Toyota, Ford (hypocritically), Honda, and other big automakers have continuously expressed concern about Chinese EVs. They are produced faster and sold cheaper, making it nearly impossible for other countries to keep up.
This has been proven many times over in Europe, including the latest September 2026 sales. The Jaecoo 7, which has the body and styling of a Range Rover, has become the best-selling vehicle in the UK for the second time (it was also the best-seller in March). In September, the Jaecoo 7 was registered 10,814 times. This beats other top sellers, including the Tesla Model 3 (9,929 registrations), the Ford Puma (6,958 registrations), and the Kia Sportage (6,521 registrations).
What has made the Jaecoo 7 such a hit in the UK?
Well, the real reason is the price. The hybrid Jaecoo 7 is about $38,800, which is much cheaper than its competition. The Kia Sportage Hybrid is $46,300. The plug-in hybrid Jaecoo 7 is $46,700, still beating its competitors by over $10,000.
As the average price of a new car in the United States exceeds $50,000, hearing about a hybrid SUV at such a low price is enough to make even the most patriotic families jealous. While Chinese EVs have a reputation for being unreliable, cheaply made, and spying on customers (largely spread by politicians and competitors), Americans have said they’d still be willing to try one out at such a low cost. I mean, go ahead and spy on me if I can save over $10,000 on an SUV, am I right?
(I’m right.)
But buyers wouldn’t pay for a Jaecoo 7 if it was completely awful. Right?
The compact crossover can be gasoline, hybrid, or plug-in hybrid. It has a boxy, modern styling reminiscent of the Range Rover, including a shiny, aggressive grille. However, this isn’t really a luxurious, super-capable Range Rover. It’s the Jaecoo 7.
Top Gear called it a “tame suburban SUV.” The review continues: “Jaecoo promises the AWD 7 will have genuine off-road ability. Claims of 600mm wading depth bode well. It’s very roomy, seems well put-together and about as memorable as the contents of your fridge when you’re peckish. And for plenty of Brits, despite the soggy ride, haphazard hybrid behavior and unhelpful interior, a low price and big space are enough.”
Evo UK said: “Quality in the interior is a mixed bag. Everything looks nice enough, the synthetic leather seats featuring chunky piping and a soft, waxy feel. But it’s skin deep, with tinny plastics and flimsy materials a short hunt away. There’s a good amount of wind noise and tire roar at speed too, the Jaecoo appearing flimsier and less substantial than some rivals when it comes to NVH.”
But hey, it’s under $40,000. And that has proven enough for UK residents to choose the Jaecoo 7 over its competitors. You can’t really blame them. I think Americans would do it as well. If we could.
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