By Kelly Fisher
Petrol just hit R30 a litre, and a lot of us are looking at our cars a bit differently. The Lepas L6 is a new mid-size SUV that wants to be the one car for everything, from school runs to client meetings. Here’s what’s worth knowing if it’s on your shortlist.
1. Who is this car actually for?
The short answer is families, but it’s a bit wider than that. The L6 is a mid-size SUV aimed at people who want one car to do everything: school run on Monday, client meeting on Wednesday, a weekend away on Friday. It starts at R479 900 for the Javan and R499 900 for the Pantera, though dealers may quote slightly differently.
2. Will it fit into your whole week?
Start with the family bit. For our family of five, it worked out pretty well. The back seat is the biggest win, with up to 911 mm of legroom, its own air vents, charging ports and a proper belt for the middle seat. The boot holds 435 litres, the floor sits at three different heights, and there’s a space-saver spare underneath. There are also 39 storage spots in the cabin, which sounds like a lot until you’ve got five people and their things.
The cabin is quiet enough that nobody complained about noise, and nobody had a word to say about the quality of the drive either.
Now the office bit. Personally, I like the styling, and it goes from weekend car to the office without looking out of place. The front seats are heated, ventilated and adjustable, and the driver’s seat remembers your position. The steering is very light and the camera system gives you a 540-degree view, so a tight parkade in the CBD won’t cause any stress. It also comes in five colours, from Classic Vinyl Black to Riviera Sun Orange, so you can decide how much attention you want when you arrive.
3. Is the media system easy to use, or buried in menus?
The L6 has a 13.2-inch screen that you can control by touch, voice or gesture. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included, which means maps, music and calls will mostly live on your phone anyway. The voice system is meant to understand normal sentences rather than fixed commands, and I am yet to find a system that understands my accent.
4. What’s it going to cost in fuel?
Petrol went up by R3.33 a litre on 7 October, and 95 now costs R30.25 inland and R29.38 at the coast. Lepas claims the L6 uses 7.2 litres per 100 km, which works out to about R218 per 100 km inland, or R212 at the coast. In the real world, it’s closer to 8.0 to 8.4 litres, which is more like R250 per 100 km inland, or R240 at the coast.
If you drive around 1 500 km a month, that’s roughly R3 600 to R3 800 a month in fuel. The latest increase alone adds around R400 a month compared to September. It’s not a cheap car to run (but many aren’t in this economic climate), but a plug-in hybrid and an electric version are on the way.
The other side of the engine is the performance, and it’s more relaxed than quick. At 108 kW and 225 Nm, it’s fine around town. With a full family, a loaded boot and a long hill, you may find overtaking takes some planning.
5. What if something goes wrong?
Lepas is a new name, so it’s fair to ask. Every L6 comes with a 10-year/one-million km engine warranty (first owner), a 5-year/75 000 km warranty and a 5-year/75 000 km service plan. That’s strong cover, but it only helps if there’s a Lepas dealer near you, so find out before you sign.
Verdict
The Lepas L6 is a spacious, comfortable car that handles a family week and a work week without fuss. It worked well for our family of five, it’s quiet and easy on the eye, and the price is fair for the kit. The warranty makes buying a newer brand less of a gamble. The trade-offs are modest power and thirstier running costs than the claimed figures suggest, now that petrol has hit R30. If that suits your life, it’s well worth a test drive. If you’d rather cut the fuel bill, it may be worth waiting for the hybrid or electric version.
