I drove the new Chinese Range Rover clone that costs £60k less

Chinese manufacturers have embraced the SUV market since arriving in the UK, but none surely comes as close to the iconic Range Rover as the popular Jaecoo 7. Jaecoo, a sister brand of parent company Chery, has become a force to be reckoned with in 2025, with impressive sales figures for a debut brand.

Last month, the Jaecoo 7 outsold the popular Nissan Qashqai in the UK with 2,611 models hitting the market. Data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) shows that over 21,000 cars have now been sold in the UK this year alone. From a standing start, those kinds of numbers are incredible and figures Chery bosses have previously admitted to being a bit of a surprise.

The Jaecoo may be winning over customers with its luxurious interior, stunning visuals and budget price tag (£60,000 cheaper than a new Range Rover), but what's it like to drive? Earlier this summer, I got behind the wheel of a Jaecoo 7, taking the chunky SUV through the streets of West London to Richmond Park.

Stepping inside the cabin, I was more than impressed with its stylish interior. For a car to have leather seats, nice plastics and a bunch of tech at this price point is impressive. Mood lighting, impressive warning detectors, built-in voice commands as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto make the Jaecoo a tantalising prospect.

On the road, steering is smooth in urban areas with a noticeably comfortable ride in city centre travel. The car has impressive torque and acceleration, blasting off from a standstill and is perfect for a sudden burst of speed when overtaking.

The plug-in Super Hybrid System model also comes with over 700 miles of range on a single tank, with 56 miles on pure electric power. However, the Jaecoo has some limitations during quick direction changes, with the SUV not leaning well into the bends.

The throttle and brake can feel very on/off, making it almost impossible to feather the acceleration to adjust to cruising speeds. Meanwhile, I noticed that the ride was questionable on off-road surfaces, while driver assistance tools proved intrusive and annoying.

By far the worst feature is the new Driver Monitoring System tool, which sounds an audio warning if motorists' eyes have wandered away from the road. A great idea in principle, but I shouldn't be getting beeped for looking at road signs or checking my mirrors.

This can be turned off, but like most safety features on modern cars, it will simply reset every time the vehicle is powered down. The Jaecoo is impressive for its price tag and is sure to give Range Rover, Nissan and SUV customers food for thought.

For most travelling from A to B, the Jaecoo will offer the mileage, space and comfort most road users desire, with only pure petrolheads and car enthusiasts noticing some of its handling drawbacks.

At just £35,000 for Jaecoo's hybrid model, the only plug-in SUV at a similar price point is the Dacia Bigster at £24,995, but Chery's product offers far more. Jaecoo's sales figures alone show that customers are willing to give the new kid on the block a chance to shine.

Check out The Express's full review of the Jaecoo 7 here.