The 12 most important new Chinese cars coming to the UK in 2026
Car changing is a big deal
Chinese cars are getting more common on UK roads right now, and there are plenty more to come. Here are 12 new and exciting Chinese cars you can expect to see in 2026 and beyond.
Choosing a new car has always been tricky, and the influx of new Chinese brands is making it harder still. Cars like the Jaecoo 7, BYD Seal and Geely Starray offer shed loads of kit and posh interiors for a lot less than the more established competition, and there are loads of new models coming out which take on cars from Volkswagen, Renault and even Lamborghini.
Keeping up with the onslaught of new Chinese cars can be tricky, with everything from small, affordable hatchbacks to bonkers supercars on the cards. We’ve picked the top 12 models coming out over the next 12 months or so.
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.
The 12 best Chinese cars coming out in the next year
- Aion UT
- BYD Dolphin G
- BYD Shark
- BYD Ti7
- Denza Bao 5
- Denza Z
- Denza Z9 GT
- Geely EX2
- Lepas L6
- Lepas L8
- MG GO
- Omoda 4
1. Aion UT
First up we have the Aion UT, the second car to come from this brand after the Aion V SUV. It’s an alternative to electric hatchbacks like the Volkswagen ID3 and Renault Megane E-Tech, and it’ll arrive later this year with up to 268 miles of range.
That’s around 10 miles more than a basic version of the new Volkswagen ID3 Neo, and we expect it to cost about the same as that car as well. A price tag south of £30,000 is likely, and if the Aion V SUV is anything to go by then it’ll be packed with standard kit as well.
2. BYD Dolphin G
This is the BYD Dolphin G, and it’s not related to the Dolphin or Dolphin Surf in any way. Unlike those two EVs, the Dolphin G (for Genius, sigh) is a small, plug-in hybrid hatchback about the same size as a Renault Clio or Toyota Yaris.
It’s the smallest PHEV on sale right now, and at £23,990 it’s also one of the cheapest. You get up to 65 miles of electric range in some models, and it’s pretty fuel efficient. We managed to get 69mpg even with a flat hybrid battery. Order books are open now, and first deliveries will be starting in September.
3. BYD Shark
BYD is also moving into the pickup truck game with this – the Shark. It bears more than a passing resemblance to a Ford F150, and it’s fitted with a 436hp plug-in hybrid system which can do 55 miles on electric power alone.
You can also use your Shark to power appliances and tools on the job site, and it can tow up to 2,500kg. That’s a tonne less than a Ford Ranger PHEV, but at just over £47,000 it’s around £9,000 cheaper than a top-spec Ranger, while having the same amount of standard kit.
4. BYD Ti7
The BYD Ti7 is a rugged-looking SUV with seating for seven and a powerful plug-in hybrid system. It can do 0-60mph in 4.8 seconds, quicker than a Golf R hot hatchback and it’ll also do up to 79 miles on electric power alone.
Exact details are thin on the ground right now, but pricing is set to be announced in the coming weeks before first deliveries start towards the end of the year. We reckon it’ll cost around £60,000.
5. Denza Bao 5
Denza is actually owned by BYD, but it’s more focussed on high-end luxury cars rather than mainstream motors. The Bao 5 is a massive, plug-in hybrid off-roader which goes toe-to-toe with the Land Rover Defender.
At £70,000, it’s slightly more expensive than the Defender, but you get way more kit as standard. The Bao 5 also has a lovely interior and a 544hp plug-in hybrid system, but we found that the Defender is more comfortable over bumps. The Bao 5 will arrive in showrooms at the end of 2026.
6. Denza Z
The Denza Z is the Bao 5’s polar opposite, because it’s a low-slung electric supercar with enough performance to leave the Lamborghini Renuelto quaking in its tyres. It has 1,604hp, courtesy of three electric motors, and 0-60mph takes less than 2.0 seconds.
There are three models on offer – the standard car costs £142,900, the convertible Spider starts from £159,900 and the track-focussed Racing will set you back £172,900. You can order your Denza Z now, with first deliveries taking place at the end of the year.
7. Denza Z9 GT
Denza’s final offering is the Z9 GT, a four-seater shooting brake which is available both as an electric car or with a plug-in hybrid engine. The former has three electric motors with a combined 1,156hp, over 100hp more than a Porsche Taycan Turbo GT, while the PHEV has 776hp.
It may be more powerful than the Taycan, but with a 0-60mph time of 2.7 seconds it can’t quite beat the Porsche on straight-line speed. It also costs a whopping £105,000 for the EV, while the PHEV costs £95,000.
8. Geely EX2
The Geely EX2 is China’s best-selling car, and now it’s hoping for similar success in the UK. It’s a small electric hatchback which will take on the Renault 5 and Citroen e-C3 when it arrives in the UK later this year.
Prices start from just under £21,000, and that gets you a 35kWh battery with up to 156 miles of range. For an extra couple of grand, you can have a 47kWh battery with up to 214 miles of range, but this is still some way off the Renault 5’s 252-mile claimed figure. You do get a lot of standard kit in the Geely though, and really roomy rear seats.
9. Lepas L6
Lepas is owned by Chery International – the same company behind Jaecoo, Omoda and Chery UK. It’s pitched as a posher, more fashion-forward brand than its siblings, and the L6 is an SUV which will be available with both hybrid and electric power options.
It shares parts under the skin with the Jaecoo 7 and Omoda 5, so you can expect a 1.5-litre petrol plug-in hybrid with roughly 56 miles of electric range, as well as a 67kWh battery in the electric version with around 270 miles of range. The price and specs will be confirmed when the car is launched later this year, but we reckon it’ll start from between £25,000 and £30,000.
10. Lepas L8
Joining the L6 will be the Lepas L8, a slightly larger SUV which will take on the Volkswagen Tiguan and Kia Sportage. Unlike the L6, this car will only be offered with a plug-in hybrid engine – the same 1.5-litre petrol setup as you get in the Jaecoo 7.
Prices start from £34,900 for the Essence model, which gets a panoramic glass roof, adaptive cruise control, 19-inch alloy wheels and two massive screens. The Elevate version, starting at £37,900, adds an all-round parking camera, heated, ventilated and massaging seats and a Sony sound system. Not bad for an extra three grand.
11. MG GO
No, this isn’t a new Mini concept car. It’s the MG GO, a small electric hatchback which MG will launch in 2027 to take on the Renault 5 and Cupra Raval.
Details are thin on the ground right now, but this car could use the 43kWh battery pack from the MG4 Urban – giving it around 200 miles of range. We expect a sub-£25,000 price tag as well.
12. Omoda 4
Last but not least, we have the new Omoda 4. You can think of it as an alternative to the Chery Tiggo 4, Toyota Yaris Cross and Renault Captur, and it’ll be available with both hybrid and electric power.
You can expect to see the same 1.5-litre hybrid engine as the Chery Tiggo 4, meaning it’ll have around 200hp on tap. The electric version will come along at a later date, but the petrol model should go on sale this year with prices starting from less than £25,000.
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