Chery is set to launch another new brand in Australia with the arrival of Lepas in the middle of next year.
But what’s Lepas, you may well ask? And what will set it apart from the Chinese automaker’s other spin-off brands like Jaecoo and Omoda?
Well, Lepas (a portmanteau of Leaping and Passion and therefore pronounced Leap-Ass) will become the group’s fashion-forward brand with a more vibrant and elegant vibe about it.
The boldest of the four Chery brands will focus on distinctive shapes, bright colours and creative interiors to appeal to trend-setters and a higher female skew compared to the mainstream, value-focused Chery brand.
In contrast, Jaecoo follows a tougher, urban/off-road theme, while Omoda aims to appeal to style-driven customers who want something sportier and more expressive. These two brands are twinned in markets like Australia, where they’re sold in the same showrooms.
Lepas is expected to be launched locally starting with this – the 2026 Lepas L8 – a five-seat mid-size SUV with an extended wheelbase and plug-in hybrid powertrain. It will be joined not long after by two smaller SUVs, the L4 and L6.
Until then, we got to sample the L8 with an exclusive first drive during a flying visit to Chery’s headquarters in Wuhu, China, last week.
Note: We were supplied a limited set of images for this review, which is why we have leaned heavily on marketing imagery
How much does the Lepas L8 cost?
Chery is still months away from finalising details of its launch plans for Lepas, and therefore it hasn’t released any concrete information about pricing or specifications for the L8.
But we know it is based on the same platform as the Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid mid-size SUV, which arrived in Australian showrooms recently, priced from $39,990 drive-away for the base-level Urban and $43,990 drive-away for the flagship Ultimate.
The L8 is expected to command a price premium over the Tiggo 7 and sit somewhere between it and the higher-tech, all-wheel drive Omoda 9 – probably at around $50k – thanks to its range of unique features, exclusive exterior design elements, and an upgraded two-tone interior.
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What is the Lepas L8 like on the inside?
Here’s the thing about the Lepas L8 – it’s all about creating a more upmarket aesthetic through colour, comfort and convenience, rather than any significant mechanical differences between it and the Tiggo 7.
So, the interior design and treatment will dictate a lot of its appeal, and subsequent success.
And I have to say it does a pretty good job at it, particularly with the two-tone black and Tiffany Green configuration of the test vehicle we drove in China, which certainly makes it stand apart from its mainstream sibling.
It might be a bit too garish for some, but others will love it. And I think that’s the point… offering something different. Beyond the colour treatment, the overall design and layout are also different in the L8, with a horizontal main section of the dashboard separated by a stylish lower lip finished in a stripey textured pattern.
The console flows upwards into the centre of the dash via a portrait-style 13.2-inch tablet-style touchscreen outlined by subtle chrome trim, and it has a separate 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster, whereas the Tiggo 7 sandwiches two 12.3-inch screens together across the dash.
There are precious few physical controls, save for a rotary dial for the multi-mode drive settings and essentials like the hazard lights around it, with most functions controlled through the touchscreen.
Thankfully, the Lepas operating system is largely similar to that in other Chery models, offering a logical menu structure, clearly labelled phone-style widgets, and shortcuts for ventilation controls across the bottom edge.
The L8 also has a column-mounted gear selector compared to the Tiggo’s more conventional shifter, freeing up space in the centre console for a pair of phone holders – one with a wireless phone charging pad – two cupholders and a lidded cubby with an armrest.
There’s an additional open storage area under the console that’s big enough for a handbag, as well as USB and 12V power outlets. The front seats are super comfortable with supple cushioning and good lateral support, plus they have heating and ventilation controls, and a decent spread of adjustment to suit most sizes.
There’s plenty of headroom across both rows, and acres of legroom in the back – more than enough for two adults to stretch out comfortably. Overall, it’s a very pleasant place to be.
What’s under the bonnet?
The Lepas L8 shares its plug-in hybrid powertrain configuration with the Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid, which pairs a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with a single-speed dedicated hybrid automatic transmission, which incorporates an in-built electric motor that drives the front wheels.
Chery – and, subsequently, Lepas – does not quote combined output figures like other automakers, but says the petrol engine on its own produces 105kW of power and 210Nm of torque, while the electric motor generates an additional 150kW and 310Nm.
Energy is provided by an 18.3kWh lithium iron phosphate battery pack that can provide up to 93km of zero-emissions driving range in the Tiggo 7, which is likely to be identical for the L8.
It’s the same for its claimed fuel consumption figure of 1.4L/100km on the WLTP cycle.
How does the Lepas L8 drive?
The biggest problem Lepas will have is that the L8 doesn’t really have its own unique driving character.
For all intents and purposes, it performs just like the Tiggo 7 and therefore its premium price tag is going to have to be justified purely by its bright exterior colour palette and spacious upgraded interior.
But that’s not such a bad thing, as the latest-generation Tiggo 7 has steered well beyond the middle of the road where it started.
We’ll reserve final judgement on the Lepas L8’s dynamic attributes until we get to sample it on local roads, but it was comfortable and competent during the few hours we spent in it behind the wheel in China, on a mixture of rutty urban streets, super-smooth freeways, and at Chery’s test track.
The overall suspension calibration is probably a little too soft and ponderous for most Aussie tastes, and the electric power steering is light and lifeless.
But that’s how the Chinese prefer their vehicles, and Chery understands we have similar demands to European drivers in terms of body control and steering precision, and claims this will be taken into account with the final chassis settings for export models.
What won’t change much – if at all – is the way the powertrain operates, which is seamless in its transition from fully electric to hybrid mode, and delivers plenty of punch from the e-motor when called for.
It’s more obvious to the ears when the petrol engine comes to life and under heavy acceleration, but the engine note is not overly raucous or unrefined.
What do you get?
We will have to wait for a full rundown of standard equipment for the Lepas L8, but it is expected to come with a comprehensive list of creature comforts.
Anticipated highlights include:
- 20-inch alloy wheels
- LED headlights and tail-lights
- Power windows
- Power-operated tailgate
- Optional two-tone synthetic leather trim
- Power adjustable front seats
- Heated and ventilated front seats
- Heated rear seats
- Keyless entry with automated ignition
- Dual-zone climate control with rear air vents
- Full-length panoramic sunroof
- 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster
- 13.2-inch infotainment touchscreen
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Premium audio system
- Voice command
- LED ambient interior lighting
- Wireless phone charger
Is the Lepas L8 safe?
The Lepas L8 has yet to be tested by an independent NCAP safety authority, although it is expected to match the Tiggo 7’s five-star ANCAP rating.
Expected standard safety equipment includes:
- 8 airbags
- Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)
- Forward collision warning
- Adaptive cruise control
- Lane keeping assistance
- Blind spot detection
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Driver monitoring
- 360-degree parking display
- Front and rear parking sensors
How much does the Lepas L8 cost to run?
Again, we’ll have to wait and see whether Lepas does anything different from Chery – or its Jaecoo and Omoda brands – in terms of aftersales provisions.
But it is expected to at least match Chery’s seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty with capped price servicing and roadside assistance. Or go one better, like Jaecoo and Omoda, with an eight-year guarantee.
CarExpert’s Take on the Lepas L8
The introduction of Lepas will be an interesting case study.
If you take away the bright colour choices and upgraded interior, the L8 drives just like the Tiggo 7. And for most suburban families, that will be all they want – and probably all they need to spend.
But if you like to stand out from the crowd and can release the purse strings a little more, then the L8 does feel a little more special – especially from the inside.
However, whether it will be worth the extra cash is a question we’ll have to wait a little longer to answer.
MORE: Chery-owned Lepas to differentiate itself with the help of fashion brands