China has a reputation for making low-quality cars. In reality, the U.S. doesn't make the best cars either. Though in spite of the perceived lack of quality among Chinese automakers, there are still plenty of diamonds in the rough.

If there's one thing no one can argue, it's that China has a lot of cars. According to South China Morning Post, as of April 2017, there are over 300 million vehicles registered, and two-thirds of those are cars. As the outlet notes, that's almost as many vehicles in China as there are people in the U.S. It's no wonder the quality is lacking a bit in their cars. In order to meet consumer demand, Chinese automakers exercise some shortcuts along the way. It only makes sense why they wouldn't outfit the car interiors with the highest-quality materials, for example.

The cars on this list fulfill two criteria: they're from China and they're all vehicles car lovers will love (for varying reasons). Outside of those two criteria, differences abound. Some are available in the United States, while others are not; there are sportscars and SUVs and crossovers—a wide variety of automobiles coming from the world's most populated country.

There's a lot to like about cars available for sale to the Chinese public. For one thing, there's no shortage of models to choose from. Even the brands vary across this list, providing a wide overview of quality automobiles to come out of the land of The Red Dragon.

17 Geely Beauty Leopard

To get on board with some of these cars requires a willingness to bend one's conventions a bit. Should doubt ever creep in about the quality or intrigue of these vehicles, there's always the idea "As The Chinese Do" to fall back on. As Jalopnik points out, the Geely Beauty Leopard may not exactly bear an appearance befitting its name, though there's something endearing about the country's popular sports car. Some have speculated that its design found inspiration from the Toyota Supra. It's probably unfair for anyone to draw such a comparison, though, especially when one considers its peculiar name.

16 Great Wall V240

Taking a cue from one of China's most iconic cultural landmarks, the Great Wall V240 is one sleek pickup. U.S. buyers beware, though: it couldn't be further from heavy-duty pickups by the likes of Ram and Chevy. This is a more compact pickup that most truck drivers in the U.S. would probably balk at. Those willing to consider a compact pickup, on the other hand, won't be disappointed. According to Jalopnik, it's got a 2.4-liter that gives it some heft. Plus, with a starting price of around $19,000, this Chinese automobile is affordable as well.

15 Beijing Auto Works Knight S12

What essentially amounts to the Jeep Cherokee of China comes in the form of the Knight S12. According to Car News China, it came about due to Beijing and Jeep coming together. It all started back in 1984 and continued up until 2009, when Chrysler abandoned the partnership.

They're still making these jeeps today, only now, they come with a 2.0-liter that can deliver up to 122 hp.

While it's nothing to drool over, it's the price that really makes one covet it. It's possible to get one somewhere between $12-$15K, which won't set back car owners by much to own a Chinese car.

14 Pagani Huayra Dinastia

Out of all the cars on this list, few of them turn heads like this special-edition ride. It's hard to take one's eyes off this thing. Plus, it's got power to boot.

According to CarBuzz, the Huayra Dinastia comes with a powerful 6.0-liter engine that can do—no lie—a herculean 700 hp.

Bearing gullwing doors, this car not only looks like something from the future but makes any driver lucky enough to get behind the wheel feel like a kid again. For those who're picky about the paint job, there are three colors to choose from, including red, blue, and gold, though who'd really pass up on the gold?

13 Rolls-Royce “Year of the Dragon” Collection

To recognize the Year of the Dragon back in 2012, Rolls-Royce pulled out all the stops. As Luxury Society reports, their special release has dragons etched all over the body. Along with the gold dragons, there's a word underneath that spells out "Phantom." This is in reference to the Phantom Extended Wheelbase line that Rolls-Royce has managed to concoct up. Known for being the heftiest vehicles Rolls-Royce has ever launched, they're the ultimate in luxury, space, and sophistication. It's appropriate that they'd recognize the one and only Chinese year that has a mythic creature for this special release.

12 Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorino China & Lu Hao Fiorino

If we had $2 million lying around, we'd probably spend it all on this one-of-a-kind limited-edition car. The story goes that Chinese artist Lu Hao was tasked with designing a very special car for Ferrari, as per Luxury Society. The unique design on the outside alludes to Ge Kiln porcelain, which is from the Song Dynasty in China's rich and artistic history. What better way to honor the country than with a reference to its history? The Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorino China & Lu Hao Fiorino isn't only a cool fashionable ride but also a piece of art on wheels.

11 Porsche China 10th Anniversary 911

First of all, it's a Porsche. Second, it's a limited edition with only ten made. Last but not least, it's gold. Those are plenty of good reasons to want this Porsche China 10th Anniversary 911. Then again, at $538,000, as Luxury Society notes, it won't come cheap.

Equipped with some sportier features including 19-inch wheels, a spoiler, and Sport Design steering wheel, this car is sure to please speed demons.

With a 3.8-liter that can do 523 hp, it'll be hard to leave this on display only. The top speed is 196 mph and can go 0 to 62 mph in just over 3 seconds.

10 Aston Martin Dragon88 Collection

There are a lot of cool details not to be missed on the Aston Martin Dragon88 collection. There's a reason Aston Martin put so much into their Dragon88 models. First of all, as Luxury Society points out, the number 8 is the luckiest number in China. That's why there are only 88 of these in existence as the "Dragon88" name implies. The Dragon88 comes in three different color schemes: amethyst red, volcano red, and champagne gold. As if that all wasn't enough, there's a nickel-coated badge affixed to the front and back of the car to ensure everyone knows what an awesome ride it is.

9 Hongqi “Red Flag” L5

There's a reason the most important people in China drive around in these. It's not uncommon to find armed soldiers around when these get rolled out; nor is it unusual to drive one on a red carpet. Treated like royalty, just like the passengers it carries, the Red Flags boast a 5.9-liter engine, as Jalopnik reports.

Believe it or not, the car is worth over half a million dollars.

While it's hard not to break into cold sweats thinking about that price tag, we hope there's some wiggle room when it comes to haggling the price down.

8 BAW Yongshi Warrior

This thing is a beast. One can only imagine the off-roading possibilities with the Yongshi Warrior. It's no wonder, as Jalopnik notes, China's military has upgraded to these. Is it a Jeep? An SUV? It boggles us trying to place it in an exclusive camp. There's a reason they call this thing a warrior. Jalopnik also reports that the Yongshi Warrior has an "all-metal fully enclosed body," which makes this a well-protected machine. There's even some sort of material that's supposed to lessen the noisy grumblings this vehicle puts out. It's easy to see why this vehicle is on the wish list of Chinese automobiles.

7 BMW Wheelbase 3-Series

The BMW 3 Series has models all over the world. There's just one that's made in China, though. That's the LWB sedan version, which stands for "long-wheelbase." According to CarBuzz, the 3 series got a whopping 4.3 inches of extended space in the back. This, of course, translates into longer leg space and extra storage for all those things a car houses that drivers end up forgetting all about. CarBuzz notes, however, that sedans aren't viewed the same way in China as they are around the world, as they signify a higher class. That at least explains a little bit more the reason behind the exclusive LWB version.

6 BMW 760Li 60 Anniversary Edition

One of the few limited-edition cars on this list includes the BMW 760Li 60 Anniversary Edition.

According to Luxury Society, only 60 of these cars were ever made.

Drivers are treated to not only a comfortable ride but also the prestige of owning a limited release. To remind owners of this, BMW added special "V12 25 Years Edition" logos throughout the interior. One can spot them on the headrests as well as the iDrive controls. Of course, these are to commemorate 25 years of BMW's V-12 engine. In spite of whatever the price may be, it's a no-brainer addition to the list.

5 Brilliance BS6

The Brilliance BS6 is worthy of a spot on this list. Labeled as "Zhonghua Zunchi" in Chinese car shops, there's a lot to like in this sedan that Car and Driver compares to a Toyota Camry. A major difference, however, between a Camry and the BS6 is the price. While a 2018 Camry generally starts at a little under $24,000, a BS6 could set one back $26,600. It's also worth noting that that's just the base model. Some are going to balk at this price tag without a doubt. Sadly, new models stopped rolling out almost ten years ago.

4 Shanghai VW Santana

The Shanghai VW Santana is one of many cars on the list to be the result of a joint venture. Jalopnik reports that the Shanghai-VW collaborated Santana went off the assembly line back in 2012.

For over 25 years, these sedans commonly served the Chinese public as taxis.

One reason why the Shanghai VW Santana rode off into the sunset may largely be the result of bigger crossovers attracting Chinese buyers. As Forbes points out, SUVs and crossovers are becoming the preferred automobiles over sedans these days. Could car buyers in China be gravitating towards the same vehicles U.S. buyers purchase as well?

3 BYD E6

There's no hiding that a tragedy occurred within a BYD E6 years ago in 2012. After a brutal accident, according to Car News China, the car erupted into flames. In a report by Green Car Congress, the fire was a result of a short circuit in the electric arcs.

The BYD E6 is an electric crossover, which is one of the biggest appeals to the vehicle.

Although there were plans to launch the car in the U.S. back in 2011, it wouldn't be available until a few more years. Even then, the vehicle's availability had some strings attached.

2 Geely Panda

There's the reason they call it "Panda." Just one glance at the front of this car reveals the face of a Panda bear in the headlights and grille that's sure to please onlookers. If that's not enough to convince prospective buyers, consider the fact that it's a five-star crash-rated car, as Jalopnik reports. The outlet also goes on to say it's the first ever in China's history to get the prestigious award. While that could say a lot about the history of automobiles in China, we'll just focus on the positive, which is the fun (despite being small) Geely Panda.

1 Ford Escort

There's something appealing about Ford's exclusive-to-China Escort. As Autocar notes, it's part of Ford's efforts to own the mid-size market in China.

It's not the most powerful engine, equipped with a 1.5-liter, though there's enough to make it feel like a luxury car inside.

That engine is the same one that powers the Fiesta in China as well. There's even an infotainment system. With a saloon-like body, it's essentially a Ford Focus with more space. The automatic even offers a sport mode in an appeal to those who want power. Autocar wasn't too impressed with this mode, however.

Sources: South China Morning Post, Car and Driver, Jalopnik, Car News China