Rewind a couple of years, and most UK car buyers had never heard of the Chinese car giant Chery. They certainly do now with the company storming the UK sales charts with its Omoda and Jaecoo brands. Just last month, the Jaecoo 7 and 5 models were in fourth and seventh positions, respectively, in the chart of UK registration figures. The company also sells cars in the UK under its Chery name too.

Not content, Chery has launched yet another brand in the UK, Lepas. The name derives from a combination of leopard and passion, and as I learnt at the press conference, the goal for Lepas is to push further upmarket with a more premium offering.

The L8 is the first model to arrive, with smaller L4 and L6 models likely to be on sale in the latter part of this year. L8 is yet another plug-in hybrid SUV, so is it good enough to take sales from established rivals such as the Kia Sportage, Toyota RAV4 and Volkswagen Tiguan?

The launch venue was suitably swish, a clear signal of intent, and I can report that posting a few pictures of the Lepas L8 on social media did bring with it some comments that it looked rather like a Porsche Cayenne. The European design house has no doubt looked for inspiration from some of the premium brands.

Up front are the ‘leopard-eye’ LED headlights, say Lepas, and the large diamond mesh grille, which is suitably imposing. As for the rest of the design, other models in the Chery Group range are just as attractive in my opinion.

Under the skin, you will find the L8 uses Chery’s familiar Super Hybrid System, which marries a turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol engine with an electric motor and an 18.4kWh battery. It’s a clever system whereby the engine mainly acts as a generator. At higher speeds or when full acceleration is called for, it can drive the wheels too. An electric-only range of up to 56 miles in ideal conditions is promised. For the lower-mileage driver who charges overnight, EV-only running may well be possible.

I have tested many of the Chery Group’s cars, and the L8’s interior does feel to be a tad more upmarket. Soft-touch materials abound, and the front seats are comfortable, though perhaps a little unsupportive when pressing on.

Rear seat occupants have a surfeit of space, so there will be no grumbling from children or other demanding passengers. The panoramic sunroof bathes the cabin in natural light. There’s plenty of storage and a good-sized boot (up to 507 litres).

As is the Chinese way, a large 13-inch touchscreen dominates the dash. Most functions require exploring the myriad of menus, though at least there are some physical buttons for the cabin temperature and fan speed. Voice control is of course fitted but did seem to struggle in our early production car.

Rather more frustrating is the lack of a shortcut button to deactivate some of the ADAS systems, which you will want to do. I am told an over-the-air software update will fix these issues. It really is needed, and it has at least been acknowledged by Lepas.

The test route on the launch was not the longest, and I managed an hour or so in both the driver and passenger seats. Driven normally, with a tad of restraint, the L8 feels very EV-like to drive. The cabin is suitably hushed and the power delivery smooth.

Press on; the car feels quick enough, but on loose surfaces the front wheels can break traction quite easily. Torque steer is evident too, so the L8 is much better driven with some restraint. It is not designed to be a driver’s car but instead majors on refinement and comfort, which for the post part it succeeds in doing.

Lepas informed us that the L8 had been tuned especially for UK roads, and on the motorway the ride comfort is excellent. At lower speeds, the ride is fine, without being outstanding. Some poor surfaces do disturb the comfort for those on board.

There are two models in the range – Essence and Elevate. Externally, the only difference is the wheels, with the top model riding on larger 20-inch alloy wheels. Both variants come with LED headlights, an acoustic laminated windscreen for noise reduction, electrically adjustable, heated power-folding wing mirrors and rear privacy glass. Elevate models also boast acoustic laminated front windows for extra soundproofing as well as puddle lights in the wing mirrors.

The range of colours available is more interesting than most.

Expressive Emerald (the best colour in my opinion) is the standard colour with Instinct White, Legend Black and vibrant Mystic Purple, yours for an extra £500.

The Essence model can be yours for £34,900 on the road and add £3,000 for the Elevate version. There’s a 7-year/100,000-mile warranty as standard, 8 years on the battery, which is very competitive.

Lepas has positioned itself as the upmarket brand in the Chery Group, yet a Jaecoo 7 PHEV can be had for £35,170, so there is clearly some crossover on the pricing front at least.

The L8 has much to commend it. It is a spacious and well-equipped family SUV with excellent green credentials. Low emissions and a potential combined range of up to 745 miles will appeal. Pricing undercuts its main European rivals, but if you are a keen driver, they will likely offer more driving pleasure from behind the wheel. I look forward to spending more time with the Lepas L8 on local roads soon, with more real-world driving impressions to come.

Fast Facts
• Lepas L8
• Price from £34,900 OTR
• 1,499cc turbocharged petrol engine
• 18.4kWh battery
• Emissions 21g/km CO2
• 0-62mph in 7.9 seconds
• Top speed 111mph
• EV only range 56 miles
• BIK tax band 10%