Five of the Top 10 vehicles leased so far in 2026 are from Chinese manufacturers, according to Select Car Leasing.
Top spot is taken by the Jaecoo 7, the Chinese SUV that arrived in Europe at the beginning of 2025. It was Select Car Leasing’s most-leased model for 2025 as a whole.
Geoff Cockerill, Director of Operations at Select Car Leasing, said: “In a market dictated by price and where customers are looking to secure the best possible lease deals, more and more UK motorists are exploring what Chinese manufacturers have to offer.
“Past hesitancy and nervousness around new car brands has shifted into growing acceptance.
“As our latest stats show, brands like Jaecoo, BYD and Leapmotor are winning the hearts and minds of UK motorists by offering vehicles that aren’t just affordably-priced, but which are sharply-styled and come loaded with equipment as standard.”
Besides the Jaecoo 7, four other cars from Chinese manufacturers appear in the Top 10; the BYD Seal, BYD Dolphin Surf, Leapmotor C10 and BYD Sealion 7.
The Kia Sportage is No.2 while the family-friendly Nissan Qashqai is at No.6.
The Ford Puma – overall the most registered new car of 2025 – is at No.8 in the list while the Tesla Model Y is in 9th place.
Cars like the Volvo XC40, VW ID.5 and Audi A3 have to settle for a place in the Top 20 most leased cars of 2026, while another Jaecoo model – the Jaecoo 5 – currently sits in 19th place in the countdown.
