5 cheap Chinese copies of the best European SUVs

The resemblance between these Chinese SUVs and their European counterparts is truly striking.

Chinese copies based on the most successful European SUVs have been all the rage in recent years. Some are particularly blatant, as we can see in the following list:

1. Hanteng EV – Jaguar F-Pace

The Hanteng EV was recently unveiled at the Shanghai Motor Show. It is an electric crossover whose dimensions and appearance are virtually identical to those of an Jaguar F-Pace. This SUV features an electric motor producing 129 CV and 260 Nm of torque. We don’t know its range, but we do know its top speed is 140 km/h.

2. Landwind X7 – Range Rover Evoque

This is probably one of the most blatant copies in automotive history. The Landwind X7 is an identical copy of the Range Rover Evoque, which is why the British brand took legal action to halt sales of this Chinese model, which received its last update at the end of 2017. Unfortunately for Land Rover, the legal action taken to torpedo this Asian model did not bear fruit.

It’s worth noting that the Landwind X7 costs three times less than an Range Rover Evoque (from 32,800 €). They may look the same on the outside, but the chassis, mechanics and finish of these two models clearly have nothing in common.

3. K-ONE – Mercedes GLA

The K-ONE is an electric SUV of Chinese origin that features an electric motor producing 128 CV. Its resemblance to the Mercedes GLA is more than evident, especially when looking at the front and side of the car. This Asian SUV is sized more like a Renault Captur or a Nissan Juke than the car it attempts to imitate, although its weight (1,400 kg) is identical to that of a Mercedes GLA with the 1.6 petrol engine. This car is intended for urban use, since its top speed is only 102 km/h.

4. Zotye SR9 – Porsche Macan

The Zotye SR9 is a Chinese SUV that could easily be mistaken for the Porsche Macan, but if we look at the price of each, it’s hard to get confused: the Chinese model costs just 13,000 euros, almost six times less than a standard Macan (62,204 €). The Zotye SR9 has a 190 CV petrol engine, which makes it one of the SUVs with the best price-to-power ratio on the market, although logically it leaves a lot to be desired in many other respects.

5. Zotye T700

The Zotye T700 is a Chinese copy of several models. At the front we could say it resembles a Audi Q5, in profile we can see the line of the Range Rover, while the rear would be more like an Evoque. Production of this model began at the end of 2017. This SUV is available with three petrol engines: 1.8 Turbo with 177 CV, 2.0 Turbo with 190 CV and 2.0 Turbo with 220 CV. This model starts at around 20,000 euros.