Sales of the Lepas L6 EV have begun in the United Kingdom. Chery is starting modestly but offering a long warranty.
Lepas, a new brand under Chery, has opened orders in the UK for its first electric SUV, the L6 EV. The vehicle features a 65 kWh LFP battery, a 160 kW engine, and a range of 279 miles, or about 449 km. There is no word yet on the brand’s debut in Poland, so this is likely an indication of how Chery plans to enter Europe.
British customers will have two trim levels: Essence and Elevate. Pricing has not been announced yet, although orders are already being accepted. This is a fairly typical strategy when introducing a new brand—first release the specifications and build a waitlist, then disclose the prices.
What does the Lepas L6 EV offer?
Regardless of the trim level, the Lepas L6 EV comes with the same powertrain. At the front is a 160 kW engine, equivalent to 217 horsepower, with a torque of 275 Nm. It accelerates from 0 to 62 mph, or 100 km/h, in 7.9 seconds, with a top speed of 111 mph, around 179 km/h.
The battery has a capacity of 65 kWh and uses LFP chemistry. The manufacturer promises a range of up to 279 miles, which is about 449 km. The European WLTP figure has not been released yet, so this number should be treated with caution until the methodology is known. On paper, it seems reasonable for a family electric vehicle, but nothing extraordinary.
DC charging tops out at 120 kW, and it takes around 22 minutes to go from 30% to 80% charge. This isn’t in the same league as 800 V systems or competing with brands like BYD or Xiaomi. However, for everyday use, such performance shouldn’t be a problem as long as the charging curve is decent.
Equipment and Warranty
The base Essence version is already expected to come fully equipped. The list includes 19-inch wheels, a panoramic roof, a 13.2-inch screen, a 540-degree camera, and 22 ADAS functions. The manufacturer relies heavily on extensive equipment here because a new brand without established recognition usually needs to offer more standard features to attract customers.
The Elevate version adds electrically adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, Sony Premium audio, and Advanced Parking Assist. It also includes OTA and FOTA updates.
The warranty is the most interesting aspect. Chery promises 17 years or 100,000 miles for the vehicle and 8 years or 100,000 miles for the high-voltage battery. The first clause sounds highly marketing-driven, so it will be necessary to examine the detailed terms, exclusions, and determine whether this is a tiered program with service-related traps. However, the numerical figures alone are impressive.
The manufacturer describes the car’s style as inspired by a leopard and “the elegance of a leopard.” Well, the marketing team in design operates on its own. What’s more important is that Chery is launching another brand in the UK alongside its already established names in Europe, testing how much market share can be gained through specifications, warranty, and comprehensive equipment.
If the price is set reasonably, the L6 EV could enter competition with cheaper Chinese family electric vehicles. If they overprice it, just the story about leopards won’t be enough. How would you price a car with a 65 kWh battery, 160 kW power output, and 120 kW charging speed?
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