Jaecoo 7 vs Range Rover Evoque: can China challenge British luxury?

Is the Jaecoo 7 just a mini Range Rover or a clever copycat? It’s certainly turning heads with its sleek design, modern tech, and surprising performance – all for a fraction of the price. But can it live up to the hype? Mat Watson puts this SUV to the test to see if it can really live up to the iconic Range Rover Evoque.

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Price: luxury vs value

Let’s start with the obvious: price. The Jaecoo 7 starts off at £30,000, while the Evoque starts at £44,000. The models tested here cost £35,000 for the Jaecoo 7 and over £50,000 for the Evoque. To match the Jaecoo 7’s features in a Range Rover, you’d need the top-spec Autobiography starting at £58,000.

Lease deals amplify the gap, with a three-year Jaecoo 7 plug-in hybrid lease costing around £15,000, compared to £44,000 for an equivalent Evoque. For buyers seeking value, the 7 already makes a strong case.

Design: bold or classic?

The Evoque is the original mini Range Rover, with a mid-life refresh keeping it looking sharp. Its blacked-out pillars give it that floating roof look, and the pop-out door handles feel sleek and modern. It rolls on 20-inch wheels and has a clean, premium rear end.

Meanwhile, the Jaecoo 7 takes a bolder approach, with a striking grille and modern light layout, plus low main beams and high DRLs. Side-on, it echoes the Evoque with blacked-out pillars, a floating roof, and pop-out handles, but adds its own flair. You can only get 19-inch wheels as standard, but the rear styling is clearly inspired by the Evoque.

It’s the little details that make a difference. The Evoque’s doors feel more solid, while the Jaecoo 7’s are slightly tinny and the boot rattles. Paint quality is similar, though the Jaecoo shows a bit of orange peel that the Evoque avoids.

Interior and infotainment: luxury vs user friendly

Inside, the Range Rover Evoque feels classically luxurious, with soft-touch surfaces, leather seats, metal pedals, and even felt-lined glove boxes. The Jaecoo 7 isn’t far behind as it has soft materials, a big touchscreen, and smart little touches. Sure, some lower plastics feel scratchy, but overall it’s a modern, solid-feeling cabin.

But where the Jaecoo 7 really beats the Evoque is infotainment. Its touchscreen is fast and easy to use, and features such as a panoramic roof, and a Sony sound system give it a fresh, high-tech feel. The Evoque’s setup now feels a bit dated, and its navigation isn’t always intuitive. Both support wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but the Jaecoo 7 is quicker and simpler for everyday use.

Practicality: which is more family friendly?

The Jaecoo 7 takes the lead when it comes to cabin space, giving you more legroom and headroom – especially in the back – so long journeys will feel much more comfortable. The Evoque pulls slightly ahead in boot space, offering 472 litres compared with 415 litres in the Jaecoo 7 plug-in hybrid. But the 7 makes up for it with smart, user-focused touches, such as a parcel-shelf “cinema screen,” a feature you won’t find in the Evoque.

Engines and performance: close in speed

The Evoque offers a range of engines: a 1.5-litre turbo petrol, two diesels, and a 1.5-litre plug-in hybrid producing 309hp. Meanwhile, the Jaecoo 7 offers a 1.6-litre petrol and a 1.5-litre plug-in hybrid engine. Despite lower power, the Jaecoo 7 plug-in hybrid achieves 0-60mph in 7.3 seconds, nearly matching the Evoque’s 7.2 seconds, with quarter-mile times almost identical. All-in-all, performance is surprisingly close for such a price gap.

Driving experience: refined vs competent

The Evoque is smooth, composed, and confidence-inspiring. Steering is precise, brakes feel solid, and it just feels premium. The 7, however, isn’t quite as refined. The suspension is a touch firmer, steering feels slightly vague, and there’s a bit more tyre and wind noise. But it’s still comfortable and drives well enough for daily life.

Reliability and ownership

Range Rover didn’t exactly shine in the 2025 Driver Power survey, coming in 24th out of 31. The Jaecoo 7 is still quite new to the UK market, so we don’t have long-term reliability data yet – but early impressions are looking good.

As for warranty for both? The Jaecoo 7 comes with a strong 7-year/100,000-mile manufacturer’s warranty, while the Evoque comes with a standard 3-year manufacturer’s warranty.

If you’re shopping used, Evoques are everywhere, while used Jaecoo 7’s are pretty rare, with mostly nearly-new models. And a quick tip: always do a history check before buying used. It’s worth the peace of mind.

Mat Watson’s verdict: which is smarter to buy?

If you’re a traditional luxury buyer, the Evoque still wins for brand prestige, fancy materials, and smooth driving.

But here’s the thing: for most people, the Jaecoo 7 is the smarter pick. It looks modern, feels surprisingly upscale, has great tech, and is genuinely practical. What’s more, it’s all without the hefty price tag.

After spending time with both, the Jaecoo 7 is impressive. If you want a stylish, capable SUV that won’t break the bank, this one’s worth a look.

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