Jaecoo 7 SUV

1.5T SHS-H Deluxe 5dr Auto

If you haven’t heard of automotive giant Chery, you might be surprised to learn it sold 2.6 million vehicles last year. Nevertheless, it’s a name unfamiliar to most people in the UK.

Its lack of notoriety here is because it’s from China, where manufacturers generally only lease or sell their vehicles domestically and in the Middle East, as well as parts of South America and Russia.

The quality of Chinese vehicles has never been comparable with that of long-established European brands like Volkswagen, Renault, and Vauxhall. But things are changing.

BYD, Leapmotor, Omoda, Ora, and Skywell are just five Chinese brands trading in the UK - at least another five are imminent.

One is Jaecoo, a Chery subsidiary launching its first-ever car here: the Jaecoo 7 SUV.

Chery may not have a reputation here yet, but a partnership with Jaguar Land Rover should boost its credibility. The two firms jointly own a manufacturing company that produces JLR's vehicles in China.

Furthermore, Jaecoo already has over 70 UK dealerships, which is set to almost double by Christmas 2025.

First impressions of the Jaecoo 7 are encouraging, with bold looks and an imposing stance. But can its driving capabilities have the same wow factor?

We have flown to South Africa for Jaecoo’s recent media event to find out.