What's the difference?
The Chery has most definitely popped and the Australian launch of new brand, Lepas, is only the start of what’s to come in 2027.
The Lepas L6 EV is the brand’s first entrant locally and it’s an electric mid-size SUV rival to the likes of the BYD Atto 3 Evo, Geely EX5, Hyundai Elexio, Kia EV5 and Leapmotor C10. The list goes on…
Lepas is doing everything it can to stand out on its own from the namesake Chery, as well as the Omoda Jaecoo brands in Australia. It’s also set to have its own dealer network.
Is the L6 EV a worthy addition to the Chery Group stable? Read on to find out.
“Actyon!”
Any car with a name that sounds like the first word sung by Alicia Bridges on The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert soundtrack version of the ‘70s disco classic, I Love the Nightlife, is crying out for attention.
But does the KGM Actyon, from the carmaker formerly known as SsangYong (from 1987, and Dong-A-Motor for 33 years before that) deserve to get the attention of medium SUV buyers against best-sellers like the Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Mitsubishi Outlander, Nissan X-Trail and Toyota RAV4?
Keep reading, because the latest offering from this intriguing new/70-plus year-old brand from South Korea is presented, priced and packaged like a pro ready for action, so let’s go!
Chery really doesn’t need any more brands in Australia, but here is Lepas, anyway.
While the L6 EV is rather characterless, it’s arguably the best Chery Group vehicle I’ve experienced to date. You can tell a lot of work has been put into localising it and as an electric mid-size SUV, it’s a pragmatic choice.
Is all of the above enough to spur you into Actyon? It should be, or at least make your medium-SUV shortlist.
Bold styling, keen pricing, an inviting cabin, loads of space and an involving driving experience make the new KGM everything we wanted from but never really got from the old SsangYong.
A bit more torque, a little less thirst and a softer ride would make a surprisingly good family-friendly medium SUV a real crowd pleaser.
We’re looking forward to what else KGM has coming in the future.