LEPAS L6

First Impressions

Walking around the L6, you immediately sense the effort that's gone into making this feel upmarket. Cherry's new premium sub-brand, LEPAS, isn't messing about—they've positioned this as a genuine challenger to established premium EVs, and the care in the details backs that up. The paint is exceptional; that burnt orange on the demo unit isn't a shouty color at all. It's refined, almost matte in how it sits in the light, with a deep pearl effect that catches the sun. It's no accident that this shade has been their top pre-order choice so far.

The proportions are immediately striking. At 4,574mm long with a 2,770mm wheelbase—identical to the Honda CR-V, mind you—this thing is genuinely spacious. The aerodynamic efficiency (0.282 Cd) is impressive too; that low drag coefficient translates directly to range, and you can see it in design choices like the underbody air management and the carefully shaped lower cladding. Everything feels intentional.

Design and Exterior

The headlights are full LED with proper daytime running signatures, and there's a serious air-curtain channel cut into the lower fascia to help the airflow. Around the side, you'll spot the EV badge discretely placed, along with 360-degree camera coverage—a proper job, not an afterthought. The wheels vary by trim; the top model gets 19-inch dual-tone alloys with Kumho PS71 rubber, while the base trim steps down to 18-inch units.

What impressed me most was the door design. The handles aren't hidden; they're mechanical, positioned where you can actually reach them. In a collision or emergency, that's genuinely reassuring—no relying on electronic systems to get you out. The powered tailgate opens smoothly, and there's a proper underseat compartment with plastic bins for organization. I noticed they've added a hidden storage pocket under the hood too, perfect for keeping smelly items away from the cabin.

The rear styling has drawn comparisons to European sports cars—and not unfairly. The full LED taillights use what they call 'Ultra Red,' a wavelength-optimized red that cuts through dust and haze better than standard units. The LEPAS EV badge sits below, leaving no doubt this is a fully electric machine. That sleek spoiler and the shark-fin antenna complete a design that's cohesive without being derivative.

Interior Design and Technology

Inside, the color palette depends on trim. The top model gets a cream and black two-tone that genuinely feels premium—though you'll need to be careful keeping it clean. The upper dashboard wraps in soft-touch material, while lower sections use textured plastic that mimics carbon fiber. It's not leather, but it's honest about what it is, and frankly, the synthetic material on offer here is solid for the segment.

The steering wheel is leather-wrapped and adjusts four ways. The 8.8-inch digital gauge cluster and 13.2-inch vertical touchscreen run Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8155 processor—the same standard you'd expect in this class. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto work wirelessly, which is the bare minimum these days. The 8-speaker Sony audio system surprised me; the bass is controlled, midrange has clarity, and while the treble runs a touch bright, it's tunable and certainly acceptable for a car at this level.

The ambient lighting is genuinely nice. It rings the door speakers and pools around the center console in multiple selectable colors. That panoramic sunroof opens generously and has an electric blind—it won't flood the cabin with excess heat on baking days. The rear passengers get their own air-con controls and dual USB-C charging ports hidden beneath the center armrest, plus a proper full-size charging slot.

Climate control splits into two zones, so front and rear can disagree on temperature. The Ambilights around the cabin create genuine atmosphere without feeling gimmicky. LEPAS has clearly thought about the small things—like the sun visors that actually extend to shield you, or the wireless charging pad that handles 50W for the top trim.

Practicality and Space

This is where the 2,770mm wheelbase really pays dividends. I'm 180cm tall, and I drove with the seat at its lowest. Even then, the rear legroom was genuinely generous—more than two hand-widths of space beneath my feet. The backrest angle is well-judged; it's not too reclined, so taller passengers won't feel claustrophobic. The rear bench rises slightly, giving middle-row occupants a better view forward, which helps on long drives.

Storage is plentiful. The trunk swallows a small suitcase and emergency kit without fuss. The 60-40 split-fold rear seats flatten almost completely, opening up the cargo floor. There's even a frunk beneath the hood with enough space for tools or small items—useful for keeping smell-heavy gear away from passengers. The door bins, armrest storage, and center console all add up to a practical package.

The rear door windows open almost fully, and the two rear air-con vents ensure the back stays comfortable. Build quality is respectable overall—panel gaps are tight, materials feel cohesive even if they're not all premium, and assembly feels solid.

Powertrain and Range

The L6 uses a single motor with 218 hp and 272 Nm, delivering a 0-100 km/h time of 7.9 seconds. It's a balanced tune—enough punch without eating battery, which is the whole idea with this car. The 65.05 kWh LFP battery is claimed to deliver over 500 km of range on the NEDC cycle; real-world estimates hover around 500-560 km depending on driving style and conditions.

DC fast charging tops out at 120 kW, pushing 30-80% charge in 20 minutes—respectable but not class-leading. AC charging maxes at 6.6 kW. The 400-volt architecture keeps costs down while still supporting V2L (vehicle-to-load) output at 3.3 kW—enough to power portable tools or small devices. The battery has passed puncture tests, salt-spray corrosion checks, and even 50cm submersion trials. It's not the latest tech, but it's proven.

I haven't driven it yet, so I can't speak to real-world efficiency or how the motor feels off-line. But on paper, it's sensible engineering—not a power player, more a mileage maximizer.

Safety and Driver Assistance

The L6 comes with seven airbags and achieved a 5-star Euro NCAP rating. Active safety features include adaptive cruise control with lane-centering, autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot monitoring, and a 360-degree camera with transparent chassis view. There's even a reversing-memory function that remembers paths up to 50 meters long and will back out of tight spots automatically.

Parking aids span over 50 patterns. A highlight is the 'Tracing Reverse Memory' that lets the car autonomously retrace a reverse route—genuinely useful if you've ended up down a dead-end alley. Later this year, they'll roll out an upgrade with Nvidia chips that adds VPD (Vertical Parking Driving), basically an automated valet that handles tight parallel spots. That's the kind of feature that will make ownership less stressful.

The standard two-zone climate control is augmented by rear vents, and the cabin is generously equipped with charging ports and storage solutions. Warranty covers the car for 8 years or 120,000 km, with the battery separately protected. That's competitive and gives you peace of mind.

Final Verdict

The LEPAS L6 is a serious contender if you want a spacious, well-equipped EV that feels noticeably more premium than its Omoda and Jaecoo cousins—even though they share DNA. It's not flashy, and styling won't convert everyone, but build quality is solid, the tech stack is genuinely useful, and that 2.77-meter wheelbase delivers real practicality.

You're paying for substance: a 500+ km range, autonomous driving aids that actually work, and a cabin that prioritizes passenger comfort. It's the EV for someone who values efficiency and space over raw performance or aesthetic showmanship. If that's you, this should be on your shortlist.