Lepas L6 EV vs Jaecoo J5 EV: Full Comparison

Two electric SUVs, one trim level each, and a price tag that could land in the same neighbourhood. We go through powertrain, battery and range, charging, exterior, interior, safety, driver assistance, dimensions, boot space and warranty, spec for spec.

An apology first. Our earlier look at the Lepas L6 EV did not give you the proper facts, and that is not the standard we hold. This is the redo, built straight from the official websites. Welcome to everyone new, and welcome back to our regulars. Let's build this community together.

At a glance

Estimated mixed-driving range is our own planning figure, explained in the range section. Lepas power, torque and DC figures come from SA motoring media, as the Lepas page does not list them.

Price and pre-order offer

The Jaecoo J5 EV has an official South African price of R549,900. The Lepas L6 EV has no official price yet. One publication estimates between R500,000 and R600,000, but that is an estimate, not a confirmed number. Word from the streets is that it should land close to the Jaecoo, which is exactly why we are comparing the two. We will publish a follow-up with the official price once Lepas confirms it.

What we do know is the Lepas pre-order special. It includes a 7 kW home charger, vehicle-to-load capability, a Type M charging cable, a R5,000 charge voucher and card, and full installation, all at no extra cost.

Jaecoo also announced a pre-order incentive valued at over R50,000: a R12,000 discount on the purchase price, R5,000 in public charging credit, and an EV Starter Kit (valued at R30,000) with a 7 kW wallbox, a Type-M portable charger and a vehicle-to-load accessory, plus access to the Jaecoo Cares programme. It was announced for pre-orders ahead of the August launch, so confirm with your dealer that it is still available.

Powertrain

Both cars use a single electric motor driving the front wheels, and on paper they are very close. The Lepas makes 160 kW and 275 Nm, with a claimed 0 to 100 km/h time of 7.9 seconds. The Jaecoo makes 155 kW and 288 Nm. So the Lepas has slightly more power and the Jaecoo slightly more torque.

Battery and range

The Lepas has a 65.05 kWh battery with a claimed range of 450 km. The Jaecoo has a smaller 58.9 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery with a claimed WLTP-based range of 402 km. That gives the Lepas about 48 km more on paper.

Divide claimed range by battery size and both cars land at roughly 6.8 to 6.9 km per kWh. They are almost identical in efficiency. The Lepas goes further mainly because it carries a bigger battery.

Real-world mixed driving range

Neither brand publishes a real-world figure, so we use a simple planning rule: expect roughly 80% to 90% of the claimed range in everyday mixed driving, which is a blend of city, suburban and highway.

Our estimates, not manufacturer figures. Highway speed, load, temperature and air-conditioning use can push real results above or below this band. We will replace these with measured numbers when we test the Lepas.

Charging capacities

AC charging at home

Check your home electrical setup with a qualified electrician before planning around the Jaecoo's 11 kW. On a typical 7 kW single-phase wallbox, the Lepas and Jaecoo charge at much more similar speeds.

DC fast charging on the road

The Jaecoo has the higher peak, but the Lepas claims the quicker 30% to 80% stop. That is half a battery. For the Lepas it is about 32.5 kWh in roughly 21 minutes, an average of around 93 kW. For the Jaecoo it is about 29.5 kWh in roughly 28 minutes, an average of around 63 kW. These are manufacturer or reported claims from different sources, so wait for independent testing before treating the gap as settled.

Both cars offer vehicle-to-load. Lepas lists 3.3 kW, enough for camping gear or a laptop. Jaecoo includes V2L as standard but does not publish its output.

Exterior

Interior and infotainment

Safety

This is where the Lepas really starts to stand out. It lists seven airbags: driver, front passenger, front side, side curtain and a front-row centre airbag. It also has ISOFIX, a mechanical child safety lock, an engine immobiliser, vehicle body anti-theft, centre locking and auto locking.

ADAS and driver assistance

This is the part that impresses us most. The Lepas driver assistance list is long, and it includes autonomous emergency braking that detects vehicles, pedestrians and bicycles.

On paper, the Lepas list is much deeper. It is the kind of assistance package you would expect from a legacy brand, at a lesser price.

Dimensions, boot space and ground clearance

Lepas dimensions are reported by SA motoring media and the boot figure is the L6 range figure, so confirm both for the EV at launch.

The Lepas is the bigger car, about 190 mm longer with an 80 mm longer wheelbase. The surprise is the boot: even though it is shorter, the Jaecoo has the bigger boot on paper. Unfortunately, the Lepas does not have a frunk.

Warranty

Verdict: Team Lepas or Team Jaecoo?

If the price were identical, our pick on paper is the Lepas L6 EV. The surround-view camera with automatic parking assist, seven airbags and that long driver assistance list are a steal. Autonomous emergency braking for vehicles, pedestrians and bicycles, door open warning, rear cross traffic braking, plus heated and ventilated front seats: it gives you what legacy brands should give you, at a lesser price.

But we have to be fair. The Lepas has no price yet, no frunk, and we have only read the spec sheet, not driven it. The Jaecoo J5 EV is available now with a confirmed price, a bigger boot and faster AC charging. And if a hatchback is not on your radar and you want an SUV, the Lepas could be the one to watch when it launches in November. Taste is personal, so go and drive both.

Watch the full comparison

Prefer to watch? Our full video walks through everything above.

Can't see the video? Watch it on YouTube.

Which would you take if the price were identical, the Lepas L6 EV or the Jaecoo J5 EV? Tell us in the comments. We will review the Lepas again at launch to look at the official price. Don't forget: Let's Charge South Africa.