Jaecoo 7 vs Audi Q3: China takes on Germany in a battle of the PHEVs

A few years ago, if you wanted to swap your sensible family SUV for something posh you sort of just had to accept that you’d be paying an extra £10,000 or so to get an Audi or a BMW instead of a Kia or Skoda. However, times have changed.

There are loads of new Chinese cars entering the market which seemingly offer luxury and tech at a more affordable price. Just look at the Jaecoo 7.

A plug-in hybrid version costs over £10,000 less than the equivalent Audi Q3, yet the interior feels almost as premium, and you get loads of tech as standard. On paper, you’d have to be mad to buy the Audi.

But should you be tempted by the Jaecoo 7, or should you pay the extra to get the Audi instead? I’ve thoroughly tested both cars, and I’m going to help you decide.

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.

Jaecoo 7 vs Audi Q3: cost comparison.

Below is a table outlining the total cost of ownership for these cars, comparing the loss in depreciation when buying in cash. This is based on the plug-in hybrid versions, assuming you keep them for three years and cover 30,000 miles.

	New cash price	Value after three years/30,000 miles	Depreciation
Audi Q3	£46,550	£24,650	£21,900
Jaecoo 7	£35,170	£17,650	£17,520

The Jaecoo 7 is considerably less expensive – which is helped by the fact you can get one with 0% finance until the end of June 2026. The Audi Q3 will cost you a whopping £767 per month on a PCP finance deal with £5,000 up front, whereas the Jaecoo is £379 per month with the same deposit.

However, it’s cheaper to lease the Jaecoo than it is to buy it. You can lease one through Carwow for £334 per month at the time of writing with an upfront payment of £4,309, and you don’t have to worry about depreciation. This brings your total to around £16,000.

You can lease the Audi for £562 per month at the time of writing, with a £7,100 up-front payment. This will cost you a total of around £26,500 over three years and 30,000 miles.

If you really have your heart set on the Audi, you can take the sting out of that initial purchase price with Carwow. You can save an average of £2,700 at the time of writing, and the plug-in hybrid starts from just over £43,000.

Jaecoo 7 vs Audi Q3: interior and technology

For a car costing so much less than the Audi, the Jaecoo 7’s interior is impressively posh. It doesn’t look quite as interesting as the Q3, with a fairly plain dashboard dominated by a large portrait touchscreen, but the quality is really good.

You get soft-touch leatherette on the dashboard, centre console and doors, and some of the materials even feel more solid than the Audi. I’m talking mainly about the Q3’s flimsy cover over the cupholders, which really lets it down.

But beyond that, the Audi Q3 does still feel like a premium product. I like the suede materials you can get on the dashboard and door cards, and all the switchgear feels solid. I just wish there wasn’t a big, ugly bezel around the infotainment system, and the narrow digital driver’s display doesn’t look great either.

Neither of these cars have proper buttons for the climate control, but they both have easy-access menus at the base of the screen. I reckon the Jaecoo’s is slightly easier to use though, because the display sits closer to you.

The Jaecoo also comes with way more kit as standard. The plug-in hybrid is only available in two trims: Luxury and Black Luxury. The latter is basically just a styling pack with a load of blacked-out trim, both cars come with:

• 14.8-inch touchscreen
• Head-up display
• Heated steering wheel
• Heated and ventilated front seats
• Surround-view camera

If you want your Audi Q3 to be similarly equipped, you’ll have to go for the range-topping Edition 1 version costing a whopping £51,400. The Jaecoo 7 looks great value for money by comparison.

Jaecoo 7 vs Audi Q3: engines and driving

I’m comparing the plug-in hybrid versions of these cars, and the Audi gets off to a great start. It uses a 1.5-litre petrol engine paired to an electric motor, and combined you get 272hp – almost 70hp more than the Jaecoo.

It’ll also do up to 73 miles on electric power alone, whereas the Jaecoo 7 will only do 56 miles. This brings the Audi’s emissions down, putting it in a slightly lower company car tax bracket.

And things get even better for the Q3 on the move, because once you start driving you really notice where Audi spent the extra money. The suspension is lovely and smooth over bumps, but body roll through the corners is still nicely controlled. The steering is also perfectly weighted and accurate, and all the controls feel really natural.

This makes the car feel secure and inspires confidence, while also being quite good fun when you want it to be. I can’t say the same for the Jaecoo 7.

It’s quite firm and jittery over potholes and broken surfaces, but that stiffness doesn’t translate to any sort of sportiness on a twisty road. The steering is vague, and it feels unnatural as well because it’s so light. It’s a bit like getting a really limp handshake.

The result is a car which just sort of moves you from A to B in a pretty lacklustre way, whereas the Audi is much more enjoyable.

I’d highly recommend test driving both cars before buying, because I reckon even non-car people may prefer the Audi Q3 because of its more planted and confident feel from behind the wheel.

Jaecoo 7 vs Audi Q3: Mat’s final verdict

So then, where does all this leave us?

Well there’s no denying that the Jaecoo 7 is fantastic value for money. If you can live with the slightly wayward handling, and want to experience champagne motoring on a lemonade budget, I recommend checking it out.

However, the Audi Q3 is the car I would choose. It may be more expensive to buy, but it’s so much better to drive that I think it’s worth paying the extra if you can stretch to it.

The latest Q3 hasn’t been on sale long either, so if you wait a few months then some much more tempting lease deals could pop up to make the decision easier. Used examples will also start hitting the market soon, meaning you’ll be able to grab a bargain after the first owner takes the biggest hit in depreciation.

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.

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