Top 5 Chinese SUVs we don't get

As Chinese carmakers continue to push into the local market, we've become familiar with names like BYD, GWM Haval, LDV, and MG. As well as the increasingly popular SUVs they offer, like the Atto 3, H6, D90 and ZS.

But have you heard of the Fanfei R7, Xiaopeng G9, Weilai ES7, or Ovita 11? How about the Changan CS75, Hongqi HS5, Jietu X70, and Beijin BJ80?

Not registering? No surprise, because there are tons of well-equipped, high-tech, family-friendly SUVs produced in China that never see the light of day outside their domestic market.

Could some of them succeed in Australia? Here are five we think would do well.

Avita Avatr II

Avita is a joint venture between Changan Automobile, Huawei, and battery specialist CATL. Its current hero product, launched less than 12 months ago, is the Avatr II, a twin-motor, AWD, four- and five-seat premium EV SUV.

At just under 4.9m long, close to 2.0m wide, and 1.6m tall, its proportions are close to those of the BMW X5 and Merc GLE. And yes, the name is a derivative of avatar, although it's not clear whether James Cameron is involved with this blockbuster.

With a motor on each axle, producing a combined 425kW/650Nm, its makers claim the roughly 2.3-tonne five-door will accelerate from 0-100km/h in a fraction under four seconds. Although the lavishly equipped, four-seat flagship model, dripping in Nappa leather, and featuring multiple glass roof panels plus a bigger battery, lags at only 4.5sec.

Huawei brings its smarts to the table in the form of sleek, customisable media and instrument interfaces, as well as a 200kW high-voltage charging system, plus a stunning safety-assist array consisting of three lidar units, six millimetre-wave radars, 12 ultrasonic radars and no less than 13 cameras.

The standard 90kWh battery delivers a claimed range of 555km, while the top-shelf model's 116kWh pack increases that to 680km.

Prices in China range from 349,900-409,900 Yuan, which at the time of writing, on a direct currency conversion, equates to around $74,800 - $87,600.

Zhiji LS7

Chinese auto giant SAIC launched its premium all-electric Zhiji brand just over two years ago. So no, for all you V8 nerds, this car doesn't feature a 7.0L GM small block.

Unveiled at the Guangzhou motor show in late 2022, the LS7 is in fact the brand's first SUV, the large-medium five-seater scheduled to hit showrooms in mid-February, with pre-order pricing ranging from 350,000 to 500,000 Yuan. At the time of writing, on a direct currency conversion, those numbers equate to $74,500 and $106,000.

At over five metres long, the LS7 is a large/medium SUV available in single motor (250kW) rear-wheel drive and dual-motor (425kW/700Nm) all-wheel drive form. Claimed 0-100km/h acceleration for the latter is just 4.5sec, and range is set at 660km.

Its super slippery design (Cd 0.27) features a huge windscreen (Zhiji calls it the "Star Fall ice-feeling front dome") offering 106 degrees of vertical vision.

With only five seats sitting within a more than 3.0-metre wheelbase there's plenty of space and flexibility, with the front passenger seat able to be lowered completely flat and connected with the rear seats to form a "place to lie down". Boot space with all seats up is no less than 733 litres.

Another interior party trick is the optional half-width steering wheel, while underneath the set-up is hard to fault, with air suspension, 'DampTronic' electromagnetic damping and Brembo brakes.

Yangwang U8

BYD launched its luxury YangWang sub-brand in early January, along with its first product, the much-anticipated U8 (codename R1) large electric SUV.

Underpinned by a full ladder-frame, the 4WD U8 features a 220-240kW/320-420Nm motor on each wheel, which enables it to accelerate from 0-100km/h in 3.0sec, and a 'crab mode' allows it to make a U-turn... on the spot!

YangWang claims the four-wheel independent motor tech can also control the vehicle via real-time wheel torque vectoring in the event of steering failure or a major blow-out.

Not only that, the U8 features motor waterproofing and body sealing technology that allows it to float on water.

BYD's space-efficient, high-density 'Blade' batteries are fitted although their capacity and the U8's claimed driving range are yet to be confirmed.

The interior of this 5.3m long beast is also a mystery at this stage, as is the price, although reports out of China suggest it will cost about one million Yuan ($213,000).

The car's form was developed by BYD's Design Director Wolfgang Eiger, former design chief at SEAT, Lancia and Audi.

Li Auto Ideal L7

Established in 2015, LI Auto began volume production in late 2019, with its current SUV-only model line-up covering the luxury mid-size Ideal One, full-size Ideal L9, six-seat Ideal L8 and the just-released five-seat Ideal L7.

At over 5.0m long the L7 is a big two-row SUV, and back-seaters are provided with limo-like space. Not only that, the front and (outer) rear seats are equipped with heating, ventilation and a massage mode.

Dual 15.7-inch screens in the dash handle media and vehicle functions, while another of the same size flips down from the rear ceiling to entertain those in the back, supported by a mega 21-speaker, 1920W 'concert hall' audio system.

A dual (front and rear) motor set-up produces 330kW/620Nm, and is supported by a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine operating as a range-extender. WLTP electric-only range is 175km (1100km overall) and claimed 0-100km/h time is 5.3 seconds.

Air suspension and continuously variable active dampers are standard. The 'Ideal AD' intelligent driving system means all the active safety boxes are ticked, and LI Auto says a dual under-floor arrangement means the battery packs are protected and contained, even in severe impacts.

Price for the entry-level Ideal L7 Pro is 339,800 Yuan, rising to 379,800 Yuan for the top-spec Max version. At the time of writing, on a direct currency conversion, those numbers equate to $72,650 and $81,202.

Nio ES8

Founded in 2014, pure-electric maker Nio has been exporting to massively EV-incentivised Norway for some time, expanding into Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark late last year.

With production centres in Shanghai and Beijing, Nio has R&D, design and administration facilities in the USA, Germany and the UK. And by 2025 the company says it will be present in 25 countries and regions. No word yet on whether Australia is on the hit list.

Across the brand's line-up of hatch-style 'ET' sedans, 'ES' SUVs, and 'EC' coupe SUVs, the just-released six-seat ES8 flagship stands out as a sleek and innovative family option.

At 5.1m long, 2.0m wide and over 1.7m tall the ES8 is a sizeable machine, although a drag coefficient of 0.25 would do a low-slung sports coupe proud.

The Nappa leather-trimmed seating layout is ultra-flexible with 20-way electric adjustment for the driver and 'Queen's co-pilot' seat, as well as extending leg support, heating and ventilation and five-mode 'hot stone' massage in the rear rows!

In the top-spec 'Executive Edition' huge screens, immersive sound, and an N-Box entertainment console are made for road trips, and all grades are powered by twin motors delivering a combined 480kW and 4.1sec 0-100km/h acceleration. Claimed range is 900km.

Premium spec means premium pricing, ranging from 548,000 to 638,000 Yuan. At the time of writing, on a direct currency conversion, those numbers equate to around $116,000 and $136,000.