Chinese electric cars have burst onto the UK market, and British customers appear to be genuinely wowed by the new models. Last week, Chinese electric carmaker BYD admitted it had achieved 880% year-on-year growth in the UK market, with 11,271 cars sold last month alone.
It comes after polls revealed that at least 7 in 10 motorists in the UK would at least consider a Chinese model as their next car. Price is certainly one of the biggest selling points, with cars built by Chinese firms thousands of pounds lower than traditional Western brands. Here the Express takes a look at the top five cheapest models, with road users able to get beyond the wheel of a new car with a humble budget.
The Dogood Zero – £4,995
This is the UK’s most affordable electric car, with motorists able to secure this plucky model for just under £5,000. The model can only reach a top speed of 28mph and has a range of just 50 miles, but could be ideal as a city centre run around.
What’s more, motorists don’t even require a driving licence, with road users able to enjoy the model on a moped or quadricycle licence.
Leapmotor T03 – from £15,995
Leapmotor could soon be a major challenger in the UK with plans for new model ranges and a dealer network across the country. The T03 is its first foray into the UK market, with the compact electric city car one of the most affordable around.
The T03 is fitted with a 37.3 kWh battery, allowing for a range of up to 165 miles on one charge.
BYD Dolphin Surf – £17,995
BYD feels like it’s the first Chinese brand to really become mainstream in 2025 with sales figures booming. The Dolphin Surf sells itself as a “compact electric car that’s built for the city”, and it’s easy to see why.
The model looks stylish and fun, is packed with tech and boasts an impressive range of 200 miles.
GWM Ora 03 – from £24,995
It seems modern electric cars have a style problem, with manufacturers offering similar, almost copy-and-paste designs. But, GWM is the exception.
The creative front headlights pop out the front of the Ora 03, making it one of the most unique electric cars on the market. The model’s retro-futuristic styling is funky and will draw interest, while a 48kWh battery offers an official 193 miles of range.
MG4 – from £27,245
In the not-too-distant past, MG was a British manufacturer with a base in Abingdon, Oxfordshire. However, the company was taken over by Chinese firm SAIC in 2007 with the brand now producing stylish and affordable electric cars.
The base MG4 packs launch compared to others on the list, with a top speed of 100mph and a 0-60mph time of just 7.5 seconds.