Six of the best

Jaecoo J7 PHEV

While much of the Chinese new model action in 2025 will be EVs, at least one new brand, Jaecoo, is hanging its launch hat on a plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) model.

The Jaecoo J7 is a stylish-looking mid-sized SUV that will be offered with the choice of a turbocharged petrol four-cylinder engine or what Jaecoo calls its Super Hybrid System (SHS), otherwise known as a PHEV.

The J7 PHEV combines a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with a battery and an electric motor, with the combination claimed to deliver up to 90km of battery electric range and 1,200km of combined-cycle range.

Among the J7’s generous list of standard features are power-adjustable front seats, a 14.8-inch vertically oriented touchscreen, an electric tailgate, 360-degree panoramic camera, wireless smartphone charging, 19-inch alloy wheels, LED headlamps, and eight airbags (including a driver’s knee airbag).

The Jaecoo brand made its global debut at Auto Shanghai in 2023 where it was launched as a sub-division of Chery International.

Chery itself was re-established in Australia in 2023 after an initial unsuccessful foray here between 2011 and 2015, and last year sold 12,603 vehicles across its four model lines.

Zeekr X

Chinese luxury EV brand Zeekr made landfall in Australia late last year but 2025 will be its first full year in operation here.

Headlining the brand’s offering is the Zeekr X, a compact electric SUV midway between the size of a Toyota RAV4 and Hyundai Kona.

That makes it slightly smaller than the Tesla Model Y which it competes against, along with rival Chinese EVs and offerings from Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz.

Founded in 2021 and owned by Geely Automobile Holdings, Zeekr boasts a strong European flavour in its design, even referencing its state-of-the-art design centre in Gothenburg, Sweden. That’s a clear pointer to Geely-owned Volvo, with the Zeekr X reportedly based on the same platform as the Swedish brand’s EX30.

The attractive exterior design features modern strip-style LED headlights and taillights, recessed door handles and a floating black roof. Inside, occupants are treated to a tastefully designed minimalist interior with a 14.6-inch central touchscreen, and 8.8-inch digital driver display.

The Zeekr X comes in Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive or Privilege AWD variants, with the former costing $56,900, and delivering outputs of 200kW/343Nm with 446km of range, and the latter costing $64,900 and punching out 315kW/543Nm, with a driving range of 425km.

JAC T9

Commercial vehicle specialist JAC is another Chinese brand that established a foothold here last year and which has plans to expand in 2025.

Already known in the bus and electric truck market, JAC opened the order books for its T9 dual-cab 4x4 ute in August last year, with the first customer deliveries in December.

Boasting typical slab-sided, high-riding looks, with 18-inch alloy wheels and side steps complemented by wheel arch flares and bold J-A-C lettering on the tailgate, the T9 is powered by a conventional 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel engine producing 125kW/410Nm and driving through an eight-speed automatic transmission, with a part-time dual-range system.

The JAC’s pricing is anything but conventional, however, with the entry-level Oasis starting at a highly competitive $42,662, rising to $45,630 for the top-of-the-line Haven.

JAC local distributor LTS Auto is reported to have committed more than $40 million to set up the Australian team and aftersales support, with sales and servicing through a 50-strong dealership network.

The budget-friendly ute also comes with a five-star ANCAP safety rating and a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.

Deepal S07

If you’ve never heard of Deepal, you’re likely in good company as it’s still largely unknown here but the electric vehicle brand is part of Changan Automobile, one of the four major Chinese automobile groups.

Changan recently appointed leading automotive distributor Inchcape as its Australian partner for Deepal, which launches with a single variant of its all-electric S07.

An SUV that’s similar in size to the Tesla Model Y, the S07 features rakish exterior styling and generous interior accommodation for up to five adults, including a large boot and a front trunk.

It also comes fully loaded with standard kit including a 15.6-inch central infotainment screen, head-up display, 360-degree camera, wireless phone charger, heated steering wheel, panoramic sunroof, and a 14-speaker Sony sound system.

Safety is top shelf too, with a recently awarded five-star ANCAP safety rating.

Powered by a rear-mounted electric motor with outputs of 160kW/320Nm, the S07’s 0–100km/h acceleration time of 7.9 seconds won’t frighten a Tesla driver but is still decently quick by ICE standards.

Right now, there’s just a handful of Deepal dealerships operating in Sydney and Melbourne but that’s expected to grow as the brand expands and adds new models.

Leapmotor C10

Another freshly arrived challenger for the EV market-leading Tesla Model Y is this mid-size electric SUV that’s hailed as manufacturer Leapmotor’s first global product.

A relative newcomer to even the Chinese automotive market, Leapmotor was only founded in 2015 and launched its first vehicle in 2019. Among the company’s claim to fame is its high level of vertical integration which sees more than 70% of the value of its vehicles produced in-house, including EV batteries and its own integrated vehicle architecture.

Last year, Leapmotor signed a deal with global automotive conglomerate Stellantis, granting it the exclusive right to sell and manufacture Leapmotor products outside China. In Australia Stellantis is best known as the importer and distributor of brands including Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, and Jeep.

Leapmotor’s first Australian vehicle, the  C10, is available in two well-equipped variants, the Style ($45,888) and Design ($49,888), both featuring the same 69.9kWh battery and single-electric motor with outputs of 160kW/320Nm.

Both models feature a 14.6-inch high-definition central display and a 10.25-inch driver instrument display, with a roomy interior and generous 581 litres of cargo space.

Leapmotor launches with 12 sales, service and parts dealerships in mainland Australia, including two in South East Queensland.

XPeng G6

Established in its home market around a decade ago, XPeng is another Chinese brand looking to spread it wings and influence.

The first fruit of its export ambitions for this country is the G6, a medium SUV that targets the Tesla Model Y.

It’s offered here in two variants, the Standard Range with a 66kWh battery which costs $54,800 (MRLP) and the Long Range which gets a larger 87.5kWh battery and dual electric motors for $59,800.

Featuring an attractive fastback-style body with full-length glass roof and flush-fit door hands, the XPeng G6 offers an impressively spacious and contemporary interior, complete with the obligatory 15-inch central screen and a 10.2-inch digital dash.

Elsewhere, the interior of the top-grade model features heated synthetic-leather seats and an impressive 18-speaker sound system with headrest-mounted speakers.

Rear-seat accommodation is impressively roomy in both variants and it’s backed by a generous 571-litre boot.

Additional models in the pipeline from XPeng include the larger G9 SUV and the X9 people mover. XPeng has launched without traditional bricks-and-mortar dealerships but has ‘Experience Centres’ in Sydney, Wollongong and Melbourne, with sites in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast listed as ‘coming soon.’ Servicing is via Ultratune outlets Australia-wide.