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Lepas L8 PHEV test – when you have almost everything, but you still want something more
The Lepas L8 is a car that wants to pamper you. It parks itself, warns you of dangers, helps you stay in your lane, and even makes it easier to get out of the vehicle. There's plenty of room for passengers, almost too much equipment, and the hybrid drive offers a pleasant combination of electric and gasoline driving. But after two weeks of driving, I realized that all these technological goodies can also be a bit of a hassle. In addition, despite its dimensions, the L8 is surprisingly impractical for some completely everyday tasks.
A large screen, electrically adjustable seats, cameras, a bunch of assistance systems and numerous functions that you don't even know exist at first. Some you discover only after a few days, often completely by accident. Lepas is a new car brand of the Chinese group Chery, which is also behind the Omoda and Jaecoo brands. It entered the Slovenian market with the L8 model, a plug-in hybrid that wants to convince buyers with spaciousness, rich equipment and a sense of prestige for a slightly more "accessible" price. In quotes, because €40,000 (and more) still seems very high to me.
I tested the more equipped version, which includes a panoramic roof, advanced parking functions, and numerous comfort features, among other things.
| Advantages | Weaknesses |
| Extremely spacious and comfortable rear seat | The trunk is awkwardly designed, despite its 507 liters |
| Extensive standard and optional equipment | Suspension could do better on rough roads |
| Responsive, quiet and smooth hybrid drivetrain | The center display is positioned too low |
| Convenient remote car movement | |
| Automatic parking | |
| Physical keys for important functions |
Lepas L8 price and specifications
Lepas L8 is available from €40,990 (Essence equipment package), the tested version is available for €43,990 (Elegance package).
| Drive | Plug-in hybrid (PHEV), front-wheel drive |
| Gasoline engine | 1.5-liter turbocharged TGDI |
| Power and torque | 205 kW (279 hp), 365 Nm |
| Gearbox | Dedicated DHT hybrid transmission |
| Battery | 18.4 kWh (LFP) |
| Electric range | Up to 90 km (WLTP) |
| Total reach | Up to 1040 km |
| AC/DC charging | Up to 6.6kW / 40kW |
| Trunk | 507–1314 liters |
The size you notice in the parking lot and when you look down at the front hood
The Lepas L8 is 4.69 meters long, 1.87 meters wide and almost 1.69 meters high. The wheelbase is 2.8 meters. You're not sitting in a city baby, but it's not the biggest SUV on the market either. It's in the middle. On the road, its size didn't particularly bother me. A completely different story begins in the parking lot in front of the apartment block.
If you live in an older, somewhat narrower parking lot, you'll quickly understand what I'm talking about. The L8 actually fills the parking space, and sometimes it also protrudes a bit. When there are two other cars parked on both sides, opening the door or trunk becomes a pain. You don't want to damage your own car, but of course you don't want to damage someone else's, so you wind around the door like a snake. It's especially interesting when you want to put a child, a bag, or some larger item in the back seat. You can only open the door enough to squeeze through, but you have to be careful not to rub against the car next to you.
Lepas has a proven solution for such situations. With the remote parking function, you can move your car out of a parking space without getting behind the wheel. But you have to be careful not to bump into a passerby at that moment. Since I live in such a block of flats, I used this function diligently, several times a day. Especially when I wanted to fit a stroller into the trunk and parked too close to the wall.
In terms of design, I like the L8 best from the front. The grille is expressive, the lighting elements complement the whole nicely, and the car looks confident and modern. The rear didn't convince me as much. The sides in particular are a bit strange to me. It's as if the designers wanted to squeeze them together in any way possible, even though the rest of the car emphasizes width and spaciousness. I know that design is a matter of taste, but to me the rear end is simply not as attractive as the front.
The interior has its own character, but I would move the screen higher
If the exterior didn't quite win me over, the interior was more to my taste. The cabin has its own charm. It's not just another copy of the minimalist interior, where the designers put a huge plaque in the middle of the dashboard, removed all the buttons, and declared that the car is now modern.
The materials, color combinations, and design details create a feeling of a cozy space. Nothing looks particularly cheap, and there are also many small solutions that you only start to notice after prolonged use.
One of the best decisions is that Lepas hasn't completely abandoned physical switches. There are still buttons for frequently used functions on the steering wheel and below the central display. I can control the volume, climate control, cruise control and some other settings without having to scroll through the screen every time. The lights and wipers are also still direct enough.
The central screen measures 13.2 inches, and in front of the driver there is a 10.25-inch digital instrument panel. The image is clear, there is enough information, and the interface offers enough settings (tire condition, driving information, navigation, music, etc.).
However, I have one rather big complaint about the central display. It is positioned too low for me. In fact, I would have no qualms about removing the bottom third of it. Even so, the display would still be large enough for navigation, settings, and other functions. But currently, for some tasks, I have to look quite low, away from the road.
I may be a bit old-fashioned, but I believe that a car screen should not require more attention from the driver than is absolutely necessary. I feel the same way about all the additional options. Lepas offers a lot of them, but most drivers will probably not use them regularly. On the other hand, it is nice when you discover a little thing that actually makes your everyday life easier.
Among them is the function of automatically moving the driver's seat back when getting out. It may not be revolutionary and is aimed at older drivers, but even I, in my early 30s, quickly got used to it. When you open the door, you have more legroom and it's easier to get out of the car.
What I might still miss is more hidden corners for storing things. Under the center console you have another larger space with additional connections, under the armrest you have a hole that also serves as a refrigerator, on each door you have that classic space, by the mirror you have a drop-down compartment for glasses, and for the rear passengers a drop-down backrest with two drink holders, and then the list ends. I'm not saying that there are too few of them, but maybe I would like at least two more larger spaces, because children's equipment accumulates very quickly.
Rear passengers will be impressed, the trunk a little less so
There is a lot of space for passengers in the back. Even if there is a tall person sitting in the front, the passenger in the back will not have to cut their knees to sit comfortably. The same goes for headroom. Taller passengers will not feel like they are being confined to the back of a sports coupe.
Most of the time, there was also a child seat in the car and the front seat could be moved all the way back and there was still enough space between the car seat and the child's shell.
Unfortunately, the story changes a bit when I open the trunk. The official volume is 507 liters, but with the rear seats folded down, it increases to 1,314 liters. The numbers don't seem bad at first glance. Based on the numbers alone, I'd say I could fit practically everything in there, even skis, if I wanted to (although I'm not a skier).
When I put the disassembled stroller in the trunk, there was very little room for other luggage. Maybe I could have added a shopping bag or a small suitcase if I had arranged everything well, but I expected more from such a large car. It's a strange contrast. You have space inside, as if you were in your own living room, but the trunk can't accommodate a large suitcase and a stroller. On a vacation to Rovinj, I took a large suitcase (the size you take for 20 kg on a plane) and had to move the back seat, where my partner was sitting, a little forward so that I could fit it in lengthwise. It wasn't possible widthwise, because then the stroller (the lower part with the wheels) wouldn't fit in the space.
Of course, a lot depends on the size and shape of the stroller. In my case, it just didn't work, so I put the basket on the front seat instead of the stroller.
If I were buying the Lepas L8 as a family car, I would definitely bring my stroller to the dealership before signing the contract and check how much space is left for other luggage.
Technology that pampers you and occasionally gets on your nerves
The Lepas L8 has so many electronic assistants that towards the end of the test, I started to wonder if I could even drive a car without them. A bit of a joke, but there is also some truth to that.
The car constantly monitors what is happening around it. It warns of vehicles in the blind spot, monitors the position in the lane, monitors speed limits and checks the driver's attention. Cameras help with parking, and adaptive cruise control makes driving easier over long distances.
I liked the cruise control on the highway. It worked reliably, and the car kept its lane well. Such assistance is welcome on longer trips, as it reduces the need for constant minor corrections of direction and speed. Of course, the driver still has to monitor the traffic and remain ready to intervene.
Cameras are also a very useful addition for such a large car. When parking between two cars or approaching a curb, you quickly realize how convenient it is to have an overview of the vehicle's surroundings.
Warnings, however, deserve my ire. Lepas (and basically all cars today) has started to annoy me with its beeping from time to time. It warns of speeding, of the perceived limit and of the gaze that momentarily strayed towards the central screen. Even my driving instructor 15 years ago was less attentive than all these sensors.
Don't get me wrong. Safety systems have a purpose and can often prevent accidents. The problem arises when the warnings become so frequent that you start to perceive them as annoying noise.
The warnings can be turned off, but most of them are reactivated the next time you start the car. This is required by European law for speeding warnings, so Lepas is no exception. Fortunately, one of the buttons on the steering wheel can be assigned a shortcut to quickly turn off the audible speed warning.
However, I got an interesting feeling after the test. It's like I've gotten a little too used to the car monitoring certain details for me. With an older car, you have to pay more attention to your surroundings. With the Lepas L8, you can quickly get caught up in thinking that the car will just warn you if something is wrong.
For almost two tons of mass, it is surprisingly responsive
The Lepas L8 uses a plug-in hybrid powertrain that combines a 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine and an electric motor. The total output is 205 kW or 279 horsepower, and the maximum torque is 365 Nm. Power is transmitted to the front wheels via a dedicated hybrid transmission. The car accelerates to 100 km/h in 7.9 seconds, which is a solid result for a two-ton car.
The engine, or the combination of both drives, responds quickly. When I press the accelerator, the car doesn't have to think long about what I want from it. Acceleration is concrete, and the transitions between electric and gasoline are smooth enough that I didn't have to deal with them while driving.
I also liked the silence in the cabin. Especially when driving calmly, the L8 is a very pleasant passenger, and the drive does not create unnecessary noise. I also felt good on the highway. The car holds the direction well, acts stably and gives the feeling that it has enough power for overtaking.
But the L8 is no athlete. Its weight and size make themselves felt in the corners. It's not clumsy or unpredictable, but don't expect the ease of a smaller, more agile car. Quick changes of direction are not its favorite discipline.
On a well-maintained road, the ride is pleasant, but a slightly more “pimpled” surface quickly reveals that the suspension is not as smooth as I expected. On small successive bumps, more vibrations are transmitted into the cabin than I would like in a car that emphasizes comfort so strongly. I'm not talking about an unpleasant or harsh ride. I simply expected a slightly better cushioning of poor roads (of which there are quite a few on my way home from work).
Electric range is good
The drive battery has a capacity of 18.4 kWh. Lepas promises up to 90 kilometers (WLTP) of driving purely on electricity, and a combined range with gasoline and electric power should reach 1,040 kilometers.
In my driving style, I drove about 60 kilometers on electric power, less than advertised, but I didn't expect anything else. My driving is more dynamic, which doesn't mean I'm going wild, but that I like to accelerate quickly to the current limit and start quickly at traffic lights.
Sixty kilometers is enough for my (and many others') daily commute to work (Kamnik-Medvode), the store, or other errands. If you have the option of regular charging at home and your daily commutes are not too long, you can drive for a large part of the time without using the gasoline engine.
On longer journeys, the advantage of the plug-in hybrid is logically included. When the electricity for purely electric mode runs out, the car continues driving with the help of the petrol engine and the hybrid system. With mixed driving on motorways and local roads, the total range in my usage mode was around 900 kilometres. Considering the size and weight of the car, this is a completely solid result. With a completely discharged battery, my consumption was around 7-7.5 l, again with more dynamic driving.
The L8 supports AC charging at up to 6.6 kW, and DC fast charging at up to 40 kW. At full power, the battery will charge in half an hour, but it's best to leave it on a home outlet overnight.
Some little things quickly become favorites
I've mentioned several times that the Lepas L8 offers a lot of technology. But not all features are equally useful. The panoramic roof is a great example of an accessory that makes an impression. It makes the car feel more open and airy, and gives passengers a more pleasant feeling of spaciousness. I wasn't able to fully utilize its usefulness at this time of year, but it's definitely one of those accessories that you're happy to show off to your fellow passengers.
The seat adjustment is also nice, and the higher-spec version also offers heating, ventilation and a massage function. Useful extras include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, numerous customization options and good visibility from the parking cameras.
In all of this, it is important to me that the car also allows for normal use without constantly exploring settings. In this regard, the Lepas L8 is somewhat torn between two worlds.
On the one hand, it offers a lot of physical switches, which I really appreciate. On the other hand, it wants to remind the driver at every turn how much electronics they have built in. Perhaps it would be better if there were one less feature and the manufacturer would focus a little more on the user experience.
A lot of car for just over 40 thousand
The Lepas L8 PHEV is available in two trim levels in Slovenia. The basic Essence costs 40,990 euros and already includes numerous features, including a digital instrument cluster, a large central display, a camera system, adaptive cruise control, and support for smartphone connectivity.
The richer Elegance costs 43,990 euros. For an additional three thousand euros, it offers, among other things, 20-inch wheels, a panoramic roof, more comfortable electrically adjustable seats, a better sound system and advanced automatic parking functions.
There are many competing SUVs in this price range, but not many that combine such a large amount of interior space, a plug-in hybrid drive and so much equipment for a similar amount. On the other hand, Lepas is a new brand that has yet to prove its long-term reliability, quality of service support and the preservation of the value of used vehicles on the Slovenian market.
The manufacturer offers a seven-year warranty or up to 150,000 kilometers, and a longer warranty for some electric drive components.
A very good traveler with some unusual compromises
I liked the Lepas L8, but not without reservations. What convinced me the most was the spaciousness of the rear seat, the responsive and quiet drive, and the rich equipment. The cabin has its own character, many small details are well thought out, and the physical buttons are proof that digitalization can be approached a little more sensibly. I also liked the operation of the cruise control, stability on the highway, and the ability to remotely move the car from a tight parking space.
Then there are the things that bother me. The trunk is less useful than I would like, given the car's external dimensions and the huge amount of space for passengers. The chassis could do better at absorbing rough roads, the central display could be placed a little higher, and the warning systems could be less intrusive.
If you live in a block with tight parking spaces, often haul a lot of family luggage, or expect extremely soft suspension, I would recommend a slightly longer test drive and a thorough trunk inspection.
But if you're looking for a spacious, well-equipped family car that can do most short trips on electricity and can take you on longer trips without any special planning, the Lepas L8 is definitely a good candidate.
I would personally remove some of the beeping, move the screen higher, and add an extra liter to the trunk. Then it would be much harder to complain.
Below is a short clip.
