From ‘what on earth’s that?’ to world-beaters: the Chinese hierarchy

Best for: A slick user experience 

The G6 was revealed in 2024 and conceived in almost every respect as a direct alternative to the Tesla Model Y. And do you know what? This electric SUV gives Silicon Valley’s best seller a run for its money.

The G6 is spacious, quite versatile, comfortable, fairly well-appointed, efficient, fast-charging and, above all else, strong value for money.

Matt Saunders, Road test editor

Xpeng behind it describes itself as a start-up led by a tech entrepreneur, and indeed the car feels very techy inside. There’s a big touchscreen run by the latest Qualcomm processor, which is quick and easy to use.

Interior materials are high-quality for the price and the seats have a lot of adjustment – but it does lack physical controls.

There are two power options, 254bhp and 281bhp, and both are swift, quiet and smooth. We would recommend the lesser one, as there’s very little chance you would notice the extra 27bhp in the real world.

Best for: The city

China’s second-best-selling car has a lot to live up to – and it does a pretty good job of that.

The Dolphin Surf is excellent as an urban runaround and more mature-feeling than its rivals.

Kris Culmer, Chief sub-editor

The BYD Dolphin Surf finds itself sitting high up on this list, as it ultimately feels more grown up and more like a ‘proper car’ than the rival Dacia Spring.

There are two battery options: a 30kWh one for a WLTP range of 137 miles and a 43.2kWh one for 200 miles. Both offer good value for money at this price point.

Perceived material quality inside is much better than the Spring, and you will find the same touchscreen that can switch between portrait and landscape that you would find in more expensive BYD models.

It’s not a bad steer either. Ride comfort at low speeds is more absorbent than many other small EVs with heavy batteries (looking at you, Mini) and the steering is precise, with a springy self-centring useful for urban action. 

Best for: Zero-emission hatchbacks

The 4 is the car that really changed things for MG, shuffling the SAIC-owned brand from a builder of cheap but boring transportation devices with long warranties and tempting finance offers to a manufacturer of note. 

The MG 4 is simply a well-rounded electric hatchback at a price that appears impossible to beat.

Illya Verpraet, Road Tester

Key to this experience is the way this hatchback drives. It flows well, with strong, reassuring brakes and a rear-wheel-drive platform that provides a bit of fun when poked. 

The interior is sensible and well laid out too. The heating controls are easier to use than in some EVs and the range pegs it as one of the most efficient on the market.

It’s even available as a dual-motor, four-wheel-drive hot hatch called the XPower. Despite the added traction and power, it’s not quite as fun as the regular car – but there are very few other options out there that offer 429bhp for less than £40,000.

Best for: PHEV SUV drivers

The HS may well be one of the UK’s greatest unhailed commercial success stories, as for several months it has sat among the best-selling cars in the UK.

The PHEV doesn't need to fall back on its engine for a fairly gutsy turn of speed.

Matt Saunders, Road test editor

This second-generation SUV was introduced in 2024, bringing with it a complete exterior design overhaul, a heavily updated interior and a suite of technology updates.

Its crowning glory, however, is simply what it offers. The plug-in hybrid brings with it a near-25kWh drive battery and some 75 miles of official electric-only range for just a smidge over £30,000. 

There are notes of maturity and sophistication about the way it drives too, while the civility of the pure-electric driving at low speeds is worthy of praise.

Best for: EV superminis

In terms of size, the BYD Dolphin sits between the Vauxhall Corsa Electric and Volkswagen ID 3, but it’s usefully cheaper than both.

If you can live with some of the foibles, there’s a lot of medium-range compact electric car for the money here.

Sam Phillips, Staff Writer

The entry-level Active version makes do with 94bhp but should eke out 211 miles (officially) from its little battery.

The Boost gets a bump in power to 174bhp, while the Comfort and Design get 201bhp and a 60.4kWh battery, giving them an official range of up to 265 miles.

In other words, there’s almost something for everyone.

The Dolphin shares a lot of mechanical bits with the Atto 3 crossover (found further down this list), and predictably the pair are quite similar to drive – meaning it’s comfortable but won’t set your socks on fire.

Best for: The supercar experience

A hugely significant car for MG, the Cyberster was conceived in the UK and released to coincide with the brand's 100th anniversary.

This is a real head-turner, although it lacks the dynamic charisma of the class's better sports cars.

Matt Saunders, Road test editor

Does the Cyberster look like a modern MG B? No, but it’s striking enough, aping conventional supercar design rather than mere sports cars.

The standard Trophy model comes with a rear-mounted electric motor making 335bhp and 350lb ft. Then for around £5000 more, there’s the GT, which gains a second motor at the front for 503bhp, 535lb ft of torque and four-wheel drive.

We would go for the cheaper rear-wheel-drive model, as this is lighter and feels dartier to drive. The dual-motor GT is quicker in a straight line but feels a bit too heavy to be classed as a true sports car.

Best for: Interior gimmicks

The Atto 3 was the first car sold by the giant BYD company in the UK.

I love that you can turn off both the heating and air-con but retain fresh-air ventilation.

Illya Verpraet, Road Tester

Social media users were dazzled by its touchscreen, which can rotate from portrait to landscape, as well as its in-door guitar strings – which, to be frank, don't work very well.

Look beyond the gimmicks, though, and you will find a spacious, well-thought-out electric crossover. 

It will easily cover 200 miles in the real world and its four-year/74,500-mile warranty and eight-year/124,000-mile battery warranty are reassuring.

Best for: Value

Another SUV from MG, and another one that doubles down on value for money.

The ZS is roomier, cleverer and better-equipped than you would expect for the money.

Matt Saunders, Road test editor

Less than £20,000 buys you a car with a 1.5-litre petrol engine, but just £1000 or so more will score you a full hybrid, capable of close to 60mpg in our-real world everyday testing.

It’s this version of the ZS we recommend. Its innovative powertrain comprises a 101bhp 1.5-litre four-cylinder Atkinson-cycle petrol engine, a three-speed automatic gearbox and a 134bhp electric motor.

Most of the time, the motor does the driving and the engine works to power the starter motor supplying current to the electrical system.

It sounds complicated but works brilliantly. Around town, it’s much like an EV to drive: crisp, quiet and peppy. But of course there’s no faff in filling up with electricity and a tank of petrol should last some 450 miles.