Lepas L6 ICE (2026) Review: An alternative to Chery?

The Lepas L4 launched locally a few months ago, making a big splash with its small introductory price of R 299,900; however, the larger L6 is on its way, and pre-orders have opened locally. We grabbed the keys to the Lepas L6 ICE derivative to find out exactly what the newcomer will offer ahead of the local media launch. 



Related: SA bound Lepas L6 and L8 driven in China

Before we get into the details, remember that you can sell your vehicle quickly and easily on our website here, and search for new or used Lepas models on AutoTrader here.

Pros

• Well-equipped interior
• Attractive exterior styling
• A lot of standard safety features
• Reasonable pricing

Cons

• Hard interior plastics
  
• Low-speed throttle/gearbox calibration still not great
  

Styling

When you first see a Lepas, you can be forgiven for thinking it's a Jaguar product. In fact, it is sort of what they were going for, given that the name is a portmanteau of "leopard" (or "leap") and "passion". The rounded rectangular grille up front, with its chrome-and-gloss-black mesh and chrome surround, also closely resembles that of the premium British marque. But that's where the similarities stop. 

Space and Comfort

Step inside the Lepas L6, and you are greeted by a very comfortable 9-layer composite seat with 10-way power adjustment, lumbar support, heating, ventilation, and position memory. The dashboard and cabin are minimalist, with only a few HVAC buttons, a drive mode button, and a hazard light button below the 13.2-inch 2K digital infotainment system screen.

The latter offers wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and is rather intuitive to use, especially considering it has gesture, voice or touch control. The voice control also works from a large language model and listens to sentences, not just specific commands. The infotainment system sends its audio through a 6-speaker Sony sound system, which, for a vehicle in this segment, is good.

In front of the driver is an 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster, which offers a minimalist layout that showcases only the most critical information for the driver and which driver-assist systems are active. Below the HVAC buttons, there is a smartphone tray offering space for two devices; however, only one wireless charging pad with up to 50W fast-charging capability. To achieve this minimalist design for the centre console, the gear selector takes the form of a column stalk to the right and behind the steering wheel. 

Situated in the storage bin, one of 39 storage compartments, below the centre console, are two USB-C ports for the front occupants; however, rear occupants benefit from USB-C and USB-A ports. Speaking of the rear occupants, the 2,700mm wheelbase means there is more than ample legroom, and the head and shoulder room is also ample. If you need more than the 397 litres that the boot offers, the rear seats fold flat at a 7° angle, meaning that not only will loading be easier, but according to the brand, it can also be a comfortable space for a bed for camping or spontaneous getaways. 

Overall, the Lepas L6 ICE offers exactly what you expect from a model in this segment; however, we maintain, as found during our test drive in China, that the extensive use of harder plastics on areas such as the door cards and centre console detracts from the premium positioning the brand is putting emphasis on. I would say that in some instances, products from sister brands such as Jaecoo and Omoda might feel a little more premium inside. 

Performance

Under the bonnet, as you would find in many Chery products, is a 1.5-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder petrol engine. This unit produces 108 kW and 225 Nm of torque, sending that power to the front wheels via a 6-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. This is more than ample for the daily commute, and the transmission is smooth. Based on what we saw in China earlier this year, we assume that the Lepas brand plans to bring a hybrid and a full EV derivative, but that remains to be confirmed. 

The drive

The Lepas L6 ICE performed well during my test. While I would by no means classify this as a performance vehicle, the front MacPherson and rear multi-link suspension controlled body roll and pitch while retaining good levels of compliance for comfort. The L6 felt light, and as a result, the motor and transmission delivered good performance on inclines and during overtaking. The brake pedal is well-calibrated, giving confidence during braking, and the throttle tuning was acceptable, and better than previous efforts from Chinese cars, but still not what I'd consider good. Overall, we felt that the noise, vibration, and harshness were acceptable for a model in this segment.

Fuel Consumption

Lepas claims that you should return an average fuel consumption of around 7.2 L/100km; however, during our week-long stint, we managed an average combined fuel consumption of 8.0-8.4 L/100km. This was with urban commuting between Pretoria and Johannesburg, with lots of traffic thrown in. While we think this is a normal figure for a vehicle of this size, there are hybridised competitors achieving close to half that. We are interested in seeing when, or if, the hybrid unit enters the market and how it fares. 

Safety

The Lepas L6 ICE comes packed with standard safety equipment. Owners can expect seven airbags: two front airbags, two side airbags for the front occupants, two curtain airbags that extend all the way to the rear and a driver knee unit. In addition, the driver can expect driver-assistance systems such as Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) to help mitigate collisions and reduce fatigue during trips. 

It also features Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), and Traction Control. There is a 540° view of the vehicle, assisted by four surround cameras, which also feed into the transparent chassis and real-time see-through road functions. The L6 also offers 6+6 ultrasonic radars as part of its automated parking function. There is also a rear-cross traffic alert system with braking. Child restraint seats can be secured using ISOFIX anchors on the outer rear seats.

With all the safety features listed above, we have to say the systems didn't feel intrusive during our test. As a driver, you know that the car is constantly monitoring the surroundings and/or making small corrections to keep the vehicle within the lines or far enough from the vehicle ahead, but it never feels like it's taking over or annoying the driver with beeps or bongs. 

Price

• Lepas L6 Javan: R469 900 (introductory price; standard list price R479 900).

• Lepas L6 Pantera: R499 900.

• Standard vehicle warranty: 5-year / 150,000 km.
• Engine warranty: 10-year / 1,000,000 km (applicable to first owner).
• Service plan: 5-year / 75,000 km.
• Lepas care: 2-year plan covering minor cosmetic repairs, roadside assistance, and mobility support.

Rivals

• Geely Coolray
• Chery Tiggo 7
• Changan Uni-S
• Jetour X70 Plus
• MG HS
• BYD Sealion 5
• Haval H6
• Jaecoo J7
• Omoda C7

Verdict

The Lepas L6 ICE has a distinctive face and does a good job of standing out from the crowd, but the rear looks a little generic. The interior styling follows a similar theme, with a rather nice general layout and design, but the extensive use of plastics might deter a discerning buyer. From a safety and general technology standpoint, the L6 is solid; the drive and comfort are respectable, too.

As an overall value proposition, it's competitive but faces stiff competition from both new and established brands in the country. Would we still recommend you go for a test drive? Most definitely!