There was a time when buying a Chinese-built car in Britain almost certainly meant buying an MG. Not anymore. China now supplies everything from bargain city cars and family plug-in hybrids to luxury SUVs, sports cars and super-saloons – and many don’t wear obviously Chinese badges.

I’ve ranked every car built in China, rather than simply cars from Chinese brands. The Shanghai-made Tesla Model 3 qualifies, as do the electric Mini Cooper and Aceman, the Cupra Tavascan and new Polestars and Volvos.

There are 49 cars in the whole list, but new Chinese-made models are coming to the UK almost every week, it seems – so things will change fast and this list is correct at the time of publication.

The number would also have been higher had some UK-market production not recently moved out of China. For example, the Polestar 3 is now built in South Carolina in the USA and the Volvo EX30 now comes from Ghent in. The Skywell BE11 also drops out because new UK sales are currently suspended after the importer ceased trading.

Fully electric cars and plug-in hybrids are included – basically any car with a plug qualifies as a New Energy Vehicle (NEV), and the scores are my assessment of each car today, not a repeat of its launch score. Cars sharing a rating are ordered according to how strongly I would recommend them now, taking account of value, usability, relevance and the quality of their competition. Here’s how the top ten looks right now.

How I tested

Every car here has been driven and assessed for The Independent. Testing focuses on the things owners notice most: comfort on British roads, motorway refinement, efficiency, charging, cabin technology, space and practicality, and how easy the car is to use every day.

1. Tesla Model 3

  • Independent rating:10/10
  • Price from:£37,990
  • Battery/engine:60-75kWh batteries (estimated)
  • Electric range:Up to 466 miles
  • Total range:na
  • Maximum charging rate:Up to 250kW

The Shanghai-built Model 3 remains the car every rival must beat. It’s exceptionally efficient, quick in every form and backed by a charging ecosystem that makes long journeys unusually easy. The latest car is quieter, better made and far more comfortable than early Model 3s, while the price remains keen. Tesla’s refusal to offer Apple CarPlay or Android Auto irritates, as does its obsession with screen-based controls, but nothing else here combines range, technology, performance and value so convincingly.

2. BYD Dolphin G DM-i

  • Independent rating:9/10
  • Price from:£23,990
  • Battery/engine:7.4kWh or 18.3kWh battery; 1.5-litre petrol engine
  • Electric range:Up to 65 miles
  • Total range:Up to 646 miles
  • Maximum charging rate:Up to 39kW DC

The Dolphin G DM-i is a proper supermini with family-car space, a decent boot and a plug-in hybrid system that behaves like an EV for much of the time. The larger battery should cover most daily journeys without petrol, while the engine removes any anxiety on longer trips. Its smoothness, equipment, surprisingly plush cabin and £23,990 starting price are major strengths. A firm-ish ride, motorway noise and rather flat front seats prevent perfection, but this could be BYD’s most relevant British car yet.

3. Mini Aceman

  • Independent rating:9/10
  • Price from:£28,905
  • Battery/engine:38.5kWh or 49.2kWh battery
  • Electric range:Up to 252 miles
  • Total range:Not applicable
  • Maximum charging rate:Up to 95kW

The Aceman, manufactured in China, is arguably the electric Mini that makes the most sense. It keeps the cheeky design, premium feel and lively responses buyers expect, but adds five doors and enough rear space to work as a small family car. The circular OLED display gives the cabin real character and efficiency is strong. Its ride can feel firm, the software takes time to learn, and charging is modest by current standards, yet the Aceman remains a charming, practical and desirable small EV.

4. Volvo ES90

  • Independent rating:8/10
  • Price from:£67,560
  • Battery/engine:92kWh or 106kWh battery
  • Electric range:Up to 432 miles
  • Total range:Not applicable
  • Maximum charging rate:Up to 350kW DC

The ES90 is the antidote to the endless procession of electric SUVs. It’s elegant, beautifully made and exceptionally quiet, with a calm cabin and one of the finest in-car audio systems available. Its 800-volt electrical architecture brings genuinely rapid charging, and the longest-range versions now claim more than 430 miles. Rear foot room is less generous than knee room, too many functions live in the touchscreen and the ride becomes firm on the largest wheels. Even so, this China-built Volvo is a sophisticated, highly desirable electric flagship and earns fourth place here.

5. BYD Ti7

  • Independent rating:9/10
  • Price from:£47,995
  • Battery/engine:35.6kWh battery; 1.5-litre turbo petrol
  • Electric range:Up to 74 miles
  • Total range:tbc
  • Maximum charging rate:tbc

The Ti7 is a huge, Defender-inspired plug-in hybrid that feels far more polished than its derivative appearance suggests. It’s roomy, lavishly equipped and surprisingly easy to drive, with a substantial battery that should make it useful as an EV during the week – BYD claims it’ll go for up to 74 miles on electric power alone. There was some hesitation from the hybrid powertrain on the early drive, but the quality, kit and space is not in doubt, while the price of £47,995 looks hugely tempting.

6. BYD Seal U DM-i

  • Independent rating:8/10
  • Price from:£34,995
  • Battery/engine:18.3kWh or 26.6kWh battery; 1.5-litre petrol engine
  • Electric range:Up to 78 miles
  • Total range:Up to 699 miles
  • Maximum charging rate:Up to 18kW DC

The Seal U DM-i is not exciting to drive and its ride could use another layer of polish, but those weaknesses are outweighed by its space, equipment, efficiency and value. The plug-in hybrid system is exceptionally smooth, and the larger-battery model offers enough electric range for many owners to avoid petrol during routine driving. It’s exactly the sort of sensible, low-stress family SUV that makes an unfamiliar badge easier to accept, even if keen drivers will find little to enjoy.

7. MG IM5

  • Independent rating:8/10
  • Price from:£39,950
  • Battery/engine:75kWh or 100kWh battery
  • Electric range:Up to 441 miles
  • Total range:Not applicable
  • Maximum charging rate:Up to 396kW

The IM5 is the closest Chinese rival yet to the Tesla Model 3. It’s spacious, beautifully finished, extremely well equipped and capable of travelling and charging at genuinely impressive rates. Four-wheel steering makes it feel smaller than it’s and the bigger battery, four-wheel drive versions are extraordinarily fast. A firm edge to the ride and a cabin dominated by screens stop it reaching the very top, while the IM sub-brand needs explaining, but this is MG operating at a level few expected even a couple of years ago.

8. Lotus Eletre

  • Independent rating:8/10
  • Price from:£86,305
  • Battery/engine:112kWh battery
  • Electric range:Up to 373 miles
  • Total range:Not applicable
  • Maximum charging rate:Up to 350kW

The Eletre is vast, heavy and the opposite of the lightweight sports cars on which Lotus built its reputation. Somehow, it still feels like a Lotus from behind the wheel. It’s enormously fast, superbly made and packed with first-class technology, with steering and body control that disguise its size remarkably well. The width, firm ride and theatrical cabin will not suit everyone, while the price limits its relevance, but as a demonstration of what a Chinese-built luxury EV can achieve it remains formidable.

9. Mini Cooper Electric

  • Independent rating:8/10
  • Price from:£26,905
  • Battery/engine:36.6kWh or 49.2kWh battery
  • Electric range:Up to 250 miles
  • Total range:Not applicable
  • Maximum charging rate:Up to 95kW

The Chinese-built electric Cooper understands that a Mini needs character as much as efficiency. It’s fun, distinctive and gets a great interior with the same circular OLED display used by the Aceman. The three-door body limits practicality and entry versions don’t travel far enough, while charging speeds have fallen behind newer rivals. Even so, it feels special in a way many small EVs do not. The larger-battery Cooper SE is the more rounded choice if your budget allows.

10. BYD Atto 2 DM-i

  • Independent rating:8/10
  • Price from:£26,995
  • Battery/engine:7.8kWh or 18kWh battery
  • Electric range:Up to 55 miles
  • Total range:Up to 621 miles
  • Maximum charging rate:Up to 18kW DC

The plug-in hybrid Atto 2 feels like a lot of car for less than £27,000. Its cabin is smart, well equipped and more premium than the price suggests, while BYD’s hybrid system is smooth and impressively efficient. Space is sensible for a compact SUV, and the electric range of the larger-battery model should cover many commutes. A firm, slightly fidgety ride is the main weakness, but this is a polished and persuasive alternative to a conventional hybrid.

The verdict

The strongest cars here no longer need the qualification that they are good ‘for a Chinese car’. The Tesla Model 3, BYD Dolphin G DM-i, Mini Aceman and Volvo ES90 compete with the best vehicles built anywhere, while the breadth of the list shows how quickly China has expanded from affordable transport into every corner of the market.

There’s a clear trend, though – with the exception of the excellent BYD Dolphin G – the best cars come from Western car makers that just happen to be built in China. Chinese own-brand models are catching up, though – and fast.

The recurring weaknesses are just as clear: firm suspension, screen-heavy controls, intrusive driver warnings and, on some cheaper models, range or charging figures that lag behind the sales pitch. Yet the direction of travel is unmistakable. The badge on the bonnet now tells only part of the story, and some of Britain’s most convincing electrified cars are rolling out of Chinese factories.

Read more: Best electric cars 2026 – the top 13 EVs on the market