Lepas L8 SUV Aims for Premium Feel at Family-Friendly Price
Chery Group's latest brand, Lepas, enters the UK market with its flagship L8 SUV, offering a plug-in hybrid powertrain and a spacious interior, but faces stiff competition.
The Chinese automotive brand Lepas has launched its debut model, the L8 SUV, in the UK, aiming to offer a premium experience at a competitive price point. Lepas is the fourth brand launched by Chery Group in Britain, following Omoda, Jaecoo, and Chery, with the group's marques collectively achieving significant market penetration.
The L8 is positioned as a flagship plug-in hybrid family car, utilizing Chery Group's Super Hybrid System, which provides an electric-only range of 56 miles and a total combined range of 745 miles. The system's efficiency is stated to achieve up to 403.5mpg on paper, with real-world expectations of over 50mpg. The vehicle also supports fast charging, capable of reaching 80% charge from 30% in 20 minutes at up to 40kW.
Lepas faces immediate competition not only from established brands like Kia and Hyundai but also from its own sister marques, Jaecoo and Omoda, which have already gained traction in the UK market. Jaecoo, in particular, has seen success by offering vehicles that undercut premium competitors. The L8 is designed to be a more budget-conscious alternative to models such as the Audi Q5 and BMW X5.
Visually, the L8 differentiates itself with what the brand describes as a porcelain-inspired shape, featuring leopard-eye headlights and a diamond-mesh grille, distinguishing it from the styling of Jaecoo and Omoda models.
Inside, the L8 emphasizes comfort and space. It offers a roomy cabin with ample headroom and legroom, enhanced by a panoramic roof and large windows. The seats are upholstered in a leather-effect material, with higher trims featuring heated, ventilated, and massage functions for the front seats, and reclining 'therapeutic cloud-comfort' rear seats. Other interior amenities include an air purification system, an in-cabin fragrance system, and an eight-speaker Sony audio system on top trims. Practicality is addressed with a fold-down tray table on the front passenger seat back and generous storage solutions. The boot capacity is 507 litres, expandable to 1,300 litres with the rear seats folded.
Technology includes a 13.2-inch portrait infotainment touchscreen and a 10.25-inch driver display, with standard features like wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and 50W wireless smartphone charging.
However, the driving experience is noted as a weaker point. The steering is described as lacking feedback and feeling overly light, which is exacerbated by an intrusive Lane Keep Assist system. While the ride is generally comfortable, handling on challenging bends is less precise. The 275bhp 1.5 TGDI hybrid powertrain delivers adequate performance for acceleration and overtaking.
Pricing for the Lepas L8 starts at £34,900 for the entry-level Essence trim, significantly undercutting competitors like the Kia Sportage PHEV (£38,595) and Peugeot 5008 PHEV (£43,005). The top-spec Elevate trim adds further features and costs £37,900. This pricing strategy positions the L8 as a compelling option for value-conscious buyers. The vehicle comes with a seven-year/100,000-mile warranty.
Despite its strengths in interior comfort, practicality, and value, the Lepas L8's success may hinge on its ability to differentiate itself in an increasingly crowded market, particularly against its own Chery Group siblings.
