Overtaken by a Range Rover in a hurry or startled by a Land Rover the size of a small tank? Take another look, because that luxury 4x4 may in fact be nothing of the sort.A fleet of Chinese invaders has started to flood Britain's roads over the last 18 months, and their numbers are far larger than most people imagine.Copycat Chinese designs of popular models from Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) have become so convincing that, to the uninitiated, there is little to differentiate the bona fide icons from the imported lookalikes costing half the price.AdvertisementAdvertisementDubbed "Temu Range Rovers" for their bargain-basement prices, the Asian influx has opened up a new world of motoring possibilities for drivers who put space and comfort ahead of brand. And there are plenty of people taking up the offer.Jaecoo, which is owned by Chinese automotive giant Chery, has spearheaded the insurgency in Britain.Its £30,000 Jaecoo 7, a copycat of the Range Rover's pricier Velar and Evoque models, leapt to the top of the sales charts in March with more than 10,000 purchases – a figure that outperformed its nearest rival by 70pc.The model, launched in January last year, has been in the UK top 10 for 12 months, but to see it crowned as Britain's best-selling car came as a shock to the motoring world.AdvertisementAdvertisementYet the Jaecoo 7 is just the tip of the iceberg as China pushes to ape JLR's lineup of luxury SUVs.The Jaecoo 8, which commenced deliveries to British consumers last month, has "more than a hint of Range Rover Sport", Autotrader noted in a recent review.BYD, China's largest carmaker, is also getting in on the act.The company's Ti7 vehicle was shown off at the British Motor Show last week, and it's a dead ringer for Land Rover's reinvented Defender.There's also the colossal Zeekr 9X from Geely Group, designed by Bentley's former design chief and startlingly similar to Range Rover's top-of-the-range Autobiography. Currently on sale on the Continent, it is also destined for Britain.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe imitation game is nothing new in the automotive industry.Toyota's MR2 was nicknamed the "Baby Ferrari" both for its resemblance to the Italian supercar and ability to hit 60mph in as little as five seconds, yet cost a fraction of the money.China has also attempted to produce dozens of copycat Range Rovers and Land Rovers before.The Landwind X7, a virtual clone of the Evoque by former Chinese carmaker Landwind, was blocked by a Chinese court and JLR was awarded compensation after it was deemed to be too close to the original.But what is different now is the boom in sales that Chinese models are enjoying.AdvertisementAdvertisementFor JLR, which is still trying to bounce back from a crippling cyber attack last year, there are question marks over whether it can withstand the copycats.The group, owned by India's Tata, has said it would not rule out legal action to protect its designs and engineering.This is despite the group enjoying a longstanding joint venture with Jaecoo owner Chery, which is planning to produce an electric version of the defunct Land Rover Freelander.A spokesman said: "Competition, alliances and partnerships are strongest when driven by respect for intellectual property rights. JLR is assessing its options."AdvertisementAdvertisementAt the same time, JLR has played down the potential for its own sales being directly compromised by Chinese vehicles.It argues that they offer an alternative to "crossover" SUVs such as the Nissan Qashqai, Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage. The Evoque, by contrast, is priced from £45,000 and the Velar from £55,000.And while the Jaecoo 8 can be had for £45,000, the starting point for the Range Rover Sport is £77,000 and the Autobiography £101,000.While there may be some interest in Jaecoo models from drivers who use an Evoque for the school run or those able to afford only a second-hand Velar with 40,000 miles on the clock, industry observers said JLR's high prices help insulate it from the Chinese raiders.AdvertisementAdvertisementOne said: "If you're a wealthy individual with the money for a full-fat Range Rover, why would you go out and buy a Jaecoo?"The real sweet spot is the family of four who can get all the space they need at the price point of a decent VW Golf."You can lease one for under £300 a month, possibly at zero interest and with a charger fitted for free. The customer service is good. And the spec is the spec. You're not paying extra for heated seats or a satnav or better screen because there isn't that much optionality."Jaecoo claims its sales success is based as much on technology as looks, helping the brand to attract large numbers of first-time car buyers and young families.AdvertisementAdvertisementSo-called "Super-Hybrid" variants can cover 56 miles on a single charge "so that 99.9pc of the time you are never left lugging around an empty battery", a spokesman said.The firm has also established a dealership network of 124 British outlets and offers a seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty.Reviewers, however, have been underwhelmed by the handling characteristics of its cars.The Telegraph's review said the Jaecoo 7 had "tricky" throttle control, "disconnected" steering and "unsophisticated" suspension – making driving "tiring and rather unpleasant".Jaecoo plans to hold a gathering of customers next month to celebrate 100,000 sales, including sister-brand Omoda, which launched two years ago.AdvertisementAdvertisementFurther milestones are likely to be set this month, with the Jaecoo 7 and smaller Jaecoo 5 currently occupying second and third place in the sales chart, behind only the Ford Puma.The company is also learning to live with the Temu comparison."I wouldn't use the term myself," said a source. "But if people find our cars a bargain offering the features, technology, safety and economy of far more premium price point products, that's something we'll stand behind."A JLR insider said that for most of its clientele, however, a cheap Chinese copy simply would not cut it.They said: "People who buy Range Rover care about the badge, the heritage, the world-class engineering and who it has been designed by.AdvertisementAdvertisement"It's the attention to detail, which not all new Chinese cars have. When they pull up at the traffic lights or a pub car park in the Cotswolds, would their friends go wow, or raise an eyebrow and ask, 'What's that?'"Try full access to The Telegraph free today. Unlock their award-winning website and essential news app, plus useful tools and expert guides for your money, health and holidays.