Chery's shiny new Jaecoo 7 SUV will cost you less than £30k

Prices for the Jaecoo 7 have been released. What's a 'Jaecoo 7', you cry? Why, that's Chery's Chinese-built, tech-filled premium SUV we've been expecting all summer. Seems the wait was worth it, since it'll set you back £29,435 in (2WD) petrol form and from £35,065 in petrol-hybrid flavour – sound the 'Competitively Priced' klaxon, please.

The J7’s dimensions compete with stuff like the Hyundai Tucson (available from £39,330), the BMW X1 (from £41,765) and the Citroen C5 Aircross (from £35,735).

The purely petrol powered 7 also comes with four-wheel-drive – which starts from £32,850 - and features some eye-catching off-roading brags. Like a 600mm wading depth and an off-roading departure angle of 29 degrees. Note that's the same as the Range Rover PHEV, costing an eye-watering three times as much. The 4WD version also comes with a Bosch-developed 'Integrated Power Brake', said to simulate a diff lock, and can respond in less than a tenth of a second. Grippy.

Between the choice of a 1.6-litre petrol engine, or a PHEV - where that same engine is mated to a 18.3kWh battery - it's the latter that looks the better choice. Jaecoo reckons it's good for 56 miles of pure electric range and that the plug-in will be capable of an impressive-if-true 745 miles on one charge and a brimmed 60-litre tank. Huh.

The cabin? There's much connectivity here, many ADAS there, a couple of hi-res displays and a pano roof for good measure. The profusion is typical of Chinese carmakers trying to gain traction in the UK market.

As the ‘Chery’ on top, the 7 got a five star safety rating and has been packaged with a seven-year warranty, too. The SUV's available to order now, with deliveries starting in the New Year. One for your letter to Santa?