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More than one in seven new cars sold in the first six months of the year are Chinese, and many of them are from brands that have only been visible in the UK for two years.

Registration data collated from showrooms reveals that 87,000 Chinese cars have hit UK roads in the first six months of the year.

Newcomers including BYD, Chery and Geely have sold tens of thousands of cars in 2026; manufacturers that only set up shop in Britain as little as 12 months earlier.

And their growth shows no sign of handbrake-turning anytime soon.

This rapid rise of Chinese cars is, without question, the biggest seismic shift in the new car market in decades, as the draw of cheaper vehicles proves too strong for Britons who are casting aside years of brand loyalty.

But are Chinese cars really better for your bank balance?

Yes, they almost always undercut European, Korean, Japanese and US rivals on list price. But will you still have those savings in your back pocket after years of running costs and depreciation?

Calculations by automotive magazine Auto Express have found that Chinese cars aren't always the best financial option...

Chinese cars - like the Jaecoo 7 SUV - typically have lower purchase prices than their more established rivals. But are the really cheaper to own? Not always, calculations reveal...

Demand for Chinese cars feels as though it has already reached unquenchable levels.

Chinese manufacturers now account for two of the nation's best-selling cars: the Jaecoo 7 SUV is the third most popular, with 24,000 orders since January, while the MG HS is seventh, with 16,700 deliveries.

The popularity of Chinese cars is even greater if you take into account the new vehicles built there, especially brands that are partially or fully owned by parent companies from the People's Republic, with Lotus, Polestar and Volvo cases in point.

And there are compelling reasons to seriously consider Chinese cars.

Manufacturers have - cleverly - identified gaps in the market, especially around fuel economy and equipment levels.

Their EVs are, thanks to sizeable funding from Shanghai, light-years ahead of the rest of the world. And they've been driving a reinvigoration in plug-in hybrid sales in recent months by offering Britons petrol-electric cars that can cover up to 700 miles on a full battery and a brimmed fuel tank.

Value for money has also been identified as one of the biggest 'unmet needs' of motorists in Britain, according to Chery UK chief executive Gary Lan.

He told us: 'Traditionally, the best technology was sitting in very high-priced brands, so we wanted to bring what we called 'equal rights' to technology. That's why, even for our entry-priced models, we have no compromise on tech.'

Yet the biggest attraction is price.

When YouGov polled 1,200 motorists two years ago, price was by far the top factor (named by 68 per cent of the panel) influencing Britons to buy Chinese vehicles.

But Auto Express says the upfront cost of a Chinese motor might be a smokescreen.

It compared the typical running costs of five of the most popular Chinese models against mainstream rivals. This factored in insurance, servicing, fuel and charging costs, as well as leasing deals, and also included depreciation compared with vehicles from established brands that Britons have been buying for years.

And it showed that the upfront saving offered by choosing a Chinese car can be cancelled out in the longer run.

'Chinese manufacturers have unquestionably increased competition and pushed prices down across the market, but value isn't guaranteed simply because a car costs less to buy,' explains Tom Jervis from Auto Express.

'Some Chinese models prove exceptionally good value, while others lose much of their upfront price advantage once ongoing ownership costs are factored in.

'In several cases, they completely changed the outcome, turning what looked like the cheapest car into one of the most expensive - or vice versa. The biggest savings come from understanding the full cost of ownership rather than focusing solely on what you'll pay on day one.'

Chinese cars vs established rivals: Which is cheaper?

Auto Express chose five increasingly popular Chinese models across competitive segments.

These cover plug-in hybrid SUVs, conventional hybrid crossovers, small petrol cars, electric executive saloons and family EVs.

Calculations were made across a three-year ownership period for drivers covering an average of 30,000 miles.

Plug-in hybrid SUVs

Chinese newcomer: Jaecoo 7 SHS-P (£35,175)

Established big hitters: Hyundai Tucson (£42,205) and VW Tiguan (£45,475)

The Jaecoo 7 - dubbed the 'Temu Range Rover' for its likeness to the Range Rover Velar but for the fraction of the cost - is Britain's third best-selling new car of the year so far

Korea's Hyundai Tucson (left) has a £7,000 higher price tag than the Jaecoo, while the VW Tiguan (right) is £10,000 more expensive up front

Of all the Chinese cars to make their mark in Britain, the Jaecoo 7 has made the biggest impression yet.

Dubbed the 'Temu Range Rover' for its likeness to a Range Rover Velar, it is the UK's third most popular new car of 2026. This is because it's around £10,000 cheaper than its rivals.

The huge difference in purchase price gives it a head start that competitors simply cannot overcome and is buoyed by the fact that the Hyundai Tucson and VW Tiguan alternatives are liable for the Government's £440 annual road tax surcharge on cars costing more than £40,000 between years two and five of ownership.

But even once higher insurance and servicing costs are factored in, the Jaecoo's strong residual values and impressive fuel economy maintain that initial price advantage over three years.

It is between £3,000 and £6,000 cheaper than the Hyundai or Volkswagen, a lead it maintains when switching to lease pricing too.

Cheapest option to buy: Jaecoo 7 SHS-P by £7,052

Cheapest option to lease: Jaecoo 7 SHS-P by £4,273

Self-charging hybrids

Chinese newcomer: MG HS Hybrid+ (£31,995)

Established big hitters: Kia Sportage (£37,395) and Nissan Qashqai (£39,695)

The MG HS is the nation's favourite 'budget' SUV accruing 16,700 sales in the first half of 2026. But the calculation shows customers leasing their cars get a better deal on a Hyundai

Korea's Kia Sportage (left) has a £5,000 higher price tag than the MG, while the Nissan Qashqai (right) is almost £8,000 more expensive up front

The calculations found that the MG's low list price does not always guarantee the most affordable ownership costs.

Higher insurance premiums, more expensive servicing and weaker residual values all eat into the MG's initial advantage, while the Kia Sportage demonstrates how a killer lease deal can potentially make a more expensive car a lot cheaper than you might expect.

The MG remains a strong buy for those prioritising upfront value, but for buyers focused on the total cost over three years, the Sportage can offer an overall cheaper alternative.

Cheapest option to buy: MG HS Hybrid+ by £1,224

Cheapest option to lease: Kia Sportage by £3,329

Small petrol cars

Chinese newcomer: Omoda 5 (£24,040)

Established big hitters: Ford Puma (£28,945) and Nissan Juke (£27,765)

The Omoda 5 is certainly keenly priced. At £24,040 for the 'Knight' trrim level, it's one of the most affordable options in its segment

The Ford Puma (left) has been Britain's most popular new car for the last three years, but it costs £5,000 more than the Chinese newcomer. The Nissan Juke (right) is £3,500 pricier

The Omoda 5 highlights both the strengths and challenges facing new Chinese entrants. Its low purchase price is a major attraction and makes it the cheapest option for buyers paying outright, but the savings are reduced once running costs are taken into account.

Higher fuel consumption and servicing costs mean the gap between the Omoda and its established rivals is much smaller than the showroom price suggests.

The Ford Puma - still the best-selling car in the UK - shows why it remains such a popular choice, combining strong residual values with low servicing costs and competitive lease deals.

Cheapest to buy: Omoda 5 by £2,383

Cheapest to lease: Ford Puma by £604

Electric executive saloons

Chinese newcomer: BYD Seal (£45,730)

Established big hitters: Tesla Model 3 Long Range (£44,990) and VW ID.7 (£51,445)

The BYD Seal EV is proof that not all Chinese cars are cheap. In fact, it has a higher price tag than most of its rivals

The Tesla Model 3 (left) is the benchmark for electric exec saloons, and it costs a few hundred pounds less than the BYD. The VW ID.7 (right) is some £6,000 more than the Chinese EV

BYD has overtaken Tesla as the biggest EV seller in the world. The Seal electric saloon is one of its most important models, going head-to-head with the Tesla Model 3.

'It is also one of the clearest examples of why consumers should not assume a Chinese car will always be the cheaper option,' Auto Express says. This is because, despite its reputation for offering strong value, the BYD Seal actually starts out more expensive than its biggest rival, the Tesla.

While the Seal performs well on insurance costs, it is not enough to offset the Tesla's advantages elsewhere. The Tesla costs around £3,000 less than the BYD over the three-year period, regardless of whether you choose to buy or lease.

Cheapest to buy: Tesla Model 3 by £3,224

Cheapest to lease: Tesla Model 3 by £2,548

Family EVs

Chinese newcomer: Leapmotor B10 (£31,495)

Established big hitters: Mini Countryman E (£31,775) and Skoda Elroq (£33,370)

The £31,500 Leapmotor B10 comes loaded with equipment and dealers are offering attractive monthly prices on lease deals. But established rivals are cheaper to own if you buy outright

The Mini Countryman E (left) costs around £300 more than the Leapmotor and, as such, is cheaper on to run if purchased. Skoda's Elroq (right) is £2k more than its Chinese rival

The Leapmotor B10 offers impressive equipment levels and an attractive monthly price, but buying outright tells a different story.

Weaker residual values and higher running costs - it costs around £125 more to insure per year than the Skoda - make it less competitive against established rivals. The Mini benefits from strong resale values, while the Skoda delivers lower servicing and energy costs.

Ultimately, when buying outright, the Leapmotor is the most expensive. However, it's the cheapest to lease, highlighting the power of a competitive monthly rental deal.

Cheapest to buy: Mini Countryman E by £2,083

Cheapest to lease: Leapmotor B10 by £2,609