This plug-in hybrid SUV is £5,000 cheaper than a Jaecoo, but I think it’s much better

Car manufacturers dream of sales success like the Jaecoo 7 has had. In barely two years it went from unknown Chinese SUV to one of the best-selling cars on sale, driven by good-value finance agreements, generous equipment lists and favourable visual comparisons to various Range Rover products.

But the cheapest plug-in hybrid Jaecoo 7 costs £35,000 – and weirdly, that’s starting to look quite expensive these days. While it’s still significantly cheaper than, say, a Hyundai Tucson PHEV or a Volkswagen Tiguan eHybrid, you can save yourself a big chunk of cash by going for an alternative Chinese PHEV instead. Like this Geely Starray.

Remember, you can buy a brand new or used car right here on Carwow. And you can sell your car, too. We’re here to help you through every step of your car-changing journey.

Geely hasn’t hit the UK market with such a bang as Jaecoo, but don’t discount it as a bit player – it’s the parent company of Volvo, Polestar, Lotus, Smart and LEVC (the London Taxi manufacturer). So it knows a thing or two about building cars for Europe.

And even though it’s now selling cars under its own name, they’re very much budget fare rather than flagship fodder. The Starray starts from less than £30,000, making it over £5,000 cheaper than the Jaecoo 7 PHEV. Is it £5,000 less car? Definitely not.

The Starray doesn’t look as cool as the Jaecoo 7, I’ll admit. It’s really anonymous and a bit blobby, looking very bland next to the Jaecoo’s signature grille, sharp lines and two-tone paint.

That’s not the case inside, though – I actually really like the Starray’s interior, especially in the ‘Cloud’ colour, which makes it way brighter. But even standard models with their dark finish feel a lot more interesting than the Jaecoo. The Starray also has a bigger boot than the Jaecoo and just as much passenger space.

In equipment terms – the Starray comes in a choice of three trims, with the entry-level Pro getting a 360-degree camera, climate control, wireless smartphone connectivity, and heated and electrically adjustable seats. You have to step up to Max trim if you want a head-up display, panoramic sunroof, power tailgate, a posh stereo, ventilated seats or a wireless phone charger, all of which comes as standard in the Jaecoo’s sole ‘Luxury’ trim. But even the Starray Max is less than £33,000, representing quite the saving.

Thinking of leasing? The argument’s even clearer. At the time of writing you can lease a Starray Pro through Carwow for just £209 per month over a three-year deal, or the longer-range Ultra for just £235. The Jaecoo 7 will cost you £290 per month with a higher deposit over the same term.

What about the oily bits under the bonnet? Well, both cars are pretty similar on paper – they both use 1.5-litre petrol engines paired up to electric motors, and drive goes exclusively through the front wheels. The Jaecoo’s 204hp is just beaten by the Geely’s 214hp, but in practice you won’t notice much difference in the car’s pace.

The Geely has a trump card, though. While Pro and Max trims get 51 miles of electric range – comparable to the Jaecoo’s 56 miles – you can opt for a range-topping Ultra version with a bigger battery that gets up to 84 miles. This version – at £34,990 – is still cheaper than the Jaecoo 7.

If you regularly plug in at home, this big battery will be able to cover a huge amount of your regular mileage (unless your commute is particularly vast). It just adds a bit more flexibility over the Jaecoo’s already very impressive figure.

Having driven both cars, I think one of them has a clear advantage on the road as well. The Jaecoo 7 is generally a bit unpleasant – it thuds over bumps, leans a lot in the corners and the steering is just plain weird. There’s also a strange lag on the accelerator, which is rather disconcerting.

The Starray isn’t great to drive by any means, but it’s much less annoying than the Jaecoo. It’s generally quite comfortable, which means that while you won’t have much fun on a twisty road you will at least be cossetted on a long motorway trip.

So what’s my verdict? Well, I’m not fussed about the way the Jaecoo looks – it’s smart, but it’s not fooling anybody into thinking it’s a real Land Rover. If I was in the market for a bargain PHEV SUV, I would take the Starray. The Jaecoo might look more expensive from the pavement but the Geely wins where it matters – the interior, the comfort, and the value.

Car change? Carwow!

Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.

Want to see the latest car content first? Add Carwow as a preferred source here. Click here to follow us on Reddit, where you can keep up-to-date with all the latest news, reviews, advice guides and videos. You can also subscribe to our WhatsApp channel to get the latest news sent straight to your phone.