A year ago, hardly anyone in the UK had heard of Jaecoo.
Fast-forward to now and its first-ever model, the Jaecoo 7, has quietly pulled off something no new brand has managed in years: it’s become the most popular new car bought by private buyers in Britain.
Not fleet deals, not company cars — real people putting their own money down.
Often dubbed the “Temu Range Rover” online, the Jaecoo 7 has wrapped up its debut year with more than 30,000 private sales, an astonishing result for a car that only arrived in showrooms in January 2025.
What ‘Private Buyers’ Really Means — And Why It Matters
In car industry terms, private buyers are the gold standard.
These are drivers who choose and pay for their own vehicles, rather than cars registered through leasing firms or businesses.
When private buyers vote with their wallets, it usually signals genuine popularity, not just clever corporate deals.
That’s what makes the Jaecoo 7’s rise so striking.
Out of more than 33,000 total UK registrations in its first year, the vast majority went straight to everyday motorists — many of them families.
Half the Price, Same Road Presence
There’s no dodging the obvious reason behind the hype: money.
The Jaecoo 7 starts at £30,115, undercutting the Range Rover Velar it’s constantly compared to by tens of thousands of pounds.
From the outside, it delivers the upright stance, chunky proportions and premium look many buyers want — without the premium invoice.
On social media, especially TikTok, that visual similarity has turned into free advertising, with school-run mums proudly embracing the bargain-luxury vibe.
The Hybrid Tech That Sealed the Deal
Looks alone don’t sell 30,000 cars.
Under the bonnet, Jaecoo’s Super Hybrid System has played a huge role in winning people over.
The plug-in hybrid version, priced from £35,165, pairs a 1.5-litre petrol engine with an 18.7kWh battery.
The result is a claimed 745-mile combined range and up to 56 miles of electric-only driving — nearly double what the far pricier Velar PHEV can manage.
For many owners, that means weekday errands and school runs can be done without burning petrol at all.
Why Owners Say It’s Cheaper to Live With
One clever detail is how the hybrid system behaves.
Unlike some plug-in hybrids that go flat and stay flat, Jaecoo’s setup is designed to hold back enough charge to dip into electric driving when it matters most.
That’s helped keep running costs low, something owners talk about endlessly online.
Chantel, a mum who swapped her Range Rover for a Jaecoo 7, says the difference is dramatic.
Filling the Jaecoo costs her around £60, compared with roughly £100 in her old car — and it lasts far longer between stops.
It’s no surprise, then, that seven in ten Jaecoo 7 buyers opted for the hybrid last year.
A Brand That Grew at Record Speed
Jaecoo itself is part of a much bigger story.
Owned by Chinese automotive giant Chery, the brand arrived in Britain just 12 months ago and has already become the fastest-growing mainstream carmaker the UK has seen in a decade.
January alone saw nearly 5,000 Jaecoo registrations, while sister brand Omoda helped push the wider group’s market share close to five per cent as 2026 kicked off.
New models, including the smaller Jaecoo 5 and fully electric E5, were rolled out last year to give buyers more powertrain choices — petrol, hybrid or fully electric, depending on what suits them.
What Jaecoo Says About Its Sudden Success
Gary Lan, CEO of Jaecoo UK, believes the first year has been about earning trust rather than chasing hype.
He says the focus has been on value, choice and dependable support, especially for private buyers.
According to Lan, strong early sales are just the start, with continued investment planned in dealerships, aftersales care and new models to keep momentum going.
Why Mums Have Fully Claimed the ‘Temu Range Rover’
Behind the sales figures are stories that keep repeating themselves.
Many owners talk about wanting something that looks premium but fits real-life budgets.
Influencer and mum Olivia Mundy says TikTok first put the Jaecoo 7 on her radar.
Seeing it in person sealed the deal.
She loved the Range Rover look but knew it didn’t make financial sense for her stage of life.
For her, the Jaecoo felt like a premium car without the financial stress.
Space, boot size, safety tech and a huge screen all ticked the family boxes — and the plug-in hybrid setup meant lower running costs without going fully electric.
Her favourite feature, though, is less sensible: the built-in karaoke system.
She laughs off the “Temu” nickname, seeing it as part of the car’s charm rather than an insult.
From Pre-Kid Luxury to Post-Kid Practicality
Chantel’s story follows a similar arc.
She and her husband ran a Range Rover Sport Autobiography for years, but once a house renovation and a baby arrived, priorities changed fast.
The Range Rover became too expensive to justify — servicing, fuel and monthly payments all added up.
Discovering the Jaecoo 7 online gave them a way to cut costs without sacrificing comfort or style.
For her, the Jaecoo is the sensible choice for young families who want breathing room in their budgets.
If it means cheaper fuel bills and fewer financial headaches, she’s happy to embrace the knock-off jokes.
The Bigger Picture for British Car Buyers
The Jaecoo 7’s first year says a lot about where the UK market is heading.
Buyers want choice, sensible running costs and a bit of style — but they’re no longer willing to overpay for a badge.
If a brand-new name can outsell established rivals in just 12 months, it’s a clear signal that value-led newcomers aren’t just passing trends.
They’re reshaping what British drivers expect from a new car.
