Chinese car makers are often accused of imitating popular European models. But the latest family car from China to arrive on Britain’s roads is a little different. That's because it's a copycat of another Chinese motor.
It has been unveiled this week as an electrified SUV rival to popular mainstream family choices like the Nissan Qashqai and Kia Sportage - and Britain's latest best seller, the Chinese-made Jaecoo 7.
Jaecoo's SUV has become a massive sales hit in the UK, topping the March registrations chart as it firmly cements itself among 2026's most-bought motors.
The £29,000 Jaecoo has been dubbed the ‘Temu Range Rover’ for its striking resemblance to the British car maker’s £55,000 Velar SUV and it now has its own doppelganger - the Lepas L6.
Lepas is owned by the Chery Group – also Jaecoo's parent company - and its new L6 shares much of its architecture with the big-selling 7.
But unlike the popular Jaecoo, it will be offered as a fully electric model when it arrives later this year.
The Chinese copycat of another Chinese car: This is the new Lepas L6 - an electrified family SUV that should look pretty familiar...
‹ Slide me ›
Lepas is owned by Chery, as is Jaecoo. And the L6 from the new brand uses the same platform as the Jaecoo 7, which last month was Britain's best-selling motor in showrooms
Lepas is the fourth Chery brand to debut in the UK in the last 18 months.
Omoda came first in late 2024, followed swiftly by Jaecoo in January 2025 and the Chery standalone marque last summer.
The L6 – which arrives around October – shares underpinnings with both the Jaecoo 7 and Omoda 5.
When it hits Chery’s extensive dealer network later in 2026, it will be sold with the choice of a long-range self-charging hybrid or an all-electric powertrain.
It will be the second Lepas model available in the UK, following closely in the tyre tracks of the larger L8 SUV, which arrives a month or two earlier.
Lepas - a name made up of the combination of 'leopard' and 'passion' - will be positioned as the most luxurious of the four Chery pillars and be tuned for European roads.
UK specifications remain under wraps for now, but we do know that the self-charging hybrid system will be the same as the one deployed in Chery's similarly sized Tiggo 4.
The ‘Super Hybrid System’ in that car combines a 1.5-litre petrol engine with a small onboard battery and single electric motor. Married together, it delivers 201bhp of propulsion.
With a full tank of fuel and the battery charged to 100 per cent, Lepas says the L6 will be good for 700-mile journeys without needing to stop.
Unlike the popular Jaecoo, the Lepas L6 will be offered as a fully electric model (pictured) when it arrives on Britain's roads later this year
‹ Slide me ›
The Jaecoo (right) that has been a big sales hit in the UK, topping the March registrations chart. Given its popularity, it's no surprise to see the Lepas emerge as a like-for-like rival
For a premium, UK customers will also be able to choose a full EV variant – an option not available for the Jaecoo 7 to date.
It will have a 67kWh high-voltage battery at its heart, which is claimed to be capable of delivering 270-mile journeys between charges, according to the official European test cycle.
It’s not confirmed how powerful the L6 EV will be, though during its unveiling at the Bangkok Motor Show the vehicle on display used a 239bhp electric motor sending power to the front wheels.
Read More
Could a Chinese car really scoop top spot in the sales charts? Jaecoo 7 - dubbed the 'Temu Range Rover' - is on course to be 2026's best seller
Despite its more elegant swooping lines and rounder wheel arches, there's no disguising the Jaecoo 7's DNA that lies beneath.
The more svelte design is claimed to embody the 'agility of a running leopard'. We'll let you decide whether it has achieved such a bold statement or not.
The hybrid and EV versions will look extremely similar, with the former getting a chrome-studded grille, while the fully electric variants will have a flush front end.
Inside, it boasts a large tablet-style portrait touchscreen that blends into the centre console.
One notable cabin inclusion is its wood-style trim on the dashboard, which is more evocative of luxury British motors of the 1970s rather than a modern-era Chinese gadget fest.
It also has a simple two-spoke steering wheel.
But while it might have some retro appeal, it's promised to be a tech haven - like most Chinese cars entering the market in the last 18 months.
Lepas - a name made up of the combination of 'leopard' and 'passion' - will be positioned as the most luxurious of the four Chery pillars and be tuned for European roads
‹ Slide me ›
The L6 (left) – which arrives around October – shares underpinnings with both the Jaecoo 7 (right) and Omoda 5
Inside, the Lepas L6 boasts a large tablet-style portrait touchscreen that blends into the centre console. It also has a modern two-spoke steering wheel
Ray Wang, Lepas UK's managing director, says it will be 'as clever as your smartphone, with intelligent technology woven into every journey, and as sophisticated as your home, delivering comfort, safety, and connectivity at every turn'.
He added: “The Lepas L6 marks an exciting step for our brand in Europe and, of course, the UK market – as we confirm this will be the second model sold.
'Combining our proprietary LEPAS Super Hybrid and fully electric powertrains, the L6 delivers exceptional efficiency, impressive range, and rapid charging – all tailored for British roads.'
Showcased at Milan Design Week, full UK specification details will be revealed closer to order books opening in the final quarter of 2026.
The hybrid is expected to ring in at around £28,000 - significantly undercutting legacy rivals - while the EV should start just above the £30k threshold.
