Lepas L8 Review: Can Chery's £35k Plug-In Hybrid Family SUV Beat the Tiguan and RAV4?
First UK drive of the Lepas L8 Elevate: a spacious, well priced family plug-in hybrid that looks premium, drives smoothly and still leaves the European and Japanese establishment something to teach it.
Chery is moving fast. Eighteen months ago, most UK buyers had never heard of the Chinese automaker. Since the launch of its Jaecoo and Omoda brands, it has climbed the sales charts quickly, led by the Jaecoo 7. Now it wants to step up again. Lepas, a new premium arm whose name blends "leopard" and "passion", has arrived with its first model: the Lepas L8 plug-in hybrid family SUV, priced from £34,700. It is part of the rapid rise of Chinese car brands in Europe, and it is aimed squarely at the Volkswagen Tiguan and Toyota RAV4.
The plan is simple to describe and hard to execute: take the value formula that made the Jaecoo 7 a sales hit, wrap it in a more premium cabin, add sharper styling, and undercut the German and Japanese establishment by thousands of pounds. We drove the range-topping Elevate version on British roads to find out whether the L8 is genuinely a step above, or simply another badge in Chery's ever growing portfolio.
Key takeaways
- Starting price of £34,700 undercuts the Tiguan eHybrid and RAV4 PHEV by almost £10,000.
- Claimed electric-only range of up to 56 miles trails both key rivals.
- 507-litre boot beats the Tiguan (490 litres) and RAV4 (446 litres).
- Combined 275bhp from Chery's Super Hybrid System; 0-62mph in a claimed 7.9sec.
- Spacious, premium-feeling cabin, but the infotainment system frustrates.
Lepas L8 at a Glance
| Specification | Lepas L8 (as reported at launch) |
|---|---|
| Price | From £34,700 (Essence); £37,900 (Elevate tested) |
| Powertrain | 1.5-litre turbo petrol four, electric motor, 18.4kWh battery (Super Hybrid System) |
| Combined power / torque | 275bhp / 269lb ft (electric motor alone: 201bhp) |
| 0-62mph / top speed | 7.9sec (claimed) / 111mph |
| Electric range | Up to 56 miles (manufacturer claim) |
| Fuel economy / CO2 | 403.5mpg (claimed) / 21g/km |
| Company car BIK | 10% |
| Boot space | 507 litres |
| Dimensions | 4.68m long, 1.87m wide (without mirrors), 1.68m tall |
Figures are as published in the original Autocar review; economy, range and performance figures are manufacturer claims, not independently verified.
What Is the Lepas L8?
Lepas is Chery's new premium brand, positioned one step above the budget focused Jaecoo and Omoda ranges. The L8 is its first car and, in Europe, its biggest model to date. It is a family SUV of about 4.6 metres in length, designed to take on the segment's heavyweights rather than undercut tiny crossovers.
At 4.68m long, 1.87m wide without the mirrors and 1.68m tall, the L8 is slightly larger than the Volkswagen Tiguan in every direction. It is offered as a plug-in hybrid only for now, using the same Super Hybrid System (SHS) architecture that already powers the Omoda 7 and Jaecoo 7, tuned here for a little more muscle.
Design and Styling: Leopard Eyes, Diamond Grille, Cayenne-Like Rear
Glimpse the L8 and it is clear that its European design studio spent time studying the continent's premium SUVs, most visibly Porsche. The rear end is very Cayenne-like, while the front brings what Lepas calls "leopard-eye" LED headlights flanking a large diamond mesh grille.
It is well proportioned and, to be fair, a bit easier on the eye than some of Chery's budget offerings. But it is not a bold departure: the fascia in particular carries a strong resemblance to the larger Chery Tiggo 9. Derivative rather than distinctive, then, though the execution is clean and the stance is confident. If you want a sense of where the parent company is heading next, Chery's wider electrification roadmap is worth a look.
Interior: Big on Space, Short on Simplicity
Inside, the L8 leans heavily into the minimalist approach that defines Chery's newer cars. There is a large portrait oriented touchscreen, a small digital driver's display and barely any physical switchgear for the secondary controls. The 13.2-inch central screen swoops down into the centre console, and bright speaker grilles add a touch of theatre that hints at Mercedes-Benz.
It is a pleasant place to sit. Faux-leather and soft-touch materials cover the dashboard, storage is plentiful, and the tan-and-black combination of our test car lifted the atmosphere considerably. The strip of physical buttons for temperature and fan speed below the screen is a genuinely useful addition in a class that is deleting them everywhere.
Expert insight: the infotainment is the L8's weakest point. Adjusting functions requires a lot of menu hopping, the icons are small, and there is currently no shortcut to switch off the driver assistance systems. Lepas promises an over-the-air update that adds an ADAS off button to the swipe-down menu. Until that lands, daily users must dig through the touchscreen to quiet the bongs, which is exactly the kind of friction that erodes satisfaction over a three year ownership term.
Rear Passenger Space and Practicality
This is where the L8 genuinely impresses. Rear leg room is generous, and it is possible to slide your feet underneath the front seats, a small comfort detail that matters on long journeys. The panoramic sunroof does not encroach on head room, and rear accommodation is more than adequate for taller adults.
Practicality is a headline feature too. At 507 litres, the boot outperforms plug-in rivals such as the Tiguan (490 litres) and Toyota RAV4 (446 litres), and underfloor storage makes it easy to hide the charging cable when it is not in use.
Engines and Performance: How the Super Hybrid System Feels
The L8 uses the same SHS plug-in hybrid powertrain as the Omoda 7 and Jaecoo 7, but here the 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and electric motor combine to deliver 275bhp and 269lb ft of torque. The engine acts mainly as a generator, though it can also drive the wheels at higher speeds.
On the road, the L8 feels like an electric car most of the time. The electric motor does the heavy lifting, and the petrol engine stays quiet and muted even under full performance, when it can just about be heard. The 0-62mph sprint takes a claimed 7.9 seconds: brisk enough for family duties, but not quick in a way that will trouble the dog in the boot.
There is a catch under hard acceleration. Aggressive throttle inputs can overwhelm the front wheels, producing noticeable torque steer as the tyres search for traction. Even under rolling acceleration, the occasional squeal from the front axle reminds you this is a front-drive setup with a lot of instant torque to deploy. It is another reminder that Chinese automakers are pushing plug-in hybrid power hard across every segment.
Ride and Handling: Motorway Comfort, B-Road Fidget
Lepas stresses that the L8 was developed with UK roads in mind. The results are mixed. At higher speeds there is a floatiness, with plenty of vertical body movement over undulating roads, and on 50mph rural routes the car fidgets without ever quite settling. Low-speed progress over broken surfaces brings jostle and jounce. It settles down nicely on the motorway, though, where wind and road noise are well isolated.
Handling is predictable rather than exciting. Grip is adequate, body roll through faster bends is reasonable, and the steering is precise enough, feeling more consistently weighted than the Jaecoo 7's, even if there is some dead weight off centre.
The driver assistance systems, aside from the lane keeping aid, are not too intrusive once the warnings have been switched off. The problem is the switch-off itself: there are about 12 separate functions, and at present every one has to be disabled individually through the touchscreen.
Electric Range, Efficiency and Running Costs
Electric-only range is up to 56 miles on the official claim, which is the L8's most obvious compromise. The Tiguan eHybrid manages 72 miles and the RAV4 PHEV up to 85 miles, both as published figures, while the Citroen C5 Aircross PHEV's 53 miles is closer to the Lepas's number.
For company car drivers the picture is brighter. With CO2 of 21g/km and a 10% BIK band as reported at launch, the L8 is a cheap car to tax, and the claimed 403.5mpg combined figure underlines how efficient a plug-in hybrid can be when it is charged regularly. As always, treat range and economy claims with care: they are manufacturer figures, not results from an independent test.
| Model | Electric range (claimed) | Boot space | Starting price (as reported) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lepas L8 | Up to 56 miles | 507 litres | £34,700 |
| Volkswagen Tiguan eHybrid | 72 miles | 490 litres | Around £10,000 more |
| Toyota RAV4 PHEV | 85 miles | 446 litres | Around £10,000 more |
| Citroen C5 Aircross PHEV | 53 miles | Not stated | Not stated |
Rival figures as quoted in the original Autocar review. The L8 undercuts the Tiguan eHybrid and RAV4 PHEV by almost £10,000.
The L8 is far from the only plug-in hybrid SUV chasing buyers on price and equipment. The wider plug-in hybrid SUV market now spans everything from budget family crossovers to seven-seat off-roaders, and the Lepas sits in the increasingly crowded middle of it.
Lepas L8 Price and Trims: What You Pay
The entry-level L8 Essence starts from £34,700, while the range-topping Elevate tested here costs £37,900. Lepas expects the Elevate to be the bigger seller in the UK, which is easy to believe: at that price it undercuts the plug-in versions of the Tiguan and RAV4 by almost £10,000, and it lands close to the similarly talented MG HS PHEV.
That pricing is the L8's strongest weapon. It is also worth noting that this aggressive positioning arrives while the Volkswagen Group's own model plans are being reshaped to defend profitability, which makes a well equipped £37,900 family PHEV from a newcomer feel even more disruptive.
Lepas L8 Pros and Cons
What we like
- Competitively priced against European and Japanese rivals
- Smooth, refined, EV-like plug-in powertrain
- Spacious, practical cabin with premium touches
- Bigger boot than the Tiguan and RAV4
- Low 10% BIK makes it a strong company car choice
What needs work
- Convoluted, unintuitive touchscreen infotainment
- Fidgety ride on rural roads; float at higher speeds
- Electric-only range falls short of key rivals
- Torque steer under hard acceleration
- No quick way to switch off the ADAS functions
Verdict: Is the Lepas L8 Worth Buying?
The L8 feels like one of the more complete products to come from Chery's growing portfolio. The cabin is spacious and reasonably premium, the standard equipment list is strong, and the plug-in powertrain is smooth and hushed. For a family that values room, running costs and a full kit list, it is easy to see the appeal, especially at a price that undercuts its main plug-in rivals by around £10,000.
Yet the compromises are real. The infotainment system demands patience, the ride never quite settles, and the electric range trails both the Tiguan eHybrid and the RAV4 PHEV. On the dynamic and usability fronts, the best European and Japanese options remain a step ahead, and if a long electric range matters more than price, Toyota's expanding hybrid line-up shows how deep that advantage runs.
Who should buy the Lepas L8?
Buy it if you want maximum space and standard equipment per pound, charge at home or work, and treat the infotainment as a minor annoyance you can live with.
Look elsewhere if you want the longest electric range, the most intuitive tech, or a family SUV that engages the driver. The Tiguan eHybrid and RAV4 PHEV are worth the extra money if your budget stretches.
Lepas L8 Image Gallery
Watch: The Lepas L8 in Action
If you prefer to see the car before you read the spec sheet, this video review from Auto Express explains why the new Chinese brand believes it can take on Volkswagen in the family SUV segment, and walks through the cabin, the tech and the driving experience.
Lepas L8 Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Lepas L8?
The Lepas L8 is the first model from Lepas, the new premium brand created by Chinese automaker Chery. It is a plug-in hybrid family SUV around 4.6 metres long, priced from £34,700 in the UK, and positioned against the Volkswagen Tiguan and Toyota RAV4.
Who makes the Lepas L8?
The Lepas L8 is made by Chery, the Chinese automaker behind the Jaecoo and Omoda brands. Lepas is its new premium arm; the name combines "leopard" and "passion", and the L8 uses Chery's Super Hybrid System powertrain.
How much does the Lepas L8 cost?
The entry-level Lepas L8 Essence starts from £34,700, while the range-topping Elevate costs £37,900. That undercuts the plug-in hybrid versions of the Volkswagen Tiguan and Toyota RAV4 by almost £10,000.
What is the Lepas L8 electric range?
The Lepas L8 can cover up to 56 miles on electric power alone, according to the manufacturer's claim. That trails the Tiguan eHybrid (72 miles) and RAV4 PHEV (85 miles), but is comparable with the Citroen C5 Aircross PHEV (53 miles).
What engine does the Lepas L8 have?
The L8 uses Chery's Super Hybrid System: a turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol four-cylinder paired with an electric motor and an 18.4kWh battery. Combined output is 275bhp and 269lb ft of torque, with a claimed 0-62mph time of 7.9 seconds and a 111mph top speed.
How big is the Lepas L8 boot?
The Lepas L8 has a 507-litre boot, which beats the Volkswagen Tiguan (490 litres) and Toyota RAV4 (446 litres). There is also underfloor storage, which is handy for hiding the charging cable.
Is the Lepas L8 worth buying?
The L8 is a strong choice if you value space, standard equipment and low running costs for the money. It is less convincing than the Tiguan eHybrid and RAV4 PHEV on electric range, ride comfort and infotainment usability, so weigh those trade-offs before buying.
Final Thoughts
The Lepas L8 lands at an interesting moment. Chinese brands now account for a meaningful slice of European new car sales, and Chery has shown it can scale faster than almost anyone. The L8 is the most complete expression of that ambition yet: genuinely spacious, genuinely well equipped, and genuinely cheap against its plug-in rivals.
It is not a flawless car. The touchscreen will test your patience, the ride could be calmer, and 56 miles of electric range is behind the class leaders. But at £34,700 to £37,900, those compromises come with an £10,000 saving attached, which is exactly the kind of trade many family buyers will happily make. If you are weighing the L8 against the RAV4 PHEV or Tiguan eHybrid, the question is not whether the Lepas is the better car, but whether the price gap makes it the better deal for your household.
Would you take an L8 over a Tiguan, or save the money and spend it elsewhere? Tell us in the comments, and if you are still comparing, explore more of the plug-in hybrid family car market to see what else fits your budget.
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