Lepas L8 in Portugal: Price, Specs and Electric Range of Chery's New PHEV SUV
Published: 24/06/2026
Lepas L8: Chery's new European brand lands with a PHEV SUV under £35,000
Chery has just launched yet another brand for Western markets, and this one aims squarely at families. It's called Lepas, and the first model — the Lepas L8 — is a plug-in hybrid SUV of around 4.7 metres that starts at £34,900 in the UK. If you're in Portugal keeping an eye on the new Chinese plug-in hybrid SUVs arriving in 2026, this is a name worth remembering: the electric range and the projected price make it a genuine rival to the Tiguans and Sportages we already know.
Lepas joins Chery, Omoda, and Jaecoo under the same group. The name blends "Leopard," "Leap," and "Passion," and the brand was built from the ground up for Europe, the UK, Australia, and South Africa. The L8 is the flagship it's launching with.
What the Lepas L8 plug-in hybrid is
Underneath, the L8 sits on the Chery Tiggo 9 platform and inherits the same generous 2,800 mm wheelbase. The difference is that where the Tiggo 9 carries seven seats, the Lepas makes do with five — which translates into more room for occupants and a boot of around 507 litres. At 4.7 metres long, it plays in the D-segment, the home of family SUVs.
At its heart is a "Super Hybrid" PHEV system. A 1.5 turbo petrol engine producing 141 hp (105 kW) works alongside an electric motor of 201 hp (150 kW) through a dedicated hybrid transmission (DHT). Combined output is around 279 hp and 365 Nm of torque. This is not a slow SUV.
Lepas L8 electric range and charging
Here's the part that matters most to anyone living in Portugal. The battery is 18.4 kWh — interestingly, it's the smaller unit from the Tiggo 7 and Tiggo 8 rather than the larger 33.46 kWh pack in the Tiggo 9. Even so, it's good for up to 56 miles of electric-only driving, which is roughly 90 to 100 km on the WLTP cycle (South Africa even quotes 107 km).
For daily life, that means the essentials: city trips and the commute can run entirely on electric, without burning a drop of fuel. Charge at home and you can go most of the week without visiting a pump. When you do need to go further, the combined range reaches 745 miles — close to 1,200 km — with official emissions of just 21 g/km of CO2.
DC fast charging tops out at 40 kW, which takes the battery from 30 to 80% in about 20 minutes. It's not a headline figure — many pure EVs charge far faster — but for a small plug-in battery it's more than enough. In practice, overnight home charging covers almost everything.
Lepas L8 specs
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Segment | D-segment family SUV, 5 seats |
| Length | approx. 4.7 m (4,680 mm) |
| Wheelbase | 2,800 mm |
| Boot | approx. 507 L |
| Petrol engine | 1.5 turbo, 141 hp, 210 Nm |
| Electric motor | 201 hp, 310 Nm |
| Combined power | approx. 279 hp |
| Combined torque | approx. 365 Nm |
| Battery | 18.4 kWh |
| Electric range | up to 90-100 km (WLTP) |
| Combined range | up to 1,200 km |
| CO2 emissions | 21 g/km |
| DC charging | 30-80% in approx. 20 min (40 kW) |
| Top speed | approx. 180 km/h |
| Infotainment | 13.2" touchscreen + 10.25" driver display |
| Warranty | 7 years vehicle, 8 years battery |
Two trims: Essence and Elevate
In the UK the L8 comes in two versions. The Essence, at £34,900, already brings plenty: 19-inch wheels, a panoramic roof, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry and start, a 13.2-inch touchscreen, a 10.25-inch digital driver's display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a smartphone charger, and over-the-air updates.
The Elevate, at £37,900, raises the bar with 20-inch wheels, power-adjustable front seats with heating, ventilation, and massage, faux-leather upholstery, a powered tailgate, an eight-speaker Sony sound system, a 540-degree camera, and added sound-proofing on the front windows. The differences are mostly about comfort and equipment — the mechanicals are identical.
Lepas L8 vs VW Tiguan PHEV and the other rivals
The L8 enters a crowded segment. Direct rivals are the plug-in versions of the Volkswagen Tiguan, Kia Sportage and Sorento, Hyundai Tucson and Santa Fe, Skoda Kodiaq iV, and BYD Sealion 5, plus its own group "cousins," the Jaecoo 7 and Omoda 7. Where the Lepas can score is on the combination of above-average electric range and an aggressive price.
| Model | Power | EV range | Approx. price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lepas L8 | 279 hp | 100 km | approx. €40,000 |
| Kia Sorento PHEV | 265 hp | 57 km | approx. €55,000 |
| Hyundai Santa Fe PHEV | 265 hp | 54 km | approx. €53,000 |
| Skoda Kodiaq PHEV | 204 hp | 90 km | approx. €48,000 |
| Omoda 7 | 279 hp | 92 km | approx. €32,990 |
Look at the price column. If the L8 really lands near €40,000, it sits well below the Korean and European rivals of comparable size, while offering more electric range than most of them.
Lepas L8 price Portugal: when it arrives and what it costs
Here we have to be honest: there is no official price or date for Portugal yet. What we know is the UK starting point — £34,900 for the Essence, with orders opening in July 2026 and first deliveries in September. Sources point to an estimated figure of around €40,000 for continental Europe, and the Spanish launch is also slated for June 2026.
One simple fact works in Portugal's favour: Chery, Omoda, and Jaecoo already operate here. The network and the import channel exist, and it would make sense for Lepas to use them. But until there's an official announcement, any Portuguese price is a projection from the UK and continental Europe — worth watching over the coming months.
It's also worth remembering the Portuguese tax picture. A PHEV with 21 g/km of CO2 and more than 50 km of electric range can benefit from reduced ISV (the vehicle registration tax) compared with an equivalent combustion engine, and plug-in hybrids still enjoy advantages on IUC (annual road tax) and company-car taxation. Those are sums that make a real difference to the true cost over a year.
Frequently Asked Questions
There is no official price for Portugal yet. In the UK the L8 starts at £34,900 for the Essence and £37,900 for the Elevate, and sources point to an estimated figure of around €40,000 for continental Europe. If it confirms that positioning, it lands well below similarly sized Korean rivals such as the Kia Sorento PHEV (approx. €55,000) or the Hyundai Santa Fe PHEV (approx. €53,000).
The Lepas L8 uses an 18.4 kWh battery good for up to 56 miles, which is roughly 90 to 100 km on the WLTP cycle (South Africa even quotes 107 km). In practice that covers city trips and the commute for most of the week on electric power if you charge at home. Combined with the petrol engine, total range reaches 745 miles, close to 1,200 km, with official emissions of just 21 g/km of CO2.
There is no confirmed date for Portugal. In the UK orders open in July 2026 with first deliveries expected in September 2026, and the Spanish launch is slated for June 2026. Since Chery, Omoda, and Jaecoo already operate in Portugal through the same group structure, it is plausible that Lepas will use that network, but until an official announcement any date is a projection.
The Lepas L8 accepts DC fast charging at 40 kW, taking the battery from 30 to 80% in about 20 minutes. It is not a headline figure compared with pure EVs, but for an 18.4 kWh plug-in battery it is more than enough. For daily use, overnight home charging covers almost everything.
As a plug-in hybrid with just 21 g/km of CO2 and more than 50 km of electric range, the Lepas L8 can qualify for reduced ISV (vehicle registration tax) compared with an equivalent combustion engine. PHEVs also keep advantages on IUC (annual road tax) and company-car taxation, which lowers the true yearly cost. The exact figures will depend on homologation and the final price set in Portugal.
Is the Lepas L8 worth waiting for?
For anyone after a five-seat family SUV with enough electric range for the week and a price that promises to undercut the established competition, the L8 deserves a place on the shortlist. The 7-year vehicle and 8-year battery warranty helps reassure buyers still wary of Chinese brands. The decisive piece is missing: confirmation of a Portuguese launch and price. If that lands near €40,000, Lepas has a serious newcomer on its hands — and a fully electric version is already pencilled in for 2027.