The seven-seater Jaeco 8 SUV is one of the best Chinese cars you can buy, but should you choose it over a hybrid Toyota RAV4?

The Jaecoo 8 and Toyota RAV4 are two very different approaches to the plug-in hybrid SUV. Senior reviews writer Mario Christou has spent time in both cars to see which is better.

Ah, the family SUV. I’ve just peeked out of my window at home and I can see three of them without even leaving my desk. They’re absolutely everywhere these days, an inescapable part of the school run, office car park and M25 traffic jam. The Jaecoo 8 is one of the latest, and where credit is due – it’s the best Jaecoo you can buy.

That may not be saying much considering the bar is set by Jaecoo 5 and popular Jaecoo 7, a pair of unremarkable vehicles, but really the Jaecoo 8 is a thoroughly good car. Is it good enough to choose over a Toyota RAV4, though? It’s a staple example of the breed that’s been on sale for over 30 years and is currently the world’s most popular car.

Full disclosure, I’m of the opinion that Toyota is on a roll at the moment. As far as ‘normal’ cars go, I think I’ve recommended one to more people than any other car brand, but in this case…the Jaecoo might have taken down Goliath.

For starters, the Jaecoo 8 looks like a far more expensive, posher proposition. Neither car is winning any beauty pageants, and I rather like the RAV4’s sharp corners and intricate lights, but I must admit it looks a bit…normal. The Jaecoo’s larger-than-life grille, sloping roofline and sheer size give it more road presence than the Toyota. Pop the badges off and it could pass as an American SUV.

The interiors are worlds apart, too, and the Jaecoo is a far nicer place to spend a lot of time in. Almost every surface is trimmed in supple leatherette (I think the orange is particularly good), while the intricate air vents and wide, high-set centre console elevate the cabin above the Toyota…which is very underwhelming by comparison.

Jump up into the RAV4 and you’re greeted by acres of dark, hard, grey plastics, with lots of straight lines and a generally dull design. It’s a shame, really, because these cars cost about the same – but from poking and prodding your way around the interiors you would think the Toyota is far cheaper than the Jaecoo.

On the other hand, interior space in the Jaecoo pales in comparison to the Toyota. The front seats are roomy in both, but the Chinese car’s sloping roofline eats away at space in the back. The Jaecoo may be a seven-seater on paper but the third row is uselessly cramped, and if you choose the six-seater version they’re almost inaccessible.

The RAV4’s tall silhouette gives you limo-like room in the rear seats, but the trade off is the disappointing 446-litre boot – barely bigger than the Volkswagen ID Polo hatchback. The Jaecoo offers a more impressive 738 litres with the third row stowed away.

Both of these cars are plug-in hybrids – and they’re very good. The Jaecoo 8 claims a whopping 83 miles of electric range. With a discharged battery, we managed to eke around 47mpg from the Jaecoo.

The RAV4, meanwhile, claims 85 miles of electric-only driving which is a smidge better, but most remarkably it can easily achieve almost 60mpg with no charge left. It’s not a small car, so that’s a brilliant result.

Both cars are a mixed bag from behind the wheel, but the Toyota is better to drive. It’s more comfortable around town than the Jaecoo, which has a habit of rattling around on rough streets.

Put your foot down on a slip road and the Toyota gets left behind, as the RAV4’s lethargic and noisy CVT automatic gearbox is no match for the Jaecoo’s powerful motors. Once you reach a cruise, though, the Toyota is much quieter and more refined.

Neither is sporty, but the RAV4 remains composed on twisty roads where the Jaecoo 8 wallows and leans like a cruise ship in heavy winds.

Here’s the kicker: both of these cars cost about the same, with the RAV4 starting at just over £44,000 on Carwow, and the Jaecoo 8 priced at just over £42,000 through our trusted dealer network. For that, the Jaecoo comes with a lot more standard kit, it’s more powerful and the interior is far plusher. It’s hard to recommend the Toyota in this case.

That is until you remember Toyota’s excellent aftercare, with a ten-year warranty so long as you keep up regular servicing. The Jaecoo’s seven-year warranty is also impressive, but as the brand is so new, who knows how reliable it’ll be in the long term?

So, which should you buy? If it were my money, I’d head straight to the Jaecoo dealership to be suckered in by the orange upholstery and posh styling…then do an about face and buy a RAV4.

The Jaecoo is a far nicer thing, but I value peace of mind above all else, so the Toyota gets my money. If you’re up for trying something new, however, buy the Jaecoo. It’s really very nice.

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*Savings are made up of the maximum dealer discount off RRP – subject to dealership, location and trim. Prices correct at the time of writing.