Best Chinese electric cars 2026
High quality electric Chinese cars from rated and reviewed dealers
10 best Chinese electric cars 2026 : EVs you should consider from brands you might not have heard of
Most Chinese manufacturers in the UK aren’t really bothering with pure petrol or diesel cars. Instead, they’re focusing on so-called New Energy Vehicles - to you and I, that means plug-in hybrids and full electric cars.
The best Chinese EVs come with sophisticated battery tech and in some cases lead the class for charging speeds, performance or safety - and often at a much cheaper price than the European or Korean alternatives.
As a result, they’re surging in popularity in the UK, with cars such as the sleek BYD Seal, practical Leapmotor B10 or fun-to-drive MG4 showing that there’s a Chinese EV for most people’s needs.
Our expert reviews team has comprehensively tested every Chinese car on sale in town, on motorway journeys, at the shops and on the school run, putting together this list of the ten best electric offerings you can buy.
1. BYD Seal
BYD Seal reviewIf you’re looking for an electric saloon car and don’t fancy a Tesla Model 3, the BYD Seal is a fantastic alternative. For a start, it looks great, with sleek lines, slim headlights and a full-width rear light bar. It may be one of BYD’s older car designs, but it’s arguably the best-looking of the bunch.
Jump inside and its dashboard couldn’t be more different from the Tesla’s. Where the Model 3 embraces minimalism, the Seal has sweeping curves, contrasting materials and intricate details everywhere you look. It’s certainly busy, but the overall effect is cohesive and build quality feels solid.
The touchscreen is a bit less successful. Its graphics are sharp and it responds quickly, but too many functions are buried in menus. Shortcuts help, but making adjustments on the move still takes more concentration than it should - it’s much easier in a Tesla.
You certainly aren’t short of equipment. Heated and ventilated front seats, a panoramic glass roof, and a punchy Dynaudio stereo are all standard fare. The Seal feels suitably upmarket for its price tag then, even if there are a few unconvincing material choices lower down in the cabin.
You get a 485-litre boot and a useful 72 litres under the bonnet, which although smaller than a Tesla is still very practical. The saloon boot opening limits access for bulky luggage, though, while the low-set rear seats leave taller passengers wanting more under-thigh support.
It’s the way the Seal drives that really earns its stripes, though. It combines comfortable suspension and a quiet, refined cabin with surprisingly entertaining cornering on a twisty road. There’s plenty of grip, and it feels much more agile than its weight suggests. Around town, though, the grabby brakes take a bit of getting used to.
The rear-wheel drive Design model manages up to 354 miles between charges, dropping to 323 miles for the quicker, four-wheel drive Excellence. Neither figure leads the class, and charging peaks at a fairly ordinary 150kW.
Still, if you value style, equipment and an enjoyable drive over the longest possible range, the Seal deserves a place on your shortlist.
2. Geely EX5
Geely EX5 reviewThe Geely EX5 is one of the best Chinese SUVs to live with on a daily basis because, unlike some alternatives with their convoluted infotainment systems, it’s actually very easy to use. That wasn’t always the case, but Geely listened to its customers and fixed their gripes with an over-the-air update soon after the EX5 went on sale.
It’s a shame it’s such a generic-looking mass of car. There’s a lack of notable design features with a sort-of-rounded look and few creases down its sides. Even the Geely badge is easy to forget, looking more like a solar panel than a logo.
The interior is a bit more memorable, with a sweeping dashboard and seats featuring interesting patterns, available in a lovely cream colour. Material quality is very high, plus everywhere you poke and prod feels solidly put together.
As with so many Chinese EVs, the EX5’s infotainment display and driver screen are quick to respond to your inputs and feature crisp graphics. There are a few too many menus to navigate, which is a headache, but shortcut buttons to the driver assists ease the burden.
Interior space is excellent, but the compromise is that the boot is a touch smaller than other SUVs of this size at 410 litres. Range varies from 254 miles to 280 miles from a full battery, which is fine for the price, but alternatives in higher trim levels offer more mileage-per-charge.
At least the EX5 feels more sure-footed on any given road than most other Chinese SUVs, though it could be a touch more comfortable around town.
3. MG4 EV
MG MG4 EV reviewThe MG4 helped establish that an affordable electric car could be genuinely desirable, winning Carwow’s Car of the Year award in 2023. It’s still an excellent choice, and an updated interior addresses one of the original car’s biggest weaknesses.
Its sharp headlights and angular bodywork remain distinctive, although the latest version has a simpler rear spoiler. It’s a much sportier-looking proposition than the separate MG4 Urban, and its appeal goes beyond appearances.
Rear-wheel drive, responsive steering and well-controlled body movements make the MG4 unusually enjoyable on a country road. It’s comfortable enough for everyday use, too, although motorway noise means it isn’t the most relaxing electric hatchback for long journeys.
The cabin has taken a welcome step forward. Softer materials replace some of the original’s cheaper finishes, while a redesigned centre console makes better use of the available space. Physical climate controls are another improvement, saving you from prodding a screen just to make simple adjustments.
There’s also a larger 12.8-inch touchscreen. It helps the interior feel more modern, although some of the menus still take a little learning.
Rear passenger space is adequate rather than outstanding, and the boot isn’t especially generous. If carrying people and luggage matters more than handling, the cheaper MG4 Urban is worth considering alongside it.
The current Long Range version offers up to 280 miles between charges, while the Extended Range manages 338 miles. That gives the MG4 useful long-distance ability to go with its entertaining handling, without demanding the budget of a premium-badged alternative.
4. Jaecoo E5
Jaecoo E5 reviewIt’s not always easy to find value for money when buying a new electric car, but the Jaecoo E5 represents exactly that.
You don’t have to sacrifice much to save your cash, either. Sure, it’s a bit plain on the inside, but the top-spec Luxury trim isn’t a big leap in cost and yet gives you some nice soft-touch materials on the dashboard and a bunch of extra assistance tech.
All cars get the same big infotainment system, which works really well with sharp graphics and a (relatively) logical layout. You get some useful configurable shortcut buttons too so you don’t have to go fiddling about in menus for features you use all the time.
At 248 miles the range isn’t exceptional but it’s a bit higher than anything else at this price, and we saw 225 miles in our real-world testing, which is impressive. It’s let down by the charging, which is much slower than what alternatives are offering, making it one to avoid if you regularly use public chargers.
At least it’s pretty good to drive. On the motorway it’s quite quiet and around town it’s smooth with good visibility. The suspension can get unsettled by rough roads and feels like it never settles down, while country roads can be frustrating with lots of body lean in corners.
5. MG4 Urban
MG MG4 Urban reviewThe MG4 Urban is a simple, cheap and very sensible electric hatchback designed to offer lots of practicality at a low price. It lacks in driving thrills, as well as interior frills, but it’s not pretending to be posh, either.
MG has taken a big departure from the regular MG4 with which the Urban shares a name, eschewing the spaceship styling for a much rounder, almost friendlier appearance. Look at the front grille and taillights for styling cues to the MG Cyberster, but otherwise it’s a slightly awkward-looking thing with odd proportions.
It’s much the same case inside, with a plain-Jane cabin, swathed in dark, inexpensive-feeling materials. That’s not to say it's poorly made, it’s simply boring to behold. At least the infotainment system is easy to use, supported by a row of physical shortcut buttons.
None of that matters if interior space is your priority, however, with masses of headroom, legroom and a whopping 577-litre boot in the back.
You can choose from two battery options in the MG4 Urban, with range varying from 201 to 258 miles depending on which you choose. That’s not very road-trip friendly, but as the name suggests, the MG is most at home on city streets.
The light steering, excellent visibility and comfortable suspension are perfect for bad roads, but it’s neither fun on a country lane nor surefooted on the motorway.
6. MG S5 EV
MG S5 EV reviewThe S5 EV is MG’s replacement for the rather uninspiring ZS EV - and it’s a brilliant demonstration of a car manufacturer listening to feedback. Pretty much every complaint we had about the original MG4 has been addressed in this taller, SUV-shaped equivalent.
The MG4’s cheap interior is okay considering the car’s low price, but the S5 is bigger and more expensive - so MG’s given it a swathe of soft-touch materials everywhere you’re likely to touch, so it feels much more premium. MG4 drivers moaned about having to adjust the climate controls through the touchscreen, so MG added a panel of physical switches - and the touchscreen itself has a quick shortcut to switch off the more annoying driver assistance systems.
The result is that the S5 EV feels like a really mature electric SUV, one that’s had the annoying bits shaved off after many rounds of R&D.
It’s also a really roomy one - the back seats and boot have plenty of space for a growing family - and one that’s even pretty good to drive. There’s plenty of power, and the rear-wheel drive chassis means it’s quite satisfying on a twisty road.
Add in MG’s best touchscreen yet - it’s big, responsive and quite easy to use - and a good range on a single charge and the MG S5 EV is a really convincing electric car. It’s a shame that the price has increased over the MG4 to reflect that extra maturity, and that it’s so anonymous to look at. Long-range drivers may also wish there was a version with a bigger battery, too.
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7. Leapmotor B10
Leapmotor B10 reviewThe Leapmotor B10 is a mid-sized electric SUV with styling that’s been ever-so-slightly ripped off from Porsche (look at the lights, and then the Cayenne-esque way the rear roof pillar curves around) but which still manages to look rather forgettable.
It has the standard Chinese car interior too — massive touchscreen (14.6 inches), big digital instrument screen, and essentially no physical buttons (boo!). There is lots of space, though, and the overall quality feels very good, plus you get some handy Dacia-like sockets on the passenger side for mounting extra accessories.
There the B10 could be a problem if you do a lot of miles is that it doesn’t have very much range. While 261 miles is okay against some of the basic versions of alternatives such as the MG S5, Kia EV3, and Skoda Elroq, in every one of those you can pay extra for a bigger battery and more miles; not so in the Leapmotor. Equally, the likes of the Ford Explorer, which the B10 is roughly the same size as, can run for almost 370 miles on one charge.
8. MG IM6
MG IM6 reviewYou might not recognise it from a distance - or even up-close - but this swanky-looking coupe-SUV is actually an MG. You just need to get a magnifying glass out to spot the small MG badge on the boot, but it is there. Promise.
Aimed squarely at premium brands, the IM6 is an all-new approach by the Chinese giant, and on appearances at least it fares very well. The swoopy roofline, wide, flowing headlights and Aston Martin DBX-style tail are all rather swish.
The interior also looks posh…ish. There are plenty of padded materials on the wraparound dashboard/centre console combo, while the enormous displays both on-and-in the surfaces are impressive to behold. Shame the menus aren’t easy to navigate, though; distracting to use on the move.
You won’t find too much interior storage space, but there’s lots of room for tall adults both front and rear, as well as a gargantuan 665-litre boot.
Electric range varies from 315 miles to 388 miles in the Performance and Long Range versions respectively. It’s the ultra-fast charging which impresses most, however, allowing a 10-80% top-up in just 20 minutes.
It’s rather comfortable around town, soaking up bumps and potholes with little fuss. It’s a touch less composed over broken roads, but it’s well-suited to motorways, making road trips a piece of cake.
9. Xpeng G6
Xpeng G6 reviewThe Xpeng G6 is a convincing alternative to the Tesla Model Y, particularly if you want a more traditional sense of interior luxury. Its rounded bodywork isn’t especially memorable, but the cabin makes a better impression.
Soft materials, comfortable seats and generous standard equipment help it feel expensive. Rear passengers get plenty of room, too, with reclining seatbacks making longer journeys more comfortable.
The touchscreen is slick, but the lack of conventional controls remains frustrating. Too many adjustments involve menus, so it takes time to become familiar with the car.
Updated batteries and charging hardware are the big news. Official range now reaches 326 miles, while Xpeng claims a 10–80% charge can take just 12 minutes using a sufficiently powerful charger in suitable conditions. That’s an impressive advantage if you regularly stop to charge on longer trips.
The G6 is less impressive when the road gets bumpy or twisty, with suspension that can feel too soft and allow the body to move around. Still, its spacious cabin, extensive equipment and exceptionally quick charging make it well worth considering.
10. Changan Deepal S05
Changan Deepal S05 reviewThe Changan Deepal S05 doesn’t give off the same aura as most Chinese EVs. The styling is understated, sharp and quite European, the price tag reasonable rather than staggeringly cheap and all the stats make sense. It’s refreshingly normal, actually.
It’s a little less so when you get inside, where Changan - China’s oldest car manufacturer - has ‘done a Tesla’ and eschewed the driver’s display for a single central infotainment screen. This contains all the infotainment and driver information, and curiously can be set to pivot left-to-right - like a half-hearted version of BYD’s old rotating screen.
Range is 303 miles in the entry-level car and 278 miles in the ballistically powerful AWD model. Those are pretty modest figures, though real-world efficiency is excellent.
Practicality is a real highlight. Not only is the 492-litre boot appreciably bigger than most alternatives, but rear legroom is excellent and there’s space for your whole arm under the central armrest. The best bit is the ‘frunk’ - at 117 litres in capacity, it’s easily big enough for a weekly shop for two, and adds a real extra chunk of practicality you’ll find myriad uses for.
Factors to consider when buying a Chinese EV
Body style
With so many Chinese brands to choose from, there’s a body style out there to suit every need. The BYD Seal isn’t just our favourite Chinese EV, it’s one of the few classic saloon cars available. The Jaecoo E5 and MG S5 EV are stand-out SUVs, while you can even have a sporty two-seater in the form of the MG Cyberster.
Budget
There's a wide price difference between EV models within Chinese brands, with the entry-level BYD Dolphin Surf at almost £10,000 less than the BYD Dolphin, and less than half the price of the BYD Seal. The MG4 might be the best value for money, as it’s very affordable and great fun to drive.
Battery size
If you commute exclusively in the city, a dinky hatchback with a small battery should be all the car you need. The MG4 Urban ought to sit at the top of your list, but if you do frequent road trips then a BYD Seal, XPeng G6 or MG IM6 will be worth considering.
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