By ROB HULL, MOTORING EDITOR and FRANCINE WOLFISZ, NEWS REPORTER
The brand that produces Britain's most popular Chinese car has unveiled its new flagship alternative to a Range Rover - though for around only a third of the price.
The Jaecoo 8 SHS-P, which uses the car maker's popular 'super hybrid' petrol-electric system, offers drivers an impressive full-tank range of 700 miles and - for the first time ever - seating for up to seven passengers.
It is available in two configurations: the 'Luxury' option can transport seven passengers while the 'Executive' choice reduces seating to six to provides more space and comfier seating for customers who prefer to be driven rather than drive themselves.
Offering plush cabin materials, massage chairs and loads of gadgets, the manufacturer says it is aimed at 'larger families to professional drivers and anyone in between'.
Starting from £45,500, the lookalike SUV is a snip of the price of the least expensive seven-seat Range Rover, which rings in at over £120k.
It is the third model from Jaecoo - which is the sister brand to Omoda and Chery, both of which are also on sale in Britain - and will arrive in UK showrooms in May.
The 8's unveiling comes just days after thousands of the smaller Jaecoo 7 - the motor dubbed by social media mums as the 'Temu Range Rover' - were recalled due to a fault with a wiring harness clip.
Jaecoo - the Chinese car maker that's already incredibly popular in Britain - has unveiled a flagship Range Rover lookalike with up to 7 seats - though for around only a third of the price
Jaecoo has become extremely popular in Britain, despite having only launched its first car here in January 2025.
The 7 was the car most purchased by private buyers in the 12-month period from its debut, topped the UK sales charts in the first month of this year, and is the third best-selling new model of 2026 so far.
In its debut year, it shifted a total of 28,232 vehicles, making it the fastest-growing mainstream automotive brand in a decade.
In 2026, it is Britain's 16th most popular new car brand, overtaking established names like Volvo, Mini, Mazda, Citroen and Tesla. It also outsells Chinese rival BYD.
Looking to build on this monumental success is the arrival of the 8, which is the first Jaecoo to provide three rows of seating - but with different customers in mind.
Auspicious by name, the number 8 is strongly linked to 'prosperity, progress and good fortune' in Chinese culture, making it the ideal model to become its flagship product.
Prices for Jaecoo's range-topping 8 start from £45,500. For a comparable seven-seat Range Rover, you'd have to pay north of £120k
All versions come with its latest plug-in hybrid system, which marries a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor to put out a combined 422bhp.
Power is sent to all four wheels via a three-speed automatic gearbox, generating 520Nm of torque - effectively meaning lots of power at low engine revs.
As such, it can accelerate from 0 to 62mph in just 5.8 seconds, yet has CO2 emissions of just 14 g/km; this means low first-year 'showroom' tax rates for private buyers and an affordable company car tax option.
Drivers can keep the car in EV-only mode for up to 83 miles before the battery runs out and the vehicle switches entirely to combustion power.
The total range of the two power supplies combined is 'over 700 miles'. That's almost driving from London to Munich without needing to stop for fuel or charge.
The car's electric battery accepts DC fast-charge up to 40kW - this means the battery can be upped from 30 to 80 per cent in around 20 minutes.
It also features 6.6 kW 'vehicle-to-load' functionality, meaning owners can plug conventional household appliances into the battery charging port (using an adapter) when they're staying away from home or on camping holidays.
While we expect few - if any - customers to ever take a Jaecoo 8 off-road, the Chinese maker has installed lockable differentials and adaptive terrain response for those who do end up venturing away from the tarmac.
The Luxury version (left) has seven seats in total with three across the second row and two that fold out of the boot. Executive (right) has two large 'captain's chairs' in the second row
The arm chairs in the pricier Executive are heated, ventilated and feature five massage functions. They too have headrest speakers allowing passengers to tune into their own music
The seven-seat SHS-P Luxury is the cheapest variant, starting from £45,500. It targets larger families looking for 'generous room for passengers, prams, and luggage' and a motor that can cope with everything from school runs to family trips.
While sharing similar dimensions, two-tone paint options and boxy styling with the Range Rover, It is a fraction of the price of its least expensive seven-seater, which is the £120,055 HSE Long Wheel Base.
For an extra £2,000, the £47,500 Executive version is designed to 'appeal to those who prioritise passenger comfort and a more premium rear-seat experience' or to luxury taxi fleets.
Four Nappa leather 'captain's chairs' - two in the front and just two in the rear - are heated, ventilated, have five massage options and headrest speakers allowing passengers to tune into their own music, podcasts and radio stations.
The rear seats have extendable footrests and the ability to recline into a relaxed position.
But it's the front passenger seat where comfort levels are greatest.
The Executive model's front passenger chair boasts 123-degree adjustable angle and even has a dedicated 'Boss Button' that increases leg room
The model is also auspicious by name - with 8 linked to 'prosperity, progress and good fortune' in Chinese culture
The chair is a 'zero-gravity' seat with a 123-degree adjustable angle and a dedicated 'Boss Button' that increases leg room.
If there is a need to transport more people, the Executive spec offers two addition seats that fold out of the boot compartment.
With the third row of seats not in use, the Jaecoo 8 provides a van-like boot capacity of up to 2,021 litres. However, with all chairs occupied, the capacity shrinks dramatically but still provides enough space for a fortnight grocery haul or three medium-sized suitcases.
Victor Zhang, UK country director at Jaecoo, said: 'As our flagship, and the halo model for us here in the UK, it plays a key role in showcasing what Jaecoo stands for, bringing together our approach to modern design, advanced hybrid technology and genuine all-road capability in a way that feels both premium and highly usable.
'We’re starting 2026 as we mean to go on; building on an exceptional first year in the UK with a model that demonstrates the confidence we have in our product, our technology, and our brand.'
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