Temu Range Rover takeover: Jaecoo 7 is Britain's best-selling new car in September as Chinese brands run riot

The Jaecoo 7, commonly referred to as the 'Temu Range Rover', has topped the new-car sales charts for the second time in 2026 as Chinese brands continue to increase their presence in Britain.The 7 SUV, which earned its nickname due to its resemblance to the Range Rover Velar while costing around half the price, secured 10,813 deliveries in the bumper sales month of September, more than any other new model, industry data shows.It marks a pivotal moment for the UK's car market, with the Jaecoo 7 having also been the most popular new model in March.March and September are traditionally the busiest months of the year for new-car registrations due to the arrival of updated number-plate identifiers, most recently the new '76' plate. Manufacturers typically launch their strongest offers during these periods to encourage customers to place orders.This results in a significant uplift in private-buyer sales, which is why these months are considered the best indicators of which models are proving most popular in the UK.By topping the sales charts in both of these key months, the Jaecoo 7's success sends a clear signal that Britons are increasingly turning away from the established European brands that have dominated the market for decades.That's despite the car having a somewhat patchy reliability record, according to owners.In the latest What Car? reliability survey of 40,000 UK drivers, the Jaecoo 7, which first went on sale in late 2024, was ranked the sixth least dependable model overall. Temu Range Rover: The Jaecoo 7 topped the new car sales chart last month - as it also did in March. Latest registrations figures show Chinese cars are taking over the UK market The Jaecoo 7 SUV, which earned its Temu Range Rover nickname due to its resemblance to the Range Rover Velar while costing around half the price, secured 10,813 deliveries last monthThe Jaecoo 7 beat the Tesla Model 3 to the top of the registrations table, according to preliminary figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) on Friday morning.The cheapest vehicle in Elon Musk's electric-car range recorded 9,929 registrations last month, boosted largely by a fresh shipment of vehicles arriving from the factory.In third place was the Ford Puma, Britain's best-selling new car for the past three years.Some 6,958 Pumas were delivered last month, taking its year-to-date total to 42,926 registrations.However, the Jaecoo 7 has significantly closed the gap, with its 2026 tally reaching 39,473 units.Unrelenting popularity of Chinese cars While the MG HS was the only other Chinese model to break into September's top ten best-sellers, ranking eighth with 5,444 registrations, the data underlines the relentless rise of Chinese brands in Britain.The preliminary figures, which are due to be rubber-stamped on Monday, suggest Chinese manufacturers accounted for 23 per cent of all new-car deliveries in September.BYD became the UK's second best-selling brand, recording 20,140 registrations and overtaking Kia, which posted 18,399 sales last month.Volkswagen remains the nation's favourite manufacturer, with 25,972 registrations in September.The data also highlights a number of casualties among established car makers as a result of the dramatic rise in Chinese vehicle sales.Hyundai registrations fell by 32 per cent compared with September 2025, dropping to 10,002 sales.Renault sold just 6,721 new cars in Britain last month, down almost 30 per cent year on year.Even Ford took a sizable hit: its 11,917 registrations were down 27 per cent on a year ago.The Jaecoo 7 might be a sales success but owners have been complaining about reliability issues We put pressure on Jaecoo to upgrade its warranty after we discovered that some parts - like the infotainment screen - were not covered for the full 7-year, 100k-mile periodThe Temu Range Rover isn't without its problemsThe Jaecoo 7 may be a Chinese sales sensation but its reliability record is far less impressive than its sales figures.The SUV recently featured on What Car?'s list of the most unreliable newer models due to the volume of reported faults and customer complaints about lengthy repair times.As a result, it achieved a reliability rating of just 71.9 per cent, the sixth lowest score among the 225 cars ranked.Reported faults ranged from non-engine electrical systems and infotainment issues to battery-related problems and even bodywork defects.Around 30 per cent of Jaecoo 7 owners surveyed by What Car? said their SUV had suffered a fault, with almost two-thirds of those issues taking more than a week to resolve.Its low reliability score was also affected by reports from owners who said they were left to cover repair costs themselves due to gaps in warranty coverage.Pressure from the Daily Mail and This is Money earlier this year prompted Jaecoo to improve its warranty terms, extending coverage to more components – including faulty infotainment screens – for the full seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty period.Its parent company, Chery, which also owns Omoda and Lepas, has committed to expanding its parts distribution network in response to soaring demand and to help reduce repair times for customers. Victor Zhang, managing director of Jaecoo UKCommenting on the September sales results, Victor Zhang, managing director of Jaecoo UK, said the results show the manufacturer is 'no longer a newcomer' in Britain.But he said the objective is now to 'turn rapid growth into lasting strength'. He added: 'That means continuing to broaden our range and technology, while investing in the retailer network, warranty and aftersales support that a fast-growing community of owners deserves.'Chery Group recently opened an R&D facility at the UTAC Millbrook proving ground in Bedfordshire to help develop vehicles better suited to the UK market.Earlier this year, the company also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Nissan to utilise its second assembly line at the Sunderland factory to build vehicles for British customers. The 350,518 new cars registered last month is the most in a September month since 2017, SMMT data shows EV sales soar as diesel demand rises too despite £2-a-litre fuelTotal registrations last month reached 350,518 units, representing a 12.7 per cent increase on September 2025 and the best performance in a decade.Highlighting the growing popularity of Chinese brands, plug-in hybrid sales surged by 55.7 per cent to 59,563 vehicles, with models such as the Jaecoo 7 and BYD Seal U among the most popular choices.Registrations of battery-electric vehicles also rose sharply.A record 99,199 EVs were delivered in September, equivalent to almost five cars every minute. That was up 36.3 per cent year on year and gave electric cars a 28.3 per cent share of the new-car market.However, this remains below the 33 per cent market-share target required under the Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate for 2026, although those targets are widely expected to be relaxed following a government consultation this month. Manufacturers sold a record volume of EVs last month. Diesel sales also grew by 11.5%, despite the fact average UK fuel prices have teetered over £2 a litreMike Hawes, chief executive of the SMMT, described September's record EV performance as a 'major achievement'.He said it showed that 'drivers are increasingly embracing the growing choice of models available', though he cautioned that high fuel prices are 'also undoubtedly giving more consumers reason to consider going electric'.Petrol cars remain the most popular choice among British buyers, accounting for 131,861 registrations in September. However, this represents a decline of 6.7 per cent compared with the same month last year.Most surprising of all was the increase in diesel sales, which rose by 11.5 per cent despite rapidly rising fuel costs. This comes as the average UK diesel price moved above £2 per litre for the first time on record this week following ongoing tensions between the US and Iran. CARS & MOTORING: ON TEST