Lepas L4 vs Omoda C5
Value retention, real cost and monthly money, compared on the same 2026 South African data.
Too close to call on resale: both keep about 57% of their value over three years. Decide on the deal, not the badge.
Both curves, one chart
Head to head
| L4 | C5 | |
|---|---|---|
| New price (from) | R 299 900 | R 339 900 |
| ±Monthly instalment | R 5 242/m | R 5 941/m |
| Retained after 1 year | 76% | 76% |
| Retained after 3 years | 57% | 57% |
| Value after 3 years | R 171 568 | R 194 451 |
| Lost to depreciation (3y) | R 128 332 | R 145 449 |
| Value after 5 years | R 128 134 | R 145 224 |
| Our tier | Chinese (new entrant) | Chinese (new entrant) |
Lepas L4 →
Lepas opened its South African account in March 2026 with the L4, spanning R299,900 for the 1.5 manual to R419,900 for the turbo Pantera. Warranty cover mirrors Chery's, including a 10-year/1-million km engine warranty for the first owner. There is no resale track record yet, and first-year values of new Chinese brands typically fall hard.
Known for: brand-new budget crossover with big warranty
Omoda C5 →
Omoda's launch model arrived in 2023 as a design-first crossover on Chery Tiggo underpinnings. Updated variants and the C5 X derivative pushed the starting price down into the mid-R300k bracket. It sells on looks and equipment, though heavy new-car discounting weighs on used values.
Known for: fashion-led crossover styling and spec
Common questions
Which holds value better, the Lepas L4 or the Omoda C5?
They are close to inseparable: 57% vs 57% retained after three years. Buy on price, spec and the deal you can get, not on resale.
Which is cheaper to own over three years?
Depreciation is the biggest ownership cost. The Lepas L4 loses about R 128 332 over three years and the Omoda C5 loses about R 145 449. Fuel, insurance and servicing can narrow or widen that, but the depreciation gap is the number to start from.
What do they cost per month?
On typical finance (10% deposit, 72 months, 11.75%), the Lepas L4 runs about R 5 242 per month and the Omoda C5 about R 5 941, before fees and insurance.
Keep going
Modelled estimates on a retail basis; spec levels and real transaction prices vary.