In the last few years there have been so many new car manufacturers arriving on the UK market it’s hard to keep up, the majority of these new brands are Chinese-owned EV companies.

Now Chinese EVs are proving to be quirky cars at a very affordable price, but which ones are the best?

Best Chinese Electric SUVs

MG ZS EV - £30,495

Since 2007 SIAC Motors in China has owned the MG brand, formerly known for classic British sports cars. 

They now offer a range of hybrid and fully electric vehicles, ranging from small city cars to SUVs. The MG ZS EV is the latter, being a medium-sized electric SUV.

Starting at £30,495 the ZS is good value, coming equipped with adaptive cruise control, the ability to pre-warm the car through the relevant app, and active city braking. 

Inside, the SE model features fabric seats and a 10” touchscreen display.

Nio EL6 - £TBA

Unless you’re interested in Formula-E, Nio is not likely to be a name you’re familiar with, but the premium Chinese EV brand is set to launch in early 2025. 

The EL6 is said to be in competition with the Mercedes EQC, BMW iX3 and Porsche Macan.

When you look at the spec sheet it’s clear they’re not playing around. With over 400hp, 7.1 surround sound and all the safety features you could dream of, many built with the premise of self-driving in mind.

BYD Atto 3 - £37,695

BYD has had vehicles on UK roads since 2013, in the form of electric and diesel-electric buses. 

The Atto 3 is their first SUV, at nearly £38,000 it sits somewhere in the middle of the market, with various premium features potentially giving it an edge over the MG ZS.

With 260 miles of range, it’s slightly worse than the MG, and is considerably worse than one of its mainstream competitors, the Kia EV6, which has a claimed range of 360 miles. 

Best Chinese EV Small Cars

Ora 03 - £31,995

The Ora 03 is a quirky compact city car, capable of 193 miles on a single charge, whilst its size may suggest an affordable EV, it is actually aimed at the luxury end of the market, to compete with the likes of the Volvo EX30.

Styling on the 03 is a tricky one, to me it looks like a classic Porsche from the front, a Vauxhall Adam from the side, and a Nissan Leaf from the back.

This isn’t inherently a bad thing, it certainly gives a quirky look. Equipment is plentiful with sat nav from a large infotainment screen, adaptive cruise control, 360 cameras and a facial recognition system for unlocking.

BYD Dolphin - £26,195

Until the BYD Seagull is released in 2025, the Dolphin is the company's smallest car. Whilst the exterior isn’t much to look at, especially compared to the Ora 03, the interior is actually quite nice, with high-quality leatherette and sleek curves to the dashboard.

At £26,195 it’s a good bit cheaper than the Ora too, despite that it still packs 200hp and a decent trim level, especially when compared to European or even Japanese-made cars.

MG MG4 - £26,995

Although the MG4 is more of a mid-size hatchback than a small city car, the price puts it in-line with this category, especially when considering the amount of tech and features it has. 

Available in 4 trim levels, from “SE” up to “Trophy Extended Range”, even the most basic model has MG pilot - a lane keeping, adaptive cruise type system -, and a 10” touchscreen and will do 0-60 in 7.5 seconds. 

Best Upcoming Chinese EVs for 2025

With new vehicles coming to market constantly, there are quite a few scheduled to be released in 2025, including some exciting electric sports cars.

MG Cyberster - £55,000

Hailed as being the first all-electric sports car sold in the UK (when it releases at least!), the MG Cyberster is both a homage to the British brands' sports cars of old and a tie-in to the newest tech on the market, that is typical of Chinese-made EVs.

With the top-of-the-line model expected to have 4-wheel drive and just over 500 horsepower, it should be a load of fun, whether the nearly 2-tonne curb weight will hamper that is something different. 

The Cyberster will also feature the very supercar-esque “scissor doors”, it is certainly one of the most exciting EVs to look out for in 2025.

Maxus T90EV - £49,950 + VAT

As the first Chinese brand electric pickup truck to come to the UK, the Maxus T90EV will be eagerly awaited by those looking for a company car tax friendly pickup with all the features found on other Chinese EV brands.

With a payload of 1,000kg and a combined range of 205 miles, it should be a good companion to those needing to transport tools or materials reasonably short distances.

Although with 2-wheel drive only it won't be the best option for those needing to cross rough terrain.

Maxus MIFA 7 - £39,995 + VAT

The MIFA 7 could well be a good alternative to the Mercedes EQV, or the Volkswagen ID Buzz, being considerably cheaper than the Merc and about the same as the VW, the extra features are where the Maxus shines.

Its combined range is just under 400 miles, which is much better than the EQV and the ID Buzz.

It also comes with Nappa leather captains chairs, adaptive cruise control and the usual touchscreen infotainment systems. The MIFA 9 is expected to be available in the UK from early 2025.

Chinese EV FAQs

Are Chinese car brands reliable?

On the whole, the reports have been very good for most of the recently launched Chinese EVs. with BYD topping the list for reliability.

What is the best Chinese car brand?

With each manufacturer offering a different selection, from MG with its sporty Cyberster, and Maxus prioritising MPV and commercial vehicles, there’s no one stand-out marque just yet.

Are Chinese EVs better than Tesla?

Whilst there have been some well-discussed quality issues with Tesla, their recent models have seen better quality control. That said, for the cost and features you get, the Chinese brands do tend to offer more value for money.

Author - Joseph Law

Joseph has been writing about cars for over seven years and writing for Bumper for over two, blending his passion for automobiles with a talent for storytelling.

Joseph has written about engineering and cars for Autozilla, Komaspec, and several engineering manufacturers. When he's not writing or tinkering with one of his cars, Joseph dreams of owning an Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale.