New Lepas L8 to offer plug-in hybrid and electric power for £35k
On sale September 2026 Price from £34,900
What do Janet Jackson, Kylie Jenner and Lepas all have in common? They're all the youngest members of famous families. Now, you might have heard of the first two, but the new Lepas L8 will aim to put the brand on the map.
Indeed, the L8 will be the first car sold in the UK by Lepas, the fourth brand in the Chery family alongside Jaecoo, Omoda and Chery itself. Designed to appeal to the European market, Lepas models will have a focus on plug-in hybrid and electric power. The name Lepas is said to be a portmanteau of ‘leopard’, ‘leap’ and ‘passion’.
Its flagship L8 is a family SUV that'll act as a premium rival to the likes of the Volkswagen Tiguan, as well as the Kia Sportage and premium-badged BMW X1.
The L8 shares its underpinnings with its Omoda and Jaecoo siblings, and in international markets such as Indonesia, it comes equipped with the same plug-in hybrid (PHEV) set-up that's found in the hugely popular Jaecoo 7.
That means it's powered by a 1.5-litre petrol engine, electric motor and 18.4kWh battery. From that battery, the L8 is able to travel on electric power alone for 56 miles, according to official figures, and when combined with the engine, Lepas claims a total range of 745 miles. For reference, that's around the same as the Jaecoo 7, but the Tiguan can officially travel for 75 miles on EV-only power.
Lepas has confirmed the L8 will gain an all-electric variant next year to take on the likes of the Kia EV6 and Tesla Model Y.
Inside, the L8 gets similar styling to its Jaecoo sibling, with a 13.2in portrait-oriented central infotainment touchscreen, a 10.25in digital driver's display behind the wheel and wireless smartphone charging. However, the Lepas model looks like it benefits from some more physical buttons.
Two trim levels will be available: Essence and Elevate. Entry-level Essence models receive 19in alloy wheels, LED headlights, heated and electrically-adjustable folding door mirrors, dual-zone climate control, a leather steering wheel, adaptive cruise control, keyless entry and start and wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
Stepping up to Elevate trim gets you 20in alloys, six-way power-adjustable front seats, faux-leather upholstery, a powered tailgate, heated and ventilated front seats with massage function and an eight-speaker sound system (as opposed to six in entry-level models).
The L8 will go on sale in September. Prices start at £34,900, making it cheaper than an X1 and Tiguan, and in line with the regular hybrid Renault Austral.
The arrival of the L8 will be followed by the L6, another family SUV to rival the likes of the Hyundai Tucson and MG HS.
While the Lepas models look distinct from their Omoda and Jaecoo siblings, they bear stronger resemblance to the Chery Tiggo models launched here in the UK over the last year, with their soft-edged design. However, Chery International president Zhang Guibing has said that the Tiggos will take on new, chunkier styling to move them onto a different path compared with the Lepas models.
Omoda and Jaecoo have recorded a strong start for sales here in the UK since their launches, having sold 48,087 new vehicles in 2025, representing 2.38% of the market, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). With Chery, all three brands combined accounted for 2.65% of the new car market last year – beating the likes of Mini and Tesla.
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