- Another look at Leapmotor, Jaecoo and Xpeng
- Chinese EVs mean business
- Three new models coming to the leasing market
- More competition and choice = better deals for consumers
Just like buses, you wait ages for new Chinese car brands and then three come along at the same time.
In the space of a just a few days, I’ve been driving a couple of Leapmotors, been to the launch of the Xpeng brand (for a car I’ve already driven) and now I’ve got a Jaecoo on my drive.
The biggest job these new brands have on their hands, other than actually getting their cars into dealers and onto customers, is actually telling people that they’re here and what they stand for.
Well, we’re glad to help. From my point of view, the more choice consumers have the better and more competition always works out better for us car buyers - we tend to see better products and more value.
The car market isn’t predicted to grow massively in the coming years, so there’ll be a greater number of car makers all vying for a slice of the pie. And it’s tough out there – only the strong will survive; maybe even some of the legacy brands will fall by the wayside.
There are two things key here, for new brands and existing ones: strong product and a strong brand. Let’s start with the product first.
Some Chinese brands are following in the well-trodden footsteps of other new entrants in the UK market. Whether we’re talking about Nissan and Toyota, or Hyundai and Kia, new car brands tend to start out with a strong value proposition.
The Leapmotor T03 (below) is Britain’s second-cheapest EV at £15,995 and comes loaded with the kit that used to be the preserve of bigger, more expensive and often premium brands. Quite why a small car that’s made for the city needs adaptive cruise control is beyond me, but the T03 has it and a lot more besides.
It’s okay to drive – perfectly acceptable as a little town runabout – while the quality is still £15,995-worth, but a step up from its arch-nemesis the (also China-built) Dacia Spring.
Like the bigger £36,500 Leapmotor C10 SUV, which comes straight out of the drawer marked ‘lots of car for the money’, it has a sub-par infotainment system and no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto to override it. That’s something of a surprise from tech-led China.
Incidentally, the C10 hasn't convinced me on the road, too, with a poor ride and not a great range for the money. It’s huge, brilliantly equipped (again), with a high-quality if dull interior.
I reckon the Jaecoo 7 (below) is a much more interesting proposition. Made by Chinese brand Chery and sister brand to Omoda, the Jaecoo 7 starts at under £30,000 with the clever plug-in hybrid I’ve got just £35,000.
It’s another mid-size SUV, but Chery’s relationship with JLR in China is obviously paying dividends – there’s more than a whiff of Range Rover Velar about the Jaecoo 7. It’s a real head-turner with a classy interior that really belies the price tag. Again, it comes packed with luxury kit and, again, the infotainment isn’t the best. It’s at least better than the Leapmotor system and has Apple CarPlay, too – hurrah!
.jpg)
The drive system is slick, but the ride is anything but – it really doesn’t like UK roads, and I don’t really like it on UK roads. Shame – fix that and it’ll be a much better bet. The steering could do with a smidgen of feel, too.
Then there’s the Xpeng G6 – a rival for the Tesla Model Y, but cheaper and a better bet than the current car. It’s pretty much a great all-rounder: more comfortable to drive than the Tesla, the infotainment is great (and gets Apple CarPlay and Android Auto) and it’s built better, too. It’s the car the new Tesla Model Y has to beat.
.jpg)
So, that’s the product, but what do the brands stand for? Come to think of it, that’s a question you could levy at many established car brands. What are their points of difference – why should you buy one over the other?
A lot of the Chinese brands like to position themselves as tech leaders and you’d think that would be the case. So why is the tech so poor and not adjusted to European tastes? Let’s see how quickly they’re updated – probably over-the-air without us knowing.
One other Chinese brand that has just launched its sixth car in Europe, BYD, is also pitching itself as a tech brand with world-leading battery technology – it started out as a battery maker after all. So why don’t the cars go further and charge faster than their rivals…?
There’s lots of work to be done to win us all over and to create the right stories and messaging that makes us want to invest in these new brands – and existing ones.
Oh yes, I mentioned buses at the start, didn’t I? Did you know many of the big red buses driving around London are made by BYD? They definitely turn up three at a time.
.jpg)
** Steve Fowler is one of the UK’s best-known automotive journalists and currently EV Editor of The Independent and a regular contributor to The Guardian. He’s the only person to have edited three of the UK’s biggest car titles – Auto Express, Autocar and What Car? – and has interviewed the biggest names in the car world from Tesla’s Elon Musk to Ford’s Jim Farley. Steve has also presented documentaries for BBC Radio Four and is used as a resident ‘car guru’ on TV and Radio. He’s a World Car of the Year juror and a judge on both Germany’s and India’s Car of the Year Awards. Read more of Steve's work at stevefowler.co.uk.
Enjoyed this? Read our latest news
- Audi launches new entry-level Q4 e-tron
- Maserati showcases extreme GT2 Stradale
- Tesla Model Y - new line-up revealed!
- Football’s Michael Owen takes delivery of UK’s first Leapmotor
- Smart new Volvo XC60 makes debut
Where To Next?
For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to our newsletter.
Looking for a great leasing deal? Check out our incredible range of special offers.
Read our latest reviews and find the right model for you.
Want to know more about leasing? Take a look at our comprehensive leasing guides.
Interested in everything motoring? Why not catch up on all the latest car leasing news.
