Lepas Leasing
- Rated 4.9/5 on Feefo
- FCA authorised, FRN 315268
- BVRLA leasing broker member
- Part of Global Vehicle Group
Lepas leasing: choose the car around its daily job
Lepas is a new UK-brand decision as well as a vehicle decision. Its L8 provides a five-seat plug-in hybrid SUV starting point, while the announced L6 EV introduces a different, fully electric routine. Begin with the body and energy approach that fits your use, then examine the support arrangements as carefully as the equipment list.
The current position is more developed than an empty catalogue or an undated launch promise. The UK importer identifies L8 as open for order, and IVF's live manufacturer route shows Essence and Elevate PHEV entries. Those facts support a specific leasing enquiry. They do not prove that IVF has an allocated car, a confirmed funder quotation or a booked handover.
The L6 EV's dated UK specification announcement says order books will open in early Q4 2026. At this September review it should therefore remain an announced alternative, not be presented as an immediately available IVF vehicle. L4 is also mentioned in the brand's future range information, but a model name alone is not a supplied UK specification.
Lepas leasing: key facts
- The UK L8 launch specification is a five-seat plug-in hybrid SUV, not a seven-seat model or a battery-electric car.
- L8 Essence and Elevate are the two plug-in grades currently listed by IVF; confirm the exact car and equipment.
- The UK importer identifies L8 as open for order, but IVF allocation and funder terms still require confirmation.
- The L6 EV UK specification announcement dated 27 August 2026 schedules order-book opening for early Q4 2026.
- L8 manufacturer cover is stated as seven years/100,000 miles for the vehicle and eight years/100,000 miles for the high-voltage battery, subject to applicable terms.
- LEPAS is a Chery International brand; group membership does not make another brand’s specification or support package interchangeable.
Compare Lepas models and lease deals
Use this comparison to separate the vehicle decisions before comparing agreements. Model pages can contain several generations or bodies; specify the one you want.
| Model page | Body and powertrain | Decision to make |
|---|---|---|
| L8 | Five-seat plug-in hybrid; Essence and Elevate | Current UK order activity; confirm specific IVF car and funding. |
| L6 EV | Announced battery-electric SUV | UK announcement: order books early Q4 2026; no live IVF model route evidenced. |
| L4 | Future range announcement | UK derivative, order timing and IVF supply not established here. |
Understanding the Lepas powertrain choices
The L8 launch specification is a five-seat plug-in hybrid, using a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine, electric motor and an 18.4 kWh battery description. It is not the answer to a regular seven-person journey. Establish passenger requirements first, and do not assume a large SUV exterior implies a third row.
Essence and Elevate share the launch plug-in powertrain, with equipment providing the principal grade distinction. If parking aids, seat adjustment or a particular comfort feature matters, check the itemised UK specification rather than relying on a trim name. The exact wheel and equipment combination also needs to remain attached to any later range comparison.
A plug-in car suits a different routine from a battery-electric one. L8 retains petrol for journeys beyond its charged capability, but regular replenishment is needed to make useful use of electricity. L6 EV removes the petrol alternative and therefore needs a dependable charging plan across both ordinary and longer journeys.
The announced L6 and a future electric L8 must not be conflated with the currently listed L8 PHEV. A future range announcement does not alter the propulsion of an existing catalogue entry. Ask the adviser to spell out model, powertrain, UK year and derivative before comparing agreements or assigning company-car treatment.
Lepas business leasing
A business assessing Lepas should define the driver duty before investigating the new brand. The L8 five-seat layout may answer a staff or director's SUV requirement, but it cannot substitute for a seven-seat vehicle. Record equipment carried, routine journeys and charging at home or work, then assess whether the plug-in operating pattern is realistic.
Ask for a named UK derivative and an actual funder proposal. The accountant needs P11D, certified emissions, electric-only range and registration details for that car. A manufacturer order opening or a general launch specification is not a complete company-car tax file. Keep the business's hire commitment and the driver's personal benefit separate.
VAT-registered businesses can normally reclaim 50% of the VAT on qualifying car rentals where private use is available, depending on circumstances and the normal VAT rules. Full rental-VAT recovery requires exclusive business use with no private availability. Maintenance can fall outside the rental block when it is genuinely optional, separately described in the contract and separately quantified on the invoice; recovery remains subject to normal VAT rules. Read HMRC’s motoring VAT guidance.
The hire-cost rules normally disallow 15% of otherwise deductible rentals for cars above 50 g/km, subject to their scope and exceptions. A company-car BiK easement does not establish relief from this restriction. Check HMRC’s car-hire deduction rules.
For accounting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2026, revised FRS 102 generally requires a right-of-use asset and lease liability for lessees, including small companies using Section 1A. FRS 105 lease accounting for eligible micro-entities was not changed in the same way. Contract hire therefore does not universally keep a car off the balance sheet. Ask your accountant to apply the right framework; HMRC summarises the accounting standards.
Flat Rate Scheme users generally cannot reclaim VAT on recurring car-hire payments. Ask your accountant which VAT regime applies before using the recovery examples above.
Lepas personal leasing
A private Lepas lease should be assessed as a whole-term commitment to the car and its support network. Try rear-seat access, visibility and the items you normally carry. Check the service location you would use and how scheduled work fits around your household rather than treating a long headline warranty as the entire ownership-use experience.
State any replacement deadline early. Confirm actual supply before making arrangements around a launch month. Another L8 grade or an announced electric model changes the comparison and needs its own assessment.
Lepas company-car tax across the lease
L8 is a plug-in hybrid and must not receive the zero-emission rate reserved for an electric company car. L6 EV is an announced battery-electric alternative. The conditional table explains those distinct classifications; it does not calculate a personal tax bill for an unconfirmed Lepas quotation.
For private availability to an employee or director, multiply the actual P11D value by the applicable percentage to establish the annual benefit before adjustments; the driver’s income tax rate then determines personal tax. This is distinct from the business’s rental and from a sole trader’s own motoring treatment.
| Tax specification | 2026/27 | 2027/28 | 2028/29 | 2029/30 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qualifying L8 PHEV: 1-50 g/km, certified 40-69 electric miles | 10% | 11% | 18% | 19% |
| Zero-emission electric car, if an L6 quotation becomes available | 4% | 5% | 7% | 9% |
These are conditional tax bands, not assigned rates for every Lepas. Confirm the supplied car’s P11D, certified CO2, fuel type and registration date. Diesel supplements can apply where the required emissions certification is absent, subject to the annual maximum.
The electric-mile figures above are HMRC band thresholds, not promises of this car’s driving range. Newer plug-in hybrid certification can show more than 50 g/km. A temporary company-car easement may treat an eligible car as 1 g/km where the registration date, electric range and Euro-status conditions are met; it is not automatic and must not be transferred to lease-rental deductions. Check the vehicle documents and HMRC’s plug-in hybrid conditions with your accountant.
Use our company-car BiK guide alongside HMRC’s 2026/27 and 2027/28 tables and the published 2028/29 and 2029/30 changes. Tax information checked 27 September 2026 against the C1 ledger and its primary sources. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and may change; consult your accountant.
Road tax and costs across the term
Vehicle Excise Duty (VED). For 2026/27, the standard annual VED payment after the first year is £200 before any supplement. First-year VED depends on CO2 and registration rules; zero-emission cars currently have a £10 first-year rate. These cash rates apply to 2026/27 only; later annual VED rates are not confirmed here. Ask how the funder treats tax increases during your agreement.
Expensive Car Supplement. The Expensive Car Supplement is £440 a year in 2026/27 for five years from the second licence. The list-price threshold is more than £40,000 for petrol, diesel and hybrid cars, or more than £50,000 for qualifying zero-emission cars registered from 1 April 2025. Use the published list price before discounts, including relevant options, and check the registration date. Plug-in hybrids do not receive the electric-car threshold. GOV.UK explains VED and the supplement.
Planned eVED. The government plans Electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED) from April 2028, alongside VED: 3p per mile for electric cars and 1.5p per mile for plug-in hybrids. This is proposed for April 2028, subject to legislation and implementation; it is not a charge currently in force. The stated rates are planned starting rates, with CPI uprating proposed from 2029/30 and later cash rates not confirmed. An agreement spanning introduction needs the funder’s written treatment of the charge and later changes. Check the government’s consultation response and final implementation guidance before committing.
Planning Lepas fuel or charging costs
For L8, begin with the place the car will charge most often. Establish access, permission and a workable cable arrangement. Then estimate how much of the ordinary week starts charged and how much involves sustained petrol running. The presence of an engine does not make charging irrelevant if electric local use is the reason for selecting a plug-in.
Manufacturer combined petrol-and-electric distance is not the certified electric-only range used in a PHEV tax assessment. It also does not tell you what will happen on a cold motorway journey with passengers and luggage. Match any technical figure to the exact UK battery, wheels and equipment, and separate controlled test conditions from your own travel.
The announced L6 EV requires a plan for charging away from home as well as overnight replenishment. Identify a fallback on repeated routes, consider the time spent parked and allow a practical reserve. Do not transfer an L8 plug-in charging claim to L6 simply because both carry the Lepas badge.
For comparisons between vehicles, insist on the same charging window. A 30–80% time is not a 10–80% time, and a peak power figure does not describe a full stop. No window should be converted by proportional arithmetic. Temperature, arrival charge, battery condition and the charger's delivered output all affect the actual session.
Use your expected electricity tariffs, including public parking and subscription costs, alongside petrol consumption when L8 starts without charge. Keep insurance and tyre provision separate.
Lepas warranty and servicing
The UK L8 material states seven years or 100,000 miles of vehicle warranty and eight years or 100,000 miles for the high-voltage battery system. These are manufacturer terms to confirm for the supplied car, not an assertion that every component, incidental cost or future repair is covered. Obtain the applicable booklet and registration start date.
The L6 EV's UK announcement gives the same headline vehicle and battery periods but remains a separate model document. Its roadside-support description begins with 12 months and allows renewal with qualifying authorised servicing up to the stated programme limit. Do not transfer a support entitlement between models without reading the particular terms.
For an L8 quotation, ask for the authorised service location, maintenance schedule and the process for warranty work. Check roadside assistance and any renewal conditions in writing. Optional lease maintenance may cover scheduled work or tyres that the manufacturer warranty does not; equally, it may have exclusions that matter to your use.
A developing retail network deserves a practical postcode check. Establish where work is carried out, who books it and what happens if the vehicle cannot be driven. Ask about replacement transport and parts-related delays without assuming a general support headline provides an unconditional replacement car. Those answers make the service proposition reviewable before you commit.
Check the Lepas details you will use every week
The L8 should be tried with the people who will occupy it. Set the front seats first, then assess the rear bench and the luggage space with those seats in use. A five-seat SUV can still be unsuitable for a particular child-seat combination or awkward load, so bring the items that matter instead of relying solely on dimensions.
Try climate settings, phone connection and parking aids while stationary. Driver assistance does not remove responsibility for safe control. Check which required features belong to Essence or Elevate and confirm them in the proposed specification.
Before accepting a quotation, confirm that the car is a UK-supplied derivative with the intended warranty and support route. Equipment and documents for another market are not an adequate substitute. Keep the signed specification, service conditions and contact details together so any handover difference can be resolved against the agreement.
For L6 EV, the dated early-Q4 order-book statement is a planning distinction, not a delivery date. A business replacing several cars should avoid assuming that announcement timing guarantees a coordinated handover. Confirm each supplied car and funder proposal independently once available.
Lepas belongs to Chery International, but related group brands remain separate comparisons. A Chery or Omoda SUV may be worth investigating for the same passenger brief, yet it has its own equipment, drivetrain and support conditions. Do not borrow another brand's warranty entitlement, available stock or delivery promise to fill a gap in an L8 enquiry.
How IVF quotes your Lepas lease
Tell IVF your annual mileage, regular passengers, essential equipment, charging access where relevant and preferred timing. Ask for the precise model year, derivative, options and registration status to be written into the quotation. The catalogue is a starting point; the offered vehicle and funder terms need confirmation.
Business Contract Hire is taken by the business; Personal Contract Hire is taken by the private individual. Both are subject to status and individual funder criteria. Compare the initial rental, term, mileage, maintenance and applicable fees on the same basis. An initial rental is part of the hire cost, not refundable security or ownership equity.
A manufacturer warranty starts under the supplied car’s warranty terms, normally from first registration. Its time and mileage limits may finish before your lease does. It is separate from optional servicing and tyre cover. Confirm maintenance inclusions, insurance responsibilities, tax provisions and early-termination terms before signing.
At the end of contract hire, return the vehicle; there is no contractual purchase option. Excess mileage, damage beyond the funder’s fair wear and tear standard, missing equipment or other contractual charges may still be payable. Check the return process before choosing your agreement.
Useful next steps
Open the L8 page for the identified plug-in model. For alternatives, compare the appropriate Chery Tiggo 7, Omoda 9, Geely Starray or MG HS derivative against the same passenger and charging brief. Each needs its own actual supply and support confirmation.
Further routes for your decision: Chery Tiggo 7 PHEV, Omoda 9 SHS-P, Business Contract Hire, Personal Contract Hire, Geely Starray, MG HS, Request a callback, business leasing, personal leasing, company-car tax guide, leasing VAT guide. Source detail: Feefo, the published 2028–2030 changes, HMRC explains the hire-cost restriction, the FRC’s explanation.
Lepas leasing questions
Can I enquire about Lepas business leasing?
Yes. Start with the L8 passenger and charging requirement and ask IVF to investigate a specific UK car and funder proposal. Supply and funding are separate confirmations, subject to status and criteria. The accountant needs the actual P11D and certified plug-in data.
How do I assess Lepas lease deals?
Compare the named UK model, powertrain, grade and equipment alongside term, mileage and maintenance. Confirm the support route and actual supply position. A launch announcement or manufacturer retail offer is not the same as an IVF contract-hire quotation.
Is the Lepas L8 a seven-seat electric SUV?
The current UK launch L8 is a five-seat plug-in hybrid. It combines petrol with externally charged electricity. Neither a third row nor fully electric propulsion should be inferred from the size or brand’s wider future model plans.
Can I request a quote for the Lepas L8?
Yes. IVF lists L8 Essence and Elevate plug-in hybrid versions. Ask the adviser to confirm the exact specification, vehicle allocation and funder proposal. A listed model is a starting point for an enquiry, with delivery timing confirmed separately.
Can the L6 EV be treated as available immediately?
The UK announcement dated 27 August 2026 states that order books will open in early Q4 2026. At this September review it remains an announced alternative. Obtain a later specific supply and funding confirmation rather than treating that timing as a handover promise.
Can combined L8 range establish a company-car band?
No. PHEV treatment uses certified emissions and electric-only range, with applicable registration conditions. Combined petrol-and-electric distance is a different measure. Use the exact UK vehicle documents and ask the accountant to apply the relevant rules.
Does a charging time cover any percentage window?
No. A stated 30–80% session does not establish a 10–80% session and cannot simply be scaled to one. Match the model and charging conditions, and allow for temperature, arrival charge and the output actually delivered by the charger.
What warranty should an L8 enquiry confirm?
Obtain the UK vehicle and high-voltage battery terms for the actual car, including time, mileage, start date, covered faults and exclusions. Check roadside assistance separately. A manufacturer warranty is not a complete servicing, tyre or replacement-transport package.
Why check the local Lepas service arrangements?
You need a workable place and process for scheduled maintenance and warranty repairs throughout the agreement. Confirm booking, authorisation and support if the car cannot be driven. A developing network or long warranty headline does not answer those practical questions by itself.
Are Chery or Omoda alternatives identical to Lepas?
No. Related ownership does not make the cars or support terms interchangeable. Compare a suitable alternative against the same passenger, charging and timing requirements, then verify its own derivative, warranty and funder quotation.
Discuss your Lepas shortlist
Bring your Lepas shortlist, annual mileage, charging arrangements and required date. Intelligent Vehicle Finance can check the specific car and discuss the next step.
Intelligent Vehicle Finance is a trading name of XLCR Vehicle Management Ltd. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, FRN 315268. We are a credit broker, not a lender, and we may receive a commission from lenders for introducing you to them. All vehicle finance is subject to status and individual funder criteria.
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Editorial responsibility: Stacey Smith, Brand Director, Intelligent Vehicle Finance.
Last updated: September 2026