LEPAS Launches in UAE: L4 from AED 74,000
Image: AI-generated illustration for Gearvoniq
The UAE's crowded affordable-SUV market has a new contender. LEPAS, Chery's new-energy brand, has officially launched in the Emirates through exclusive distributor Al Ghurair Mobility, with the announcement reported on 27 October 2026. It is the third Chery Group brand that Al Ghurair handles in the country, following EXEED and RELY, and it arrives with three models on sale from day one — the compact LEPAS L4, the mid-size LEPAS L8, and the plug-in hybrid LEPAS L8 Super Hybrid.
LEPAS was launched globally by Chery only in April 2025, so this is a young brand moving fast. The UAE lineup is built around sharp pricing: the L4 starts from AED 74,000, the L8 from AED 100,000, and the L8 Super Hybrid plug-in from AED 123,000. Those figures put LEPAS squarely in the thick of one of the most competitive segments in the Gulf, where Chinese brands have been steadily winning over budget-conscious buyers.
Key Takeaways
- LEPAS, Chery's new-energy brand launched globally in April 2025, is now on sale in the UAE through Al Ghurair Mobility.
- Three models at launch: L4 from AED 74,000, L8 from AED 100,000, and L8 Super Hybrid plug-in from AED 123,000.
- First 100 customers get a year of free insurance, three years of free servicing, seven years of roadside assistance and free window tinting.
- A fourth model, the LEPAS L6, arrives in 2027 in hybrid and petrol forms.
Prices, models and finance offers
Al Ghurair Mobility is not messing around with the launch pricing. The range opens with the L4 at AED 74,000, a figure that undercuts a fair number of established rivals in the compact SUV space. Step up to the mid-size L8 and the starting price rises to AED 100,000, while the flagship L8 Super Hybrid plug-in hybrid tops the range at AED 123,000 — competitive territory for a PHEV in the UAE.
Finance offers make the numbers look even more digestible. Monthly payments start from AED 1,088 for the L4, AED 1,533 for the L8, and AED 1,886 for the L8 Super Hybrid. The launch announcement did not list the down payment or loan term behind those figures, so treat them as headline rates and confirm the exact structure with the showroom before signing anything.
The warranty package is one of the more generous in the segment. Every LEPAS comes with a 7-year or 200,000 km vehicle warranty, plus a 10-year or 1,000,000 km warranty on the engine. The Super Hybrid's battery is covered separately for 8 years or 160,000 km. For buyers who are wary of taking a chance on a brand that did not exist eighteen months ago, that kind of long-term cover matters — it is the manufacturer putting its money where its marketing is.
There is also a sweetener for early adopters. The first 100 customers will receive one year of free insurance, three years of free servicing, seven years of roadside assistance, and free window tinting — the last of which is close to a necessity in a UAE summer. If you were already considering a LEPAS, buying early clearly pays.
LEPAS L4: the compact entry point
The L4 is the volume play: a compact five-seat SUV aimed at young families, commuters and first-time new-car buyers. Under the bonnet is a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine producing 145 hp and 225 Nm, driving the front wheels through a 6-speed dual-clutch gearbox. It is a straightforward, proven formula — no hybrid complexity, just a small turbo engine and an automatic gearbox.
On paper, the L4 has room to impress for its price. The wheelbase stretches 2,700 mm, which should translate into reasonable rear legroom for a compact SUV. Inside, a 13.2-inch touchscreen dominates the dashboard, and the spec sheet includes a 540-degree camera system — useful for squeezing into tight parking spaces in older Dubai neighbourhoods — alongside 50W wireless phone charging. There is even a built-in Qibla compass, a thoughtful regional touch that shows LEPAS has done its homework on Gulf buyers.
Where the L4 really fights is price. At AED 74,000, it sits just above the Haval Jolion (AED 59,900 plus VAT), the MG ZS (from AED 59,453) and the JAC JS4 (from AED 66,570), while matching the Chery Tiggo 4 (from AED 69,900) and the OMODA C5 (from AED 69,900) at the budget end of the compact segment. That is a bruising neighbourhood to land in, and the L4 will need its warranty and tech to stand out.
Image: AI-generated illustration for Gearvoniq
LEPAS L8: the mid-size family option
Moving up a size, the L8 is a mid-size five-seat SUV aimed at buyers who want more presence and space without stepping into three-row territory. Power comes from a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine making 192 hp and 225 Nm, paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox. The 2,800 mm wheelbase promises a properly roomy cabin, and LEPAS claims an impressive 47 storage spaces dotted around the interior — a figure that will appeal to anyone who has ever lost a set of keys in a family car.
The L8's equipment list leans premium for its money. A Sony sound system is on board, and six airbags are fitted as standard. At AED 100,000, the L8 undercuts its in-house rival, the Chery Tiggo 9 (from AED 142,900), by a wide margin, and it comes in well below the petrol Geely Monjaro at around AED 124,000. Internal competition within the Chery group is clearly no obstacle here — the L8 is positioned to eat sales from everyone, including its corporate siblings.
L8 Super Hybrid: the plug-in flagship
The headline act is the L8 Super Hybrid, a plug-in hybrid that pairs a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine with an 18.4 kWh battery for a combined 275 hp and 365 Nm. LEPAS quotes about 90 km of electric-only driving, which for many UAE commuters could cover the daily school run or office trip without burning a drop of petrol. Total claimed range reaches up to 1,300 km on the NEDC test cycle — though it is worth noting that NEDC figures read higher than what you will see in real-world UAE driving with the air conditioning working hard.
Performance is respectable rather than startling: 0–100 km/h takes 7.9 seconds. More relevant for plug-in hybrid buyers is the charging hardware. The Super Hybrid supports up to 40 kW DC fast charging, and it offers 6.6 kW vehicle-to-load capability, meaning the car can power external devices — a genuinely useful feature for camping trips in the desert. Claimed fuel economy is a frugal 2.38 L/100km.
At AED 123,000, the Super Hybrid faces serious competition. The BYD Song Plus (AED 125,900–150,900) and the EXEED RX PHEV (AED 129,999–169,999) are priced in similar territory, while the Chery Tiggo 9 Super Hybrid (from AED 135,000) sits slightly above and the Toyota RAV4 PHEV (AED 154,900–169,900) commands a clear premium. The L8 Super Hybrid's ace is that it is the cheapest plug-in hybrid in this comparison — by some margin in the case of the Toyota.
Image: AI-generated illustration for Gearvoniq
Where to buy and what's next
Al Ghurair Mobility is rolling out a small but growing retail network. Showrooms are already open in Deira (Port Saeed) in Dubai and at Al Ruqa Al Hamra in Sharjah, with an after-sales service centre in Al Quoz Industrial Area 4 handling maintenance. An Abu Dhabi showroom is confirmed as coming soon, which will give the brand coverage across the country's main population centres.
Looking ahead, a third model — the LEPAS L6 — is confirmed for arrival in 2027 in both hybrid and petrol forms. Details are thin for now, but it suggests the brand intends to fill out its range quickly rather than sit on three models.
One honest caveat for early buyers: with the brand this new, resale values are simply too early to judge. The long warranty and aggressive pricing soften the risk, but anyone buying a first-year model from a brand launched in April 2025 should go in with their eyes open. On the other hand, the first-100 launch bundle — free insurance, free servicing, roadside assistance and tinting — makes the early-adopter maths more tempting than usual.
The UAE's affordable SUV segment has rarely been this competitive, and LEPAS has walked straight into the fight with sharp prices and a strong warranty. Whether it can convert showroom interest into sales will depend on the usual things — dealer experience, reliability and word of mouth. But on paper at least, the L4, L8 and L8 Super Hybrid give Gulf buyers three more reasons to shop around.
Image: AI-generated illustration for Gearvoniq
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