Jaecoo 8

Jaecoo's flagship model is a seven-seat SUV with plug-in hybrid power On sale Now Price from £45,500

- OLIVER YOUNG [e-mail]

JAECOO SUVS (ESPECIALLY the Range Rover lookalike Jaecoo 7) are storming the sales chart right now, attracting buyers galore despite less than stellar reviews from the press.

And the new Jaecoo 8 is the Chinese brand's most ambitious model yet. It’s a large, 4.8m-long seven-seat SUV, exclusively offered with plugin hybrid (PHEV) power. And what it packs under the bonnet will certainly make a strong first impression on a buyer's test drive.

Put your foot down and the hybrid system delivers strong acceleration (0-62mph takes just 5.8sec) while remaining smooth and quiet.

Your grin will fade, though, when you reach a corner. By SUV standards, the steering feels loose and disconnected from the front wheels; the Hyundai Santa Fe's precise, direct steering instils a lot more confidence when tackling tight city streets and narrow country lanes.