Lepas L6 vs Subaru Forester
What's the difference?

Lepas L6

$47,990 - $47,990

2026 price

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Subaru Forester

$43,490 - $55,990

2026 price

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Summary

2026 Lepas L6

2026 Subaru Forester

By Jack Quick

By Marcus Craft

Safety Rating

Electric motor type

Permanent Magnet

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Vehicle type

Battery Electric

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Electric range

440 km

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Energy consumption

17.5 kWh/100km

Battery capacity

65.00 kWh

Seating

Likes

Pleasant urban driving experience
Well-tuned safety systems
Unique exterior paint colours

Nice interior
Refined on-road
Suitably capable off-road

Dislikes

Only 6.6kW AC charging
More affordable rivals out there
Lacks character

Sluggish acceleration
Needs all-terrain tyres
Intrusive driver alert system

2026 Lepas L6 Summary

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.

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2026 Subaru Forester Summary

The sixth-generation of Subaru’s Forester has landed and while the new hybrid versions constitute the biggest news of this batch, the petrol-only variants should not be ignored.

The five-seat mid-size SUV has a 2.5-litre four-cylinder 'boxer' engine, Subaru’s well-regarded 'symmetrical all-wheel drive' system and some new changes inside and out.

So, does the top-spec Touring offer the best value-for-money in the petrol Forester line-up?

Read on.

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Deep dive comparison

2026 Lepas L6 2026 Subaru Forester

Verdict

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.

Verdict

The MY26 Subaru Forester packs plenty of punch in terms of standard features, a roomy and functional interior and overall driveability. Sure, it’s not the most exciting vehicle to drive on- or off-road but to get stuck on that is to miss the point entirely. This is a decent all-rounder with a solid background and an AWD system that long ago set the gold standard for vehicles of this type.

In a tough mid-size SUV market segment aimed more at those intent on driving through car parks rather than adventuring through national parks, the Forester offers greater versatility than most and should not be ignored.

Lepas L6 vs Subaru Forester What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Lepas L6 vs Subaru Forester
What's the difference?