Jaecoo J7 SHS PHEV

FIRST DRIVE Chinese brand's premium SUV employs some clever tech, but is still found wanting in a few critical areas

- Ellis Hyde

AEX JAECOO is the latest in a wave of Chinese brands that have made their way to the UK. It's owned by Chery, which has been the country's biggest car exporter for the past 20 years or so, and also owns Omoda, which launched here last summer with a philosophy of 'affordable premium'.

Jaecoo, meanwhile, is pitched as the generally more upmarket marque. Its cars have a more rugged appearance and the brand is attempting to go after the likes of the Audi Q3, BMW X1 and MINI Countryman with its first offering, the Jaecoo 7.

Prices start from £29,435 for the entry-level, front-wheel-drive petrol model, stretching to £35,065 for the range-topping, plug-in hybrid version we're driving here. It's officially named the Jaecoo 7 SHS, which stands for 'Super Hybrid System.

On the plus side, the 7's pricing undercuts the Audi and BMW, which both start from around £36,000 - although our current class favourite, the MINI, also starts from £29,000. But a big concern for the 7 has to be that countless other, more established SUVs are available for similar money, from the value-focused MG HS, to the more practical Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage.