Top 10 Chinese Cars in the UAE

Abu Dhabi : Chinese automakers have gone from strength to strength over the past 10 to 15 years. Once the prowling grounds of established Japanese and premium German marques, the UAE has witnessed dozens of new car brands. While some become more popular than others, newcomers now set foot in the region completely unfazed – this was unthinkable just some years ago.

The wide gamut of viable options means that car buyers in the country are now spoilt for choice. No matter your budget or requirements, there are Chinese brands that’ll happily offer you a car meeting those criteria. Having covered a similar list for Saudi Arabia, it’s time we look at 10 Chinese cars in the UAE that are popular amongst the residents.

Geely Coolray

Built on the BMA platform, the Geely Coolray starts from around AED 75,000 in the UAE. Its sporty exuberance is evident on the outside and in the cabin thanks to the quad-exhaust pipes, highly-animated spoiler, suede-leather seats, and a striking red/black theme. Despite its relative affordability, the Coolray gets adaptive cruise control, auto-emergency braking, automatic high-beam, lane-keep assist, blind-spot detection, and an autonomous parking assistant.

The extensive feature set includes a powered tailgate, panoramic sunroof, ambient LED lighting, ventilated front seats, automatic AC, plus wireless phone charging. The Coolray also gets 6 airbags, TPMS, surround-view cameras, rain-sensing wipers, a 10.25-inch driver’s display, and a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay.

The new Coolray is powered by a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder with 172 hp and 290 Nm on tap. It has a 7-speed DCT that drives the front wheels and boasts a fuel economy of 17.8 kmpl or 5.6 L/100 km. There are four drive mode options: Sport, Comfort, Eco, and Adaptive. The top speed of the Geely Coolray is around 190 kmph and 0-100 kmph takes 7.6 seconds.

Haval H6

Priced from about AED 90,000, the Haval H6 is quite a handsome crossover SUV with clean lines and a modern exterior design. Its minimalistic and well-appointed interior looks premium and features decorative trim. It offers leather upholstery, heated & ventilated front seats, an 8-speaker audio, electrically-adjustable driver’s seat with memory & welcome functions, and dual-zone climate control.

There’s a panoramic sunroof, Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, wireless charging, automatic wipers & headlights, a 12.3-inch touchscreen, plus a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster. The safety tech of the H6 is like the Coolray but adds cross-traffic alert, traffic-sign recognition, traffic jam assist, driver attention alert, lane-change assist, and active lane-centring. It also gets 6 airbags, hill-hold & hill-descent control, an electronic parking brake with auto-hold, and a head-up display.

Apart from FWD and AWD versions, the Haval H6 features Standard, Sport, Eco, and Snow driving modes. Under the bonnet is a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine with 201 hp and 320 Nm of torque, and the gearbox on offer is a 7-speed DCT. Its fuel economy ranges between 13 kmpl (AWD) and 14.9 kmpl (FWD), while the top speed is 195 kmph.

Jetour X70 Plus

A hotchpotch of design ideas congregating at a 4.7-metre-long SUV, the Jetour X70 Plus starts at around AED 90,000. This midsize crossover arrived in the UAE in 2020 and shares its platform with the rarer but related Soueast S07. The X70 Plus stands out with its available 20-inch alloy wheels, quad tailpipes, panoramic sunroof, plus an upmarket cabin with a flat-bottom steering wheel and Mercedes-Benz-inspired seat controls and AC vents.

The two-tone, leather-wrapped interior boasts a Range Rover-inspired HVAC panel housing the automatic climate control system with an air-purification function. The X70 Plus gets a 7-colour LED ambient lighting system, heated & cooled front seats, a cooled & heated centre cubby, wireless charging, paddle shifters, an 8-speaker audio, front & rear USB ports, and Android Auto & Apple CarPlay. There’s a 7-seater version, too.

The digital real-estate comprises dual 10.25-inch screens, while a powered tailgate and split-folding rear seats boost practicality. The Jetour X70 Plus is equipped with adaptive LED headlamps, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, auto-emergency braking, blind-spot detection, lane-departure warning, lane-change assist, rear cross-traffic alert, etc. A 7-speed DCT is mated to a 1.6-litre turbo four-cylinder making 194 hp and 290 Nm, while the top speed is 185 kmph.

Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max

Based on the T1X platform, the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max can cost between AED 99,000 and AED 129,000. The midsize SUV is available as a 7-seater and offers buyers a plethora of modern safety systems. This includes 9 airbags, collision warning with emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning & mitigation, blind-spot & cross-traffic alert, door-open warning, auto high-beams, traffic jam assist, a built-in video recorder, etc.

The Tiggo 8 Pro Max features concierge/welcome lights, multicolour mood lighting, a 10-speaker Sony audio system, and dual 12.3-inch digital displays. There’s also leather upholstery, 50W wireless charging, a head-up display, powered & temperature-controlled front seats with memory, dual-zone climate control, plus a panoramic sunroof.

The Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max is powered by a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine that outputs 194 hp and 375 Nm. It averages 13.5 kmpl (7.3 L/100 km) and features 6 drive modes. It’s also equipped with a ZF AWD system and a 7-speed DCT – the top speed is around 190 kmph.

MG ZS EV

The first electric car on our list, the MG ZS EV was launched in the UAE at AED 105,000. This compact crossover sports a sleek but relatively-modest exterior design featuring LED headlights and 17-inch alloy wheels. Its brochure highlights V2L reverse charging capability, a panoramic sunroof, leatherette upholstery, wireless charging, a 7-inch digital cluster, a 10.1-inch touchscreen, four USB ports, and automatic climate control with air-purification & rear vents.

Like the other cars on this list, the ZS EV comes with ADAS. This means automatic high-beams, adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, forward collision warning & emergency braking, lane-departure prevention & mitigation, blind-spot alert, rear cross-traffic alert, etc. Adding to your peace of mind is a tyre-pressure monitoring system, an electronic parking brake with auto-hold, a reversing camera, and 6 airbags.

The MG ZS EV is available with a 51 kWh and 72 kWh battery packs in the UAE. These offer a maximum electric driving range of 295 km and 404 km, respectively. The single electric motor is designed primarily for efficiency, which means the ZS EV needs 8.5 seconds to hit 100 kmph. Meanwhile, its top speed is 175 kmph.

Jetour T2

Garnering popularity since its launch, the Jetour T2 starts at about AED 144,000, stretching to over AED 160,000 at the upper end. The steep price tag of this midsize SUV brings with an extensive warranty covering 10 years or 1-million kilometres. It’s based on Jetour’s Kunlun unibody architecture and offers a modern but rugged-looking design for the exterior and interior.

The T2 further offers an electrically-operated tailgate, functional roof rails, split-folding rear seats, and a panoramic sunroof. Its cabin features heated & cooled centre armrest, powered & ventilated front seats, tilt & telescopic steering adjustment, shift paddles, dual-zone climate control, wireless charging, and LED ambient lighting. Some of its other add-ons include 7 USB ports, a 15.6-inch infotainment system, a 10.25-inch driver’s display, plus a 12-speaker Sony sound system.

The SUV gets centre- & rear-locking differentials, hill-hold assist & hill-descent control, TPMS, Crawl Control, 360-degree cameras, four terrain modes, and three drive modes. Its safety tech encompasses E-Call, Remote Parking Assistance, ADAS, and EPB. Powering the Jetour T2 is 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine with 250 hp and 390 Nm of torque. It drives all four wheels via a 7-speed DCT, helping attain a top speed of 180 kmph.

BYD Atto 3

The BYD Atto 3 is a compact electric crossover SUV based on the e-Platform 3.0 architecture like the Dolphin. It’s priced at around AED 110,000 in the UAE and comes with an NFC keycard and powered tailgate. Its funky-looking interior is refreshing to see and sports unique design elements and high-quality materials.

The extensive equipment list entails faux-leather upholstery, multicolour & synchronised ambient lighting, plus a 12.8-inch touchscreen with portrait and landscapes modes. Meanwhile, wireless charging, Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, an 8-speaker audio, voice command recognition, automatic climate control, surround-view cameras, and heated ORVMs are standard kit. The Atto 3’s safety suite includes adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, blind-spot detection, automatic braking, rear cross-traffic alert & braking, and 7 airbags.

A front-mounted electric motor sources its power from a 60.48 kWh battery, delivering 201 hp and 310 Nm of torque. It allows the BYD Atto 3 to hit 100 kmph in 7.3 seconds, while the maximum quoted NEDC range is 480 km.

Changan CS75 Plus

The second-generation Changan CS75 Plus that’s sold in the UAE has a starting price of around AED 115,000. Sharing its underpinning with the Tiggo 8 Pro Max, this not-so-compact crossover SUV looks well-proportioned and hosts crisp lines and bold styling. It gets 19-inch alloy wheels, dual exhausts, a panoramic sunroof, and a two-tone interior with sporty-looking leather seats.

A couple of features worth highlighting include Auto Park with Key Remote Parking and Pilot Assist. The CS75 Plus further gets a powered tailgate, an 8-speaker Sony sound system, dual-zone climate control with rear vents, LED ambient lights, powered & cooled front seats, and a cool box. Then there’s a 12-inch infotainment screen and a fully-digital driver’s display.

Changan has also installed a head-up display, 360-degree cameras, 6 airbags, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-departure warning with lane-keep assist. These are supplemented by collision warning, auto-emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, traction control, hill-hold assist, and hill-descent control. The 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine of the Changan CS75 Plus produces 233 hp and 390 Nm. It drives the front wheels via an 8-speed automatic gearbox, with the top speed being 200 kmph.

GAC GS8

The new GAC GS8 is a full-size crossover SUV based on the GPMA-L platform. It’s one of the larger and pricier Chinese cars in the UAE, measuring over 5 metres long and starting at AED 158,900. Its bold and complex front fascia is matched to large 20-inch wheels and a no-nonsense boxy silhouette. The GS8 gets a powered tailgate, power-folding third-row seats, a lounge-style second-row seat, and premium leather upholstery.

There’s a panoramic sunroof, multi-zone climate control, a 14.6-inch touchscreen with smartphone connectivity, a 10-speaker audio system, wireless charging, power-folding ORVMs with memory, and LED ambient lighting. The safety tech includes surround-view cameras, front & rear parking sensors, a head-up display, and a whole set of ADAS features. The GS8 also comes with Automatic Parking Assist and up to six drive/terrain modes.

Under the bonnet of the GAC GS8 lies a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 248 hp and 400 Nm on tap. This unit is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission that can drive the front or all four wheels. The top speed of this 7-seat SUV is 200 kmph. There’s a new GS8 Hybrid model which is less powerful but promises 12.5 kmpl (8 L/100 km).

Hongqi E-HS9

The most expensive car on our list, the Hongqi E-HS9 is a full-size luxury SUV that tips the scales at 2.7 tonnes. It’s also fully electric and starts from a scarcely-believable AED 322,900 for the base variant! Capable of seating 6 or 7 occupants, the E-HS9 has a few design cues ‘borrowed’ from Cadillac and Rolls-Royce – imitation truly is the sincerest form of flattery.

To entice curious buyers, Hongqi has thrown every imaginable creature comfort at this car; listing them all will make this section longer than this whole article! Some of the interesting ones include 22-inch wheels, air suspension, Matrix LED headlights, pop-out door handles, rear privacy glass, four-zone climate control, massaging front seats, temperature-controlled second- & third-row seats, electrically-operated rear doors, etc.

Its humongous size and mass aside, this luxury EV offers almost every ADAS tech known to man – multiple airbags and electronic nannies are offered, too. The Hongqi E-HS9 is available with 84 kWh and 99 kWh battery packs, featuring two electric motors and all-wheel drive. The maximum claimed NEDC range is between 400-500 km. A combined dual-motor output of 543 hp means 0-100 kmph comes up in under 5 seconds.

Conclusion

From the shockingly expensive Hongqi E-HS9 to the affordable but practical Geely Coolray, there’s a Chinese car for every budget and requirement. Yes, some aren’t synonymous with long-term reliability or quality construction. However, some are proving themselves to be dependable and practical, and almost all are rich in features.