By Ben Welham
Last updated: 15 August 2025
Looking for the best Chinese electric car was easier a few years ago when we only really had MG and Geely in the UK.
But today, there’s an influx of Chinese electric car brands, and for a very good reason.
They’re often cheaper to buy, are built impeccably well, are packed full of tech and look the part.
But what are the best Chinese electric cars you need to look out for?
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Best Chinese electric cars:
BYD Dolphin SURF
BYD SEALION 7
MG IM5
MG S5 EV
XPENG G6
OMODA E5
JAECOO 5 BEV
Leapmotor C10
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BYD Dolphin SURF
The BYD Dolphin SURF (known as the Seagull in other markets) is the smallest and cheapest model the Chinese brand currently sells in the UK.
With a very competitive starting price of less than £20,000 and up to 200 miles of range, BYD’s new city car is hard to beat.
Not to mention the fact that it comes with BYD’s unique and impressive interior, with a 10.1-inch rotatable screen.
In our review, we said: "You cannot argue with the value for money. And for that, we think this might be the most attractive small electric car offering yet."
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BYD SEALION 7
The BYD SEALION 7, sticking with the aquatic theme, is yet another electric coupé SUV, but one that’s going to go the distance.
Not just because it has up to 312 miles of range, but because it’s one of the best electric cars we’ve driven.
And as is customary with BYDs, it also gets a rotating screen, but with a massive 15.6 inches.
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MG IM5
It’s been a long time since MG has made a super saloon, but the IM5 is proof that the brand’s still got what it takes.
Under MG’s new IM branding, the IM5 is a complete departure from what we’re used to, featuring a revised interior and a new, sleeker, more aerodynamic look.
It achieves a range of up to 441 miles and can accelerate from 0 to 62mph in just 3.2 seconds. Not to mention its rapid charging from 10-80% in just 17 minutes.
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MG S5 EV
The MG S5 EV is a fully electric SUV that builds on everything MG has done in the past, including the ZS EV and MG4 EV.
It follows a similar design ideology to the IM5 in that it’s sleek and has an overhauled interior.
The S5 EV gets up to 298 miles of range and can charge back up from 10-80% in just 28 minutes – impressive considering the price.
Watch our MG S5 EV review
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XPENG G6
XPENG is a recent entrant to the UK, promising and delivering a lot. The G6 is its first model in the UK with up to 354 miles of range and rapid charging from 10-80% in 20 minutes.
Inside, it’s just as minimalistic and tech-laden as you’d expect, including two cooled 50W wireless phone chargers and a huge 14.96-inch screen.
It impresses on the road too, with a 0-62mph time of 6.2 seconds and genuine interior space to bring everyone along.
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OMODA E5
The OMODA E5 is another new brand to the UK, owned by the automotive conglomerate, Chery.
It gets a 257-mile range and around 200hp, which, for its price, is superb.
But the most amazing part is that in less than a year from launching, OMODA had already released a new and improved facelift, showing huge advances in technology never seen before in the automotive industry.
This makes it a key player, and it can only go up from here.
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JAECOO 5 BEV
Following the instant success of the J7 plug-in hybrid (PHEV), JAECOO unveiled the J5 BEV – a fully electric Ford Puma Gen-E rival.
It gets around 250 miles of range and is priced much lower than many of its rivals.
In many ways, you can think of it as a baby bargain Range Rover with a luxurious interior and loads of tech.
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Leapmotor C10
Leapmotor, owned by Stellantis, has been around since 2015 and has only recently come to the UK with its C10 SUV.
Rivalling the Kia EV6 and Škoda Enyaq, the Leapmotor C10 brings 263 miles of range and 218hp from its electric motor setup.
The J5 BEV prioritises safety and advanced technology, so it’s safe to say, it’s here to stay.
Best Chinese electric car brands
BYD
Build Your Dreams (BYD) is a Chinese car brand that was founded in 1995 as a battery manufacturer which has since entered the electric car game.
MG
MG Motors, once a solely British brand, is now owned by SAIC Motors (as of 2007), and makes exclusively hybrid and electric cars.
OMODA
Chery-owned OMODA is a recent addition to the UK car scene, bringing German-like quality for less.
ORA
Owned by Great Wall Motors (GWM), ORA strives to make MINI-rivalling cars. There’s a reason the name stands for Open, Reliable and Alternative.
JAECOO
Linked with OMODA, JAECOO is another Chinese car brand under the Chery umbrella, offering a range of SUV models.
XPENG
XPENG is one of the most innovative car brands to come out of China, experimenting with flying cars and so on, but non-flying models like the G6 are arriving in the UK to take on the likes of CUPRA.
Benefits of Chinese electric cars
There are loads of benefits to Chinese electric cars, the following include:
Lower prices
Next-level technology
Latest battery technology
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If you’re in the market for a used electric car, why not begin the search using our app or website?
Or if you want to see some in the metal, head on down to one of our stores to get a proper feel for your next car.
Read more about electric cars:
Chinese electric cars FAQs
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