Chinese car brand Jaecoo has kicked off its UK launch with the start of orders for its Jaecoo 7 premium SUV.

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The carmaker is the second offshoot of Chinese automotive giant Chery to launch in the UK this year, following sister company Omoda’s arrival this summer.

Positioned as a premium offroad-focused brand, Jaecoo draws on more than a decade of experience gained from Chery’s joint venture with Land Rover.

First to arrive is the Jaecoo 7, designed to bring “affordable luxury” to the compact SUV sector and delivering a rival to the Audi Q3, BMW X1, Kia Sportage and the Omoda 5. It’s said to combine impressive off-road ability, performance and efficiency with a stylish exterior design and a tech-rich interior.

The Jaecoo 7 launches in petrol and PHEV versions, the former in both front- and all-wheel-drive configurations priced from £29,435 and £32,850 respectively, while the front-wheel-drive-only PHEV is priced from £35,065.

The petrol model features a 147hp 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder unit with 275Nm of torque, and fuel economy from 37.7mpg (WLTP).

The PHEV powertrain delivers 204hp and 310Nm of torque while its 18.3kWh battery provides an all-electric range of 56 miles. Official WLTP combined fuel economy figure is 403mpg, or 47mpg with the battery in “a high depletion scenario”. Total range with the battery and 60-litre fuel tank combined is 745 miles. WLTP emissions stand at 23g/km.

All-wheel-drive models feature a Bosch-developed Integrated Power Brake (IPB) system that simulates a differential lock with enhanced and faster locking capability. The system can respond in less than 0.1 seconds and is said to deliver the fastest AWD response times when compared to its peers.

In addition to a 600mm wading depth, the all-wheel-drive version features seven driving modes, including Sand, Mud, Snow and Off-Road settings. Approach and departure angles are rated at 21 and 29 degrees respectively, with a maximum breakover angle of 200mm.

Design features bring electrically operated flush-fitting door handles and a full-length rear light bar with bespoke light signatures.

Trim levels haven’t been confirmed but are expected to include Deluxe and Luxury designations.

The cabin features a 14.8-inch touchscreen alongside a 10.25-inch driver display and a head-up display. Equipment on offer includes multi-colour interior lighting, 50W wireless mobile phone charging, an eight-speaker Sony audio system and a panoramic roof. Advanced driver assistance technologies include a 540-degree panoramic camera system.

The Jaecoo 7 has a seven-year/100,000-mile manufacturer’s warranty as standard.

Order books are open now, with UK deliveries starting in January.