Lepas L8 Review | Chery’s fourth UK brand wants a slice of the premium SUV market
The L8 is a nice surprise. Rather than an Omoda packaged in a different way, it has a flavour of its own. This isn’t a badge-engineering exercise from Chery Group – it feels distinct while keeping that fantastic value proposition it has become known for.
We can’t really talk about the all-new Lepas L8 without mentioning its parent company.
Just a few years ago, hardly anyone in the UK had heard of Chery Group. Fast forward to 2026 and it has become one of the biggest success stories in the automotive industry, with Chery, Omoda and Jaecoo all finding plenty of fans.
That success is down to generous equipment levels, competitive lease deals and an ability to produce increasingly polished products at an impressive pace. Between them, the three brands have already collected enough awards to fill a trophy cabinet several times over.
Launching a fourth brand might seem like overkill. But that's exactly what Chery has done with Lepas.
So, launching a fourth brand might seem like overkill. But that's exactly what Chery has done with Lepas. Positioned above the existing line-up, it promises a more refined and aspirational take on the family SUV.
We've been behind the wheel of its first UK model – the L8 – to find out whether it's just another badge or something genuinely worth getting excited about.
What exactly is it?
If Chery's growing collection of brands leaves you scratching your head, here's how it all fits together. Think of Chery itself as the value-focused brand, offering family-friendly SUVs like the Tiggo 4 and Tiggo 7 with plenty of kit for the money.
The L8 you see here is its opening act, landing squarely in the competitive family SUV market.
Omoda and Jaecoo sit in the middle of the range, with the former leaning towards stylish crossovers and the latter offering chunkier, more off-road-inspired styling. Lepas, however, is aimed at buyers looking for something a little more sophisticated.
Its name combines the words Leopard and Passion. The L8 you see here is its opening act, landing squarely in the competitive family SUV market.
So, is it really premium?
At first glance, the L8 looks promising. Externally, it has more in common with established European brands than its Chinese siblings. There's a definite Porsche influence at the rear, with a full-width LED light bar and familiar lettering across the tailgate.
Rather than relying on aggressive styling, the L8 keeps things clean and understated.
Up front, slim headlights and rounded proportions give it a more grown-up feel than models like the Omoda 5, while flush door handles add to the upscale appearance. All in all, it's arguably one of Chery Group's best-looking SUVs to date.
Rather than relying on aggressive styling, the L8 keeps things clean and understated. There are no oversized air intakes or overcomplicated creases, just a cohesive design that looks far more expensive than its price tag suggests. Buyers can also choose from some eye-catching colours, including the striking purple shown here.
It manages to look expensive without relying on a prestigious badge – something Chery Group is quickly becoming known for.
What's the interior like?
The cabin is another pleasant surprise. It feels noticeably more upmarket than previous Chery products, with soft-touch materials covering much of the dashboard and door panels. The large central touchscreen dominates the cabin, but thankfully there are still enough physical controls where they matter most.
That's not always a given these days. The technology also impresses. While the car we drove hadn't yet been fully calibrated for UK roads, the connected services, smartphone integration and driver assistance systems were intuitive to use and refreshingly unobtrusive on the move.
Thanks to its 2.8-metre wheelbase, interior space is one of the L8's biggest strengths.
Thanks to its 2.8-metre wheelbase, interior space is one of the L8's biggest strengths. Rear passengers enjoy legroom that's not far off what you'd expect from a long-wheelbase luxury saloon, while the 507-litre boot expands to 1,300 litres with the split-folding rear seats lowered.
What about the driving experience?
The L8 uses the same 1.5-litre plug-in hybrid powertrain found in several other Chery products, but its platform has been developed with European buyers in mind. That means it feels noticeably firmer than many other Chinese SUVs, while the steering is more direct than in other Chery products we've driven.
Although it's still very much a family SUV, there's a clear effort to deliver a more refined and composed driving experience than models such as the Chery Tiggo 8. The plug-in hybrid system produces 280hp and 365Nm of torque, helping the L8 accelerate from 0-62mph in 7.9 seconds.
With a fully charged battery and a full tank of petrol, Lepas claims a total driving range of up to 745 miles.
Drivers can choose between a variety of driving modes using the rotary controller on the centre console, adjusting throttle response and steering weight. Select "Pure EV" mode and you should see up to 56 miles of electric range. During our drive, that figure appeared to be entirely realistic.
With a fully charged battery and a full tank of petrol, Lepas claims a total driving range of up to 745 miles.
Trims and pricing
Two trim levels are available: Essence and Elevate. Even the entry-level Essence, priced from £34,900, comes generously equipped. Standard features include 19-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, a panoramic roof, 50W cooled wireless phone charging, satellite navigation, keyless entry and a comprehensive suite of driver assistance systems.
Step up to Elevate and you gain larger 20-inch alloy wheels, puddle lights, electrically adjustable heated and ventilated front seats, 256-colour ambient lighting, front and rear parking sensors, an advanced parking assistance system and even an in-cabin fragrance dispenser.
At £3,000 more than the Essence, it's this generous equipment list that could really help Lepas stand out.
You're getting the sort of specification normally associated with cars like the Volkswagen Tiguan and even the Audi Q5, but at a significantly lower price.
You're getting the sort of specification normally associated with cars like the Volkswagen Tiguan and even the Audi Q5, but at a significantly lower price. We'll have to wait and see how those list prices translate into lease rates, but if the Jaecoo 7 is anything to go by, this could become an extremely popular choice with personal contract hire customers.
So, should I get one?
The L8 is more than just a pleasant surprise. Rather than feeling like an Omoda with a different badge, it has a distinct character of its own. This isn't simply a badge-engineering exercise from Chery Group; it's a genuine step up in refinement, design and perceived quality while still delivering the outstanding value the company has become known for.
Lepas already has 1,200 examples heading to the UK, so we're expecting the first deals to appear over the coming months. Don't be surprised if the brand becomes just as familiar on British roads as its sister companies over the next few years.
