Compare Chinese electric cars
High quality electric Chinese cars from rated and reviewed dealers
Last updated October 04, 2024 by
Darren Cassey
10 best Chinese electric cars for sale in 2024
The past few years have seen an influx of Chinese car manufacturers introducing new models to the European market, with a particular focus on electric cars. Where Chinese cars used to be considered largely inferior to models from brands we’re more familiar with, the latest EVs are much-improved and often have class-leading technology.
To help you navigate these new models and figure out which brands are worth investigating, our expert car reviews team has been putting every Chinese electric car on sale in the UK to the test.
Take a look below to see the latest EVs from China, and click through to the reviews for an in-depth look at what our experts think of each model to get better acquainted with EVs from MG, BYD, Omoda and Ora.
The MG4 EV is the original affordable electric car, and despite the arrival of much more competition in the past couple of years, it’s still up there with the very best of them. Despite its relatively low price, you still get a decent amount of range between charges. It’s also genuinely fun to drive and the interior feels like it has been put together well. It’s not the most practical car, and the infotainment system can be tricky to use, though.
Considering a Tesla Model 3? The BYD Seal is worth taking a look at, too, because it’s a genuinely convincing alternative. High praise indeed. This electric saloon car has sleek styling on the outside and a comfortable interior. It’s fun on a twisty road, but also manages to be smooth over bumps and refined on the motorway. That’s somewhere you could spend plenty of time, because it has an excellent range in excess of 300 miles, even in the super-fast version. As is a common theme with Chinese cars though, the infotainment system is tricky to navigate around.
Another marine-themed car from BYD, this time it’s the Dolphin, a spacious electric hatchback that looks a bit mundane, but makes up for that by being roomy and practical inside as well as great value for money. You get good levels of equipment and impressive range for your cash – though you will have to spend more for higher trims to get the big battery.
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If you want an electric two-seater convertible, your choice begins and ends with the MG Cyberster. Fortunately, it’s a great car that’s really comfortable and relaxing to drive. Perfect for cruising around on a summer’s day with the roof down. It looks great too, and has cool doors that flip up when you open them. It’s not very practical, nor is it particularly sporty on a twisty road.
BYD’s first model to launch in the UK was the oddly named Atto 3 - a mid-sized family SUV with a maximum range of up to 261 miles and an impressively well-built (if rather strangely designed) interior. As a first stab at the UK market, it was commendable - though in the face of strong competition from the likes of the Smart #1 or Kia Niro EV, its lack of practicality and limited refinement are somewhat more obvious.
The ZS EV is MG’s electric SUV, providing the ruggedised looks and high-up driving position that you might be craving in a good-value and long-range package. It makes a great city car, with light steering, peppy performance and good visibility all-round. There’s also plenty of space, so it’s ideal for a small family. It does feel a generation behind the latest MG models, though, with a creaky and rather low-rent feel to the interior and limited adjustment in the driving position.
Like Dr Jekyll has Mr Hyde, the MG4 EV has the MG4 XPower. Look at the subtle exterior makeover and you won’t be any the wiser that this sensible electric hatchback has a 0-62mph sprint of just 3.8 seconds courtesy of a pair of electric motors producing a ballistic 435hp. That’s quicker than many sports cars, yet the price tag remains less than you’d expect to pay for some regular family hatchbacks. And it retains all the good features about the standard MG4 EV, too. The XPower perhaps isn’t as much fun to drive as you’d hope for from a so-called ‘hot hatchback’, but for power on a budget nothing even comes close.
The Ora 03 has a cutesy retro design both inside and out, and if you fall in love with the way it looks, we don’t blame you - there’s more than a touch of the same lovable character you find in a MINI or a Fiat 500. It’s only a little more than skin-deep, however - the Ora 03 has quite a few very annoying features, such as over-eager driver assistance tech that tugs you out of your lane or a very overbearing driver attention monitor that barks at you if you so much as glance away from dead ahead. It doesn’t drive badly, but this is a car that needs an update before it’s one to recommend.
Omoda is the latest Chinese brand to make an entrance to the UK, but its first effort is rather underwhelming. Like most Chinese alternatives, it comes fully loaded with equipment at an affordable price, and has big, sharp displays inside. The cabin looks pretty posh, too, and it’s not bad to drive. However, alternatives aren’t hugely more expensive but have more space inside and in the boot, and while it comes with lots of kit, much of the driver assistance tech is annoyingly intrusive.
Electric estates are rare, but the few you can buy tend to be very expensive, which is why the MG5 EV is such a tempting proposition. No, it’s not flashy, and the cabin lacks quality, but it makes up for this in practicality with a big, useful boot, plenty of space for passengers and up to 250 miles on a full charge. It’s not half bad to drive, either, with a turn of pace that’ll surprise plenty of people at the traffic lights, though it’s pretty noisy at motorway speeds.
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