The Lepas L8 has arrived. It’s a plug-in hybrid SUV with 279 horsepower and a starting price of 33,990 euros. Chery Auto is using Lepas to test whether it can build a distinct brand in Spain, where buyers already know Chinese carmakers. The fight now is to get noticed.
Chery Auto has already put Omoda, Jaecoo, and Ebro on the map in Spain. Lepas is its next move, and the L8 Super Hybrid is the first test. Can the brand establish itself beyond a new badge on an old formula?
Lepas has already opened 52 sales points across Spain, signaling a full-scale market entry rather than a one-off import.
Identity in a saturated market
The L8’s launch is no accident. Lepas isn’t aiming to be the cheap option. It wants to compete with mainstream electrified SUVs through sharp design, technology, and features that feel a step above. The “Leopard Aesthetics” design, shaped around a leopard’s outline, gives the L8 a distinct look. It has a geometric grille, bold LED lights, and a wide rear light bar. Lepas plans to draw on Chery’s production capacity while giving buyers a vehicle they can recognize as a Lepas, rather than another Chery.
The L8 is 4.69 meters long, placing it in the mid-to-large family SUV class. Inside, it’s designed for daily use, with 507 liters of boot space or 1,314 liters with the seats down. The cabin is flexible and offers plenty of storage. Tech takes center stage: a 10.25-inch digital dash, a 13.2-inch vertical touchscreen, and a Snapdragon 8155 chip running the HMI 5.0 system. Lepas says it wants technology that fits in without taking over. Acoustic comfort and air quality systems are also included, with the aim of delivering a quieter, smoother ride.
Spanish automotive media report that the L8 was developed with European tastes in mind and positioned to compete directly with established models such as the Toyota RAV4 and Volkswagen Tiguan. This European focus is basic to Lepas’s effort to distinguish itself from other Chinese brands.
Hybrid power and European tuning
The L8 pairs a 1.5 TGDI petrol engine with two electric motors and an 18.4 kWh LFP battery. The system produces 279 CV and 365 Nm of torque, while a 1DHT transmission switches between serial, parallel, and pure electric modes. Lepas gives the official electric range as 90 kilometers WLTP, or up to 123 km in city driving. Total range is 1,040 kilometers. The L8 accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.9 seconds and reaches a top speed of 180 km/h. Fuel use is 2.2 l/100 km combined, rising to 6.0 l/100 km with the battery empty.
Numbers tell only part of the story. The L8 uses the LEXP platform, with multi-link rear suspension and a low center of gravity. Lepas has tuned the chassis and suspension for European roads and driving preferences. Many Chinese brands skip this step. The company wants the L8 to feel right for local drivers, rather than like a generic global SUV.
Safety and tech as selling points
Safety is basic to the L8’s pitch. The SUV has a high-strength frame, 10 airbags, and more than 20 advanced driver aids. Its equipment includes parking assist, a 540-degree panoramic camera, and automatic and remote parking. These features are designed to make city driving less stressful. Lepas is counting on its technology package to take on European and Japanese rivals at the same price. The test will be whether these systems prove as reliable and easy to use as Spanish drivers expect.
Beyond the L8
Lepas has more than one model planned. The brand has announced two all-electric SUVs, the L6 EV and L4 EV, for Spain by late 2026, with deliveries in early 2027. The L6 EV will have 217 CV, a 65 kWh LFP battery, and up to 450 kilometers of WLTP range. The smaller L4 EV will offer 218 CV and the same range. Both will use the Leopard Aesthetics design and LEXP platform. Lepas wants to establish a long-term presence in Spain. For more on the L4 EV’s focus on space and range, recent coverage has taken a closer look.
The real test begins
The L8 arrives as “more car for the money” loses its power to distinguish a vehicle. Omoda and Jaecoo have already opened the door for Chinese brands, and the market is now packed with electrified SUVs. Lepas needs to give buyers a clear reason to choose its badge. Chery Auto has shown it can build and sell cars in Spain. Now it needs to build a brand people remember and return to. The L8 is the first step, and its performance will shape what comes next. Lepas is relying on design and technology, along with a European driving feel, to win over buyers with plenty of choices. The coming year will test whether that approach gains traction or Lepas fades into the background of Spain’s SUV boom.
