are planning to bring their exports to our shores in the near future, too, including Nio, Changan, Aiways, HiPhi, Lynk & Co, JAC, XPeng and Zeekr (Geely). You can read all about their forthcoming new cars in our guide to the Chinese car brands coming to the UK.
For now, however, we've rounded up the best cars from Chinese automakers that we’ve driven either in production or prototype form, and that are on sale in the UK now.
Search for Chinese cars available to buy in the UK right now
The Best Chinese Cars on Sale in the UK
1. MG ZS
On sale: Now
The MG ZS is a mid-sized family SUV from MG, the reborn British brand that’s owned by Chinese car manufacturer Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation, or SAIC Motor. The previous version of the ZS was arguably the car that made the UK car-buying public sit up and take notice of MG as a proper mainstream car manufacturer with more to offer than just low prices, and the marge has been smashing it ever since, now being a top-ten player in the UK sales charts. That previous version of the MG ZS was available as a zero-emission electric SUV with a WLTP combined range of either 198 or 273 miles (depending on which battery you went for), or with 1.5- or 1.0-litre petrol engines. The latest version, though, introduced in 2024, is available purely as a self-charging hybrid, although petrol-only versions are likely to follow later, and we wouldn’t be surprised to see a plug-in hybrid version, too. Fear not, EV fans, there will be an all-electric SUV replacement for the MG ZS EV: it just won’t be called the ZS, instead breaking out as its own standalone model. It’s a large and practical car, with good passenger space and a big boot, interior quality is impressive, there’s stacks of standard kit and a very tempting pricetag that undercuts rivals by thousands. That make this our pick of the Chinese cars on sale in the UK right now.
MG ZS Review
2. MG4 EV
On sale: Now
The MG4 is the latest model from MG, and it’s also the first one to use a bespoke platform designed specifically for electric vehicles (it’s not available with petrol or diesel engines). That EV-centric design really shows, because this is a great family electric hatchback to drive and live with. Sure, the infotainment screen and its fiddly air conditioning controls are annoying, but the MG4 handles with verve, is well equipped, spacious, and great value. The official WLTP range of up to 281 miles that the MG4 Long Range offers is achievable in slower, summer driving, while 180 to 220 miles is possible even on a wintery motorway run. The basic, smaller-battery MG4 SE has an official WLTP range of 218 miles, and uses lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) batteries – different to the lithium-ion ones used in many other electric cars. We’ve yet to try it, but it is subject to the same seven-year, 80,000-mile warranty as every new electric MG, for extra peace of mind. It’s a fun, brilliant value, and a very capable family car, which makes it one of our favourite new EVs.
MG4 EV Review
3. BYD Seal
On sale: Now
Look past the oddly aquatic model name, and the BYD Seal is a really good package. It’s a rival to the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y, Polestar 2 and the Mercedes-Benz EQE, and comes from one of the biggest Chinese carmakers – Build Your Dreams (BYD). This manufacturer doesn’t just make passenger cars, it also makes its own batteries, control units, semiconductors, motors and just about every other part of the car in-house. It already sells millions of vehicles each year, and is present on six continents, and while the BYD Atto 3 that the company launched with is hit-and-miss when it comes to matching European design tastes, the Seal feels really smart inside and out, making it feel like a very credible rival for luxury brands from Germany such as Audi and BMW. A very brief drive in a prototype also suggests it’s composed and rapid on the road, and potentially a real disruptor in the electric executive car classes. It gets an 82kWh battery and an option of rear-wheel drive with a 308bhp motor, or a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive version with 523bhp, which will be good for a WLTP range of 354 and 323 miles, respectively. Prices start at around £45,000.
BYD Seal Review
4. MG5 EV Long Range
On sale: Now
Yes, it’s another MG. This firm has dominated the affordable electric car market for the last few years, and is far more established in the UK than any other Chinese brand, giving the likes of Volkswagen and Stellantis a run for their money. The MG5 is, in many ways, even more recommendable than the MG4. The estate body shape makes it super-practical, and even the very keenly priced SE trim has most of the equipment you could want. The WLTP range of up to 250 miles is also better than rivals from Nissan, Citroen, Vauxhall and Peugeot can manage. Real-world range is also decent, so expect 150 to 200 miles in the winter. The MG5 has been on sale for a number of years (it had the biggest UK market share of any Chinese electric car in 2022) albeit with a facelift for 2023, and has proven to offer good reliability and battery longevity, even with high mileage and a lot of rapid charging.
MG5 EV Review
5. BYD Atto 3
On sale: Now
The BYD Atto 3 is the company’s first model to go on sale in the UK. This pure electric crossover is larger than conventional family hatchbacks such as the Volkswagen ID.3 and the MG4, but slightly smaller than family SUVs such as the Nissan Qashqai, Volvo XC40, and Toyota RAV4. It’s comfortable, full of tech, and comparably good value given the amount of equipment it has. It’s also more than spacious enough to make a versatile family car. The cobalt-free, 60kWh LFP (Lithium-iron phosphate) battery offers a WLTP combined range of 261 miles. The big problem is that the interior looks like the set of a Disney film, so won’t be to everyone’s tastes. Rivals also do a similar job for a similar price, yet come from more desirable and more established brands such as Kia, Hyundai, Renault and Ford. As a new and unknown entrant in the UK, BYD still has a lot to prove. BYD's four-year/75,000-mile warranty could also be better given the longer cover offered by MG.
BYD Atto 3 Review
6. Ora 03/Funky Cat
On sale: Now
The Funky Cat was the first model to arrive from GWM Ora, a Chinese EV brand launched across Europe and the UK by Chinese manufacturer, Great Wall Motors Group (GWM). Launched with one of the most bonkers names anywhere in motoring, it was later renamed with on of the most boring, instead becoming the Ora 03. Whatever the name, it’s a relatively small electric hatchback with a peculiar blend of art deco styling, a luxury finish, and hi-tech features. It’s almost as long as family hatchbacks such as the MG4 and the Nissan Leaf – which are larger family hatchbacks – and has more rear passenger space than both. However, its extravagant styling, diminutive boot capacity, and WLTP range of 193 miles are more on a par with small cars such as the Peugeot e-208 and the Fiat 500e. Interestingly, the platform underneath the Ora 03 will also underpin German company BMW’s new MINI hatchback, so it drives with reasonable aplomb. It needs to be cheaper, more practical, and offer an additional long-range option to make sense, though.
Ora Funky Cat Review
7. BYD Dolphin
On sale: Now
The Dolphin is a pure electric small car offering from BYD, to sit beneath the Atto 3 and the Seal. It’s actually a bit bigger than rivals such as the Honda e, the Peugeot e-208, and the Vauxhall Corsa-e, and is noticeably better on rear passenger space, but will be priced keenly from less than £30,000. The range is very good, too, with a WLTP figure of 264 miles from the 60kWh battery, while a lower range model with a smaller battery is rumoured with a starting price closer to £20,000. A brief prototype drive suggests it’ll be competent on road, if not as good as some rivals, but final pricing, monthly finance deals, and equipment levels will be what really attracts buyers to the BYD Dolphin.
BYD Dolphin Review
8. MG Cyberster
On sale: Now
In years - nay decades - gone by, the MG brand was known as a maker of glamorous sports cars, and with the Cyberster, the brand is making a return to those glory days, albeit in a way that’s entirely appropriate for the modern age. It’s an all-electric two-seat roadster with sleek looks, theatrical scissor doors, lots of tech and even a fairly affordable price tag: you can pick up both versions of the Cyberster for less than £60,000. It comes with either a rear-wheel-drive powertrain with 335bhp, or an all-wheel-drive one with 503bhp, so pace isn’t in short supply. The car certainly isn’t perfect: the driving experience could be a sight more polished, the driving position is awkward, the touchscreen infotainment system is a mess and the range is no great shakes. But purely for the drama the Cyberster gives you, and for such a reasonable amount of cash, we reckon it deserves inclusion here.
MG Cyberster review
