Chinese cars makers are increasing their presence on UK roads at an unprecedented rate.
Sales figures show more than one in ten passenger car sales in the three months to September were Chinese models as popularity soars amid the arrival of a flurry of new brands offering a catalogue of enticingly affordable vehicles.
Market intelligence analyst Schmidt Automotive Research says Chinese companies are tightening their stronghold on Britain's new car market at 'rapid pace', doubling market share year-on-year to disrupt the status quo of European, Korean and Japanese manufacturers.
Tens of thousands of Britons have already shunned the common stigmas associated with the East Asian nation and its products to snap up an estimated £19billion worth of Chinese-made motors since 2020 for a variety of reasons - not least value for money against the established mainstream but their high equipment levels and impressive tech.
But another factor at play is that Chinese vehicles often bear a resemblance to aspirational luxury cars that are typically out of reach of the majority of motorists with more modest budgets.
Earlier this week, the Daily Mail and This is Money spoke to owners of the Jaecoo 7 - the family car that's become the best-selling Chinese motor in Britain and placed among the 10 most-bought new models in August, September and October.
With its £30,000 starting price and swanky looks, it has been dubbed the 'Temu Range Rover', with influencers in particular taking to social media platforms to praise the classy cut-price vehicle.
We've picked out six Chinese cars - either already on sale in the UK or due to be shortly - that have a striking likeness to a premium product from a legacy name. But they're not always significantly cheaper alternatives, as another example proves...
1. Omoda 4: The Temu Lamborghini
Price difference: circa £175,000
Omoda - the sister brand to Jaecoo - last month unveiled its forthcoming sporty SUV called the 4... and people quickly made the comparison to one particular performance model.
Its angular and aggressive exterior design - especially the front bumper and nose of the vehicle - have a likeness to the Lamborghini Urus, a super-SUV that's become a huge favourite of Premier League footballers.
But even though the Omoda might look like a Lambo, it will be a very different proposal when it arrives in showrooms next year.
While the Urus is a hulking £208,000 rocketship powered by a 789bhp, 4.0-litre, twin-turbocharged V8 engine, the Omoda 4 is a compact crossover to rival the Nissan Juke sold with either a small petrol engine or electric power.
The combustion variant will use a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine, while the EV will likely share the 61kWh battery and drivetrain with the existing Omoda 5, which has an official range up to 257 miles.
As such, the 4 is going to be considerably cheaper than an Urus, expected to ring in at around £25,000 (for the petrol) from 2026.
2. Zeekr 9X: The Temu Rolls-Royce
Price difference: circa £300,000
The Zeekr 9X is a Chinese luxury car looking to tempt Britons into ditching traditionally popular premium marques like Audi, BMW and Mercedes with its significantly cheaper price tag.
The 9X SUV has - unsurprisingly - drawn comparison to the enormous Rolls-Royce Cullinan... but for a fraction of the cost.
Exact pricing of the large Chinese family car is not yet known but is rumoured to start from as little as £50,000. That's some saving on the £343,545 commanded by the Roller equivalent.
But it's not just the price that stands to make the 9X appealing; the plug-in hybrid drivetrain promises more than 186 miles of EV-only driving combined with supercar performance.
And Zeekr is ready to rattle the established Western luxury SUV market with its uber-luxurious interior and the practicality that positions it against big names like the Range Rover.
It's not confirmed if or when the 9X could arrive in the UK, but Zeekr is expected to start selling some of its models on our shores from 2026.
3. ICaur V23: The Temu G-Wagon
Price difference: circa £120,000
There's a Chinese off-roader that's tipped to be coming to the UK soon aimed at younger drivers by harnessing the styling of a vehicle that's become a statement of modern popular culture.
As far as aspirational motors go, the Mercedes G-Wagon is high on the list. It's so fashion focused that the German car maker in 2023 teamed up with high-end Italian luxury fashion house, Moncler, to put one in a glossy puffer jacket [yes, that really did happen].
ICaur (ICar in China), which is owned by Chery (also the parent company of Jaecoo and Omoda), has become a huge hit in China. And its electric V23 is set to become a domestic volume seller before the brand embarks on tackling the European market.
Its boxy - though far more compact - dimensions are similar to a variety of square-shaped retro off-roaders; also think Ford Bronco, Suzuki Jimny and the new-generation Land Rover Defender. But to the rear, the angular, flat door and wheel box and wide window is very G-Wagon.
Inside, it's utilitarian simplicity, similar to the agricultural practicality of an Ineos Grenadier - though it still has a massive infotainment screen.
But while buyers of a G-Class will need to cough up a minimum of £140k for the entry petrol (£155k for the EV option), the ICaur is around £22,000.
4. Jaecoo 7: The Temu Range Rover
Price difference: £25,000
The Jaecoo 7 is already a huge sales success in Britain, despite the fact it only launched to the UK market in February.
The family SUV is being positioned as a luxury premium option and wants to challenge the likes of Audi, BMW and even JLR - and is doing a decent job of it so far with 21,385 examples in nine months making it the best-selling Chinese car.
It is pitching to the same fashion-focused, urban elite buyers, who would typically want models like the Range Rover Velar - the car it has most commonly been likened to in terms of its styling.
But with a £30,115 starting price, it is some £25,000 cheaper than the premium British SUV.
The massive 'waterfall' grille at the front is a dead giveaway it isn't a JLR product but does give it a unique look and dominant road presence.
As well as affordable to buy, it too is cost effective to run with the Super Hybrid System (SHS). This provides 745 miles of range from a brimmed fuel tank and fully charged battery - the latter supplying up to 56 miles of EV-only range if wanted. In comparison, the Range Rover Velar PHEV has an EV-only range of just 30 miles.
5. BYD Sealion 7: The Temu Porsche
Price difference: £50,000
Very few automotive badges can match the brand appeal of Porsche. But even it is not off limits to new competition from East Asia.
While the sports car maker this week unveiled its first all-electric Cayenne, its debut battery-powered SUV is the Macan Electric.
But there's a model from Chinese giant BYD - the Sealion 7 - that's looking to give it a run for its money and snag some of the target market.
The Porsche's stats are mightily impressive; even in its entry trim it packs 630bhp (470kW), 0-to-62mph in 3.3 seconds, a top speed of 162mph and a full charge range of up to 366 miles.
In comparison, the BYD's all-wheel-drive variant offers 385bhp (390kW), a sprint time of 4.5 seconds, maximum speed of 134mph and range of up to 312 miles.
But the figure that's arguably more important is the RRP. While the Porsche will set customers back £97,500, the Sealion 7 is just £47,000.
6. MG IM6: The Temu Tesla
Price difference: £4,000
MG brought its ‘technology showcase’ Intelligence in Motion (IM) cars to the UK this year, and one of them is an uncanny alternative for the Tesla Model Y.
Directly comparing the two on looks and size, the IM6 SUV is bigger than the Model Y but has similarly sculpted looks - though the 6 is a little sportier at the rear.
Inside, the two cars are similar; both offer leather-style heated and ventilated seats and panoramic roofs, and great passenger space. The Tesla delivers 854 litres of boot space to the IM6’s 665 litres.
However, while both are minimalist, the Model Y interior follows the famous Tesla ultra-minimalistic to a very spartan level indeed.
Similarly, both cars are teched-up to the max. The IM6 has a 26.3-inch infotainment long thin screen with a 10.5-inch portrait touchscreen below for driver functions and vehicle setup. The Y has a 15.4-inch central screen and an 8-inch rear screen for back passengers. While both have an endless number of features, it’s worth noting that Tesla doesn’t have Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.
IM6 range is either 313 or 388 miles of range, while the Model Y offers between 311 and 391 miles of range. So, the Model Y does a few more miles on a single charge, but you pay for it: the Long Range All-wheel Drive Model Y costs £51,990 while the IM6 Long Range is £47,995.
And the one that bucks the trend... BYD Seal: The pricier alternative to a Tesla Model 3
Price difference: £5,000 (BYD more expensive)
Does the 'Temu' analogy work in reverse - when the Chinese product is actually the more expensive option?
The BYD Seal might be a compelling argument for this being a case in point, though it is undercut on price by a rival that too is produced in China - though not by a Chinese brand.
Tesla's Model 3 - which is produced for some global markets in Shanghai (though not UK models) - is around £5,000 cheaper than the Seal. Side-by-side, the two are stylistically complimentary.
Both are executive electric saloon cars offering big ranges between charges.
The BYD's 82.5 kWh battery produces 312bhp (323kW), 354 miles of range, zero to 60mph in 5.9 seconds and a top speed of 111 mph top speed - all for a price from £45,705.
In contrast, the Tesla has a lower starting from £39,990. However, upgrade to the £44,990 Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive - still cheaper than the BYD - and you get 466 miles from a charge, 0 to 62moh in 4.9 seconds and a max speed of 125mph.
