The Chinese 'Temu Range Rover' taking over the school run: Owners tell us why they love theirs so much as sales in Britain soar

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There's a new car with an unfamiliar badge that's become a common sight outside the school gates in 2025.

But while it might look like a swanky - and expensive - Range Rover, it's in fact a Chinese model that costs a fraction of the price of one of the British luxury SUVs.

The car in question? The £30,000 Jaecoo 7, which has already been dubbed the 'Temu Range Rover'.

The cars only went on sale in January as the debut model from the sub-brand of China's largest car exporter, Chery. The name Jaecoo is a mix of the German word 'jäger', meaning hunter, and 'cool'.

And it's already proving hugely popular - especially, it seems, among young mums who want the Range Rover look for half the money. This has seen it break into the UK's 10 best-selling new cars in the last three months. 

And it's not just that the Jaecoo 7 is flying out of dealerships; it's how vocal customers have been about their love for the car. 

Social media is already flooded with customers - usually women in their late 20s and early 30s - who claim to have ditched their aspirations of a Range Rover and turned to this cheap Chinese newcomer.

Daily Mail and This is Money has spoken to owners to find out why they've opted for a cheap Chinese equivalent. And, having driven the Jaecoo 7 ourselves, detail the five key reasons why we think it has stolen a march on the UK car market. 

Spotted on the streets: Jaecoo 7s are a frequent spot on the roads, with many mums taking to the wheel of their affordable SUVs for the school run

The numbers behind the Jaecoo 7's rapid rise

Jaecoo has confidently state that it has 'cemented its status as one of the fastest-growing and most in-demand automotive brands in the country'. And it's the 7 that's behind this rampant success.

Within a year of Jaecoo arrival, this mid-sized SUV has been among the 10 most-bought new cars in the months of August (sixth place with 1,367 sold), September (fourth with 6,469 sales) and October (sixth with 2,611 units).

And by the start of November, the new brand had sold over 20,000 Jaecoo 7s in Britain, which is more than any other model from a Chinese manufacturer, it tells us.

That's no small feat. 

Looking in more detail at its sales numbers, 58 per cent (12,383 of the total 21,385) Jaecoo 7 registrations so far this year have been private purchases. A further 517 (2.4 per cent) have been from people taking out private personal contract hire. 

The rest are made up of a mixture of dealer vehicles, business and fleet. 

However it's worth noting that only 54 registrations have been 'fleet rental' - a well-known tactic used by manufacturers - especially relative newcomers - to artificially inflate sales figures.

Alongside its sales success has come monumental demand. Online searches for the terms 'Jaecoo electric car' and 'Jaecoo 8 UK' have surged over 5,000 per cent in October, highlighting growing curiosity about this emerging brand. 

Despite only debuting in the UK this year, by the start of November the brand has sold over 20,000 7 SUVs in Britain 

Only 12 months after Jaecoo's UK launch, the Jaecoo 7 became the top-selling Chinese car in Britain. In September, it was the fourth best selling car

Almost three in five Jaecoo 7 registrations so far this year have been private sales, proving just how much the car is resonating with the public

Why mums love the 'Temu Range Rover' 

Daily Mail and This is Money spoke to new Jaecoo 7 owner, mum and influencer Olivia Mundy, who bought her car only a few weeks ago.

After she 'fell in love with it straight away', Olivia took to her 'First time mum' TikTok handle to share her favourite things about it in a video that's been viewed a staggering 676,000 times.

In fact, it was TikTok that first hooked her on the Jaecoo 7, along with seeing it online. 

'Once I looked into the features it had and saw one in person, I was sold,' she told This is Money.

'I love the look of a Range Rover, but it's not realistically in my budget, especially with mum life and everything else.

'With the Jaecoo, I felt like I was getting a premium car for a fraction of the cost'.

And Olivia thinks the plug-in hybrid 7 SHS [Super Hybrid System] is 'honestly the perfect car' for mums.

Chantel, who goes by Diaries of a Business Mum on TikTok and Instagram, tells us why she changed out a Range Rover Sport for the Jaecoo 7 SHS...

'The space, the boot size, the big screen, the safety features: it all works so well with having a little one.'

It was also very appealing for Olivia's mum life that the Jaecoo 7 is available in the SHS PHEV form. 

'I always wanted something to cheaper to run but without going fully electric. A plug-in hybrid feels like the perfect middle ground.' 

But while the practicalities were a big draw of the Jaecoo 7, it's something altogether sillier that Olivia says is her favourite feature: the karaoke machine. 

'Who wouldn't want a karaoke machine in their car?', she asks.

Despite ongoing reports of Government and defence-level concerns about the security of Chinese cars and a perceived perception of lower build quality, Olivia unequivocally told us she has no fears 'at all' that she's driving her family around in a motor made in East Asia.

'I think people are realising that a lot of the best electric and hybrid tech is coming from Chinese brands now. The build quality feels solid, and I wouldn't have bought it if I wasn't confident,' she adds.

'And I like that it's trending. It's fun seeing more people talk about it on TikTok and online. It feels like I got ahead of the trend. 

'I think [the Temu term] is funny! I get what people mean by it, it looks like a luxury car but without the luxury price. I don't take it negatively at all.'

One mum with a Jaceoo 7 (similar to this one pictured on the road this week), Chantel, told us that she bought the Chinese SUV to replace a far more expensive Range Rover Sport Autobiography as her family was looking to save money to put towards a property renovation 

Olivia Mundy says she's bought the Jaecoo 7 SHS plug-in hybrid (similar to the one pictured here). 'I always wanted something to cheaper to run but without going fully electric. A plug-in hybrid feels like the perfect middle ground,' she explained

Searches for the 'Jaecoo electric car' and 'Jaecoo 8 UK' have both surged over 5,000% in October

Another mum, Chantel, who goes by Diaries of a Business Mum on TikTok and Instagram, told us she swapped her pricey Range Rover Sport Autobiography for the Jaecoo 7.

After four years of having the Range Rover (her husband is a car guy who'd always wanted a Range Rover) they needed to save money as they were renovating a house. 

The Range Rover was 'so expensive to run and service, and monthly payments were expensive too', with the family already opting to shop it in. Then Chantel saw the Jaecoo on TikTok.

She said sees the Range Rover as the 'pre-kid car' - the motor for her husband to 'get out of his system' before starting a family. 

Speaking to This is Money, she explained: 'We have had our first child, a daughter, in the last year and priorities shift. You want to spend your money elsewhere, and we need more disposable income for things we want to do with her.'

For Chantel, the Jaecoo 7 then is the smart buy for 'any young family who needs to save money' and would recommend it to all young families.

Does she think it's an alternative to a Range Rover?

'The Jaecoo hasn't got the road presence of a Range Rover. People turn their head at a Range Rover. The Jaecoo - people are interested and think it is cool but it doesn't have the road presence.'

She adds: 'It isn't a side-by-side choice, but it is a great alternative. But you're not buying a Range Rover if you're buying a Jaecoo.'

What differences are there? Chantel says that the Jaecoo tech is 'just as good, if not better' than the Range Rover, though admits the British product 'feels like you're driving a proper car' whereas the Jaecoo 'feels very lightweight'.

But Chantel doesn't mind this if it means cheaper fuel bills: 'The Jaecoo only costs £60 to fill up and lasts forever, versus about £100 for the Range Rover.' 

Does it matter to Chantel that it's a Chinese car? 

Concerns about parts have been solved by knowing that their garage will give them a courtesy car, and the Jaecoo's warranty. As for people saying the car can be hacked, Chantel doesn't care.

'All you're going to see is how many times I got to the McDonald's drive thru in a week on the Sat Nav so I'm not bothered if they hack the screen.' 

We've driven the Jaecoo 7: Five reasons why we think it's so popular 

We drove the Jaecoo 7 SHS at the start of the year on a long range test drive from the Highlands of Scotland to the Lake District to put it through its paces.

Here are the top five reasons we think its proving such a sales hit among British drivers... 

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There's no denying the Jaecoo 7 (left) has quite a close resemblance to JLR's Range Rover Velar (right)

1. It looks like a Range Rover Velar... but is far cheaper 

The Jaecoo 7 looks very much like the Range Rover Velar - there's no denying that. So much so that there are online 'what's the difference?' tools to side by side compare the two motors.

The Jaecoo has the same curvy roofline, similar slim headlights, a chunky grille and pop-out door handles. Visually, it's only the 7's large and imposing waterfall grille that makes it really distinctive.

At the back, it's even tougher to tell the two cars apart. 

These similarities are not that surprising when you know that Chery and Jaguar Land Rover (now JLR) signed a letter of intent in 2012 to join in a 50:50 partnership to create EVs in China. 

But there's a stark difference in pricing between the two. While the entry Velar is £55,410, the Jaecoo's OTR starts from £30,115. While the base Range Rover Velar PHEV starts at the same price, the Jaecoo 7 SHS goes up £5,050, costing £35,165.

Thanks to its 'Super Hybrid System', the Jaecoo 7 SHS can eek out 745 miles of combined driving range from a full tank and battery

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2. Its Super Hybrid System offers insane one-tank range 

No-one wants high running costs, especially not with fuel prices close to reaching pre-pandemic record levels.

As Britons hunt for frugal family motoring, the Jaecoo 7 SHS's 745-mile range from its electrified drivetrain is - understandably - a very enticing option.

The 1.5-litre petrol engine is married with a 18.7kWh battery. Customers get 56 miles of EV-only range, so most of the weekly errand running or city/town driving can be completed without the use of the combustion engine. Charge one at home and it will save you lots of money over typical fuel costs.

In comparison, the Range Rover Velar PHEV has an EV-only range of just 30 miles.

And the Jaecoo 7 performs more like a self-charging hybrid because the SHS system is designed so the battery never fully depletes and will keep enough power to tap into electric mode when required. This makes it worry-free to drive.

The Jaecoo 7 range-topping 'Luxury' trim has a 14.8-inch central display, with fun features including a karaoke machine 

3. Luxe on a budget: all these interior features for a low price

The 7 has two trims: Deluxe and Luxury.

Both trims have the same exterior features: 19-inch cast aluminium alloy wheels, a full length [or 'fat' as TikTok mums are calling it] panoramic sunroof, LED daytime running lights, auto wipers, body coloured door handles, roof rails and privacy glass. 

Inside, the Deluxe you have a faux leather steering wheel and faux-leather black upholstery, comfort heated seats, adjustable steering column, dual zone air con and customisable ambient lighting. 

Luxury adds a head-up driver's display, anti-dazzle rear view mirror, an air purification system, cooled and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel.

Luxury trim owners get a driver's head-up display, anti-dazzle rear view mirror, an air purification system, cooled and ventilated welcome front seats, and a heated steering wheel

The panoramic roof is a standard option on both trims and makes the cabin light and airy. It's one of the features mums on TikTok are most keen on

The boot isn't the biggest: The petrol Jaecoo 7 has a 500-litre boot but the PHEV only has 412 litres. However both have an automatic tailgate 

Tech-wise, the Deluxe has a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and 13.2-inch central infotainment system, wireless charging and a six-speaker audio system. 

Upgrade to Luxury and the central screen ups to 14.8 inches and customers gain a 540-degree panoramic transparent view camera and an eight-speaker Sony system. 

Apple CarPlay is standard across the line-up, too. 

The petrol has a 500-litre boot but the PHEV - with its underfloor battery - has only 412 litres. However, both have an automatic tailgate. 

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4. Jaecoo isn't aimed at the Chinese market 

Jaecoo, as with its sister brand Omoda, is sold exclusively outside of China and is therefore tailored to European customers.

It is self positioned as a luxury premium option but wants to challenge the likes of Audi, BMW and JLR. It's pitching to the same fashion-focused, urban elite buyers, but is undercutting all three when it comes to price.

Jaecoo says it is 'offering class-leading automotive technology with a design-led, luxury focus, combining heritage with technology to embody the ethos of 'From Classic, Beyond Classic' and create a new era of SUVs'.

5. It has rapidly built its UK presence 

This month, Omoda & Jaecoo UK celebrated the opening of their 91st franchised UK dealership. That's some upscaling in a matter of months.

This strategic investment in its retail network will see it reach 100 showrooms before the year is out.

It has also partnered cleverly - in particular with DHL Supply Chain to provide parts deliveries to ensure its aftersales and service support is robust.

A new manufacturer cannot afford to have stock shortages or delays, and leave customers unable to have their cars mended quickly or increase the cost. 

We've yet to see long term how aftersales, customer services and repairs are handled, but there's the right intent so far.