Lepas L8 offers luxury for less with its flagship SUV – here’s what to know

Lepas has confirmed the full UK pricing and specification for its new L8 SUV, with the Chinese Chery-backed brand’s flagship model starting from £34,900 when it goes on sale this summer.The L8 will be the first Lepas model to arrive in the UK, with pre-orders opening in July and the first customer deliveries due in September. It will be followed by the smaller L6 C-SUV and L4 B-SUV, with a fully electric version of the L8 due in 2027.

For now, the L8 is launching as a plug-in hybrid, using the Chery group’s now familiar package of a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine, an electric motor and an 18.4kWh battery.

Lepas says that gives it a pure electric range of up to 56 miles, while the total claimed range is up to 745 miles. Official fuel economy is quoted at up to 403.5mpg, with CO2 emissions of 21g/km.

The battery can also be DC rapid charged from 30 to 80 per cent in as little as 20 minutes.open image in galleryLepas is Chery Group's most style-focused brand and the L8 promises both good looks and high quality (Lepas)There will be two versions from launch: Essence and Elevate. The entry-level Essence costs from £34,900, while the better-equipped Elevate starts at £37,900.

Even the cheaper car gets plenty of kit. Standard equipment includes 19-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, LED headlights and rear lights, privacy glass, an acoustic laminated windscreen, a panoramic sunroof with sunshade, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry and go, remote engine start and a 13.2-inch central touchscreen.

There’s also a 10.25-inch digital driver display, connected navigation, 4G connectivity, wireless and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 50W wireless phone charging with cooling, four USB ports and a six-speaker audio system.RecommendedDacia’s New Spring could be Britain’s cheapest car againLiving with the Genesis GV70 Electrified – the car world’s best kept secretI’ve driven the BYD Dolphin G DM-i and I think it’s the best Chinese car yetHas China made a better electric Ferrari than Ferrari?

The Elevate adds 20-inch wheels, acoustic laminated front windows, puddle lights, a hands-free power tailgate, heated windscreen, power-adjustable front seats with heating, cooling and massage, 256-colour ambient lighting, an in-car fragrance system, air purification and active engine noise cancellation. It also swaps the six-speaker stereo for a Sony eight-speaker system.Lepas is pitching the L8 as a premium SUV, and there’s plenty of space on offer.

The car sits on the brand’s LEX platform and has a 2,800mm wheelbase, with Lepas claiming 970mm of rear legroom when the front seats are in a normal driving position.open image in galleryThe Lepas L8 is the first of three new Lepas models coming to the UK this year (Lepas)Safety kit is generous, too, with 10 airbags and a long list of driver assistance features as standard, including autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assistance, blind spot detection, rear cross traffic alert and traffic jam assist. Elevate models add front parking sensors, a 540-degree camera system, advanced parking assist and remote parking assist.

Colour choices include Expressive Emerald as the no-cost option, with Instinct White, Leopard Black, Mystic Purple and Impulse Red costing £500. A matte Stoic Grey finish costs £750.All L8 models come with a seven-year/100,000-mile vehicle warranty, an eight-year/100,000-mile battery warranty and up to seven years of RAC roadside assistance, provided servicing is carried out through an authorised Lepas service centre.

Join our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesComments