Price from: £31,495
Battery size: 67.1kWh
Range: 270 miles
Max charge rate: 168kW
.jpg?width=1500&height=1000)
Introduction and model history
Leapmotor might be a new brand to us in the UK, but it’s still fresh in its Chinese home market – it only started back in 2015 and it’s still working on establishing a full range of models from city cars to gigantic SUVs.
We don’t get all of Leapmotor’s models over here, because the company is working hard to tailor the right cars to the right places. It’s also been very smart and saved the effort of having establish a network of dealerships by signing a deal with industry behemoth Stellantis (that owns Vauxhall, Peugeot, Citroen and lots of others) that sees both companies working together.
It all serves to offer peace of mind to anyone taking a punt on a new badge – Leapmotor is keen to point out that not all of the new Chinese brands will make it in the medium term, but it’s in it for the long haul.
The B10 is the third model from Leapmotor, and as a 4.5-metre long SUV it sits between compact and mid-sized family SUVs such as the Skoda Elroq and Enyaq. Priced from under £32,000, it offers strong value – especially when you consider its standard equipment list reads like a top-spec model elsewhere.
It’s powered by a single rear-mounted electric motor, producing 215hp, and aims to blend decent range, comfort, tech and affordability.
Range, battery and charging
The B10 uses a 67.1kWh usable lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) battery from CATL. That's the only battery on offer, at the moment, and it offers a WLTP range of 270 miles of range. That's better than you'll get from the Ford Puma or Renault 4, but the MGS5 Long Range, or big battery versions of the Kia EV3 and Skoda Elroq can go further.
Charging is impressively competitive – the B10 can charge at up to 168kW DC in ideal conditions, which means a 10–80% top-up in around 28 minutes. There’s also a standard fit heat pump for better winter efficiency, which is great news, as a heat pump is a pricey option in a lot of rivals.
The B10 also supports vehicle-to-load (V2L) so that you can power camping gear or charge a laptop on the go.
Practicality and boot space
It's a comfy place to be, the Leapmotor. There's plenty of leg and headroom in the front and back, and the standard panoramic glass roof makes it feel really bright.
You also get a centre rear armrest with cupholders, plus charging sockets and air vents in the back – but there's no light over the back seats. I can tell you from personal experience that not having a light back there is a total pain if you've got to faff about regularly with child seats or boosters.
Mind you, Leapmotor reckons there are 22 cubbies around the cabin, too, so you can always keep the kids busy by getting them to count the cubbies while you get your torch out. Though with that panoramic roof you could park under a lamp post…
You can also fold the front seats completely flat for camping-in-the-car fun or a spot of surfing – carmakers do have some funny ideas about the lifestyles their buyers lead, but you’ll manage a flatpack or ill-advised garden centre purchase with no issues.
The 430-litre boot isn’t class leading, but it’s a decent, square shape and there’s extra storage under the floor plus a small frunk under the bonnet, so the B10 is pretty well sorted for luggage space.
It's not best in class, though – the Ford Puma Gen-E has got loads more room in the boot, but saying that the Ford's rear seats aren't anywhere near as spacious as the B10's.
Interior, design/styling and technology
The B10 feels smart and modern inside, with pale leatherette upholstery and a bright, minimalist design. The materials feel pretty nice, to be honest – I was pleasantly surprised. It feels better in the B10 than in the bigger Leapmotor C10, and it's not far off the sort of materials that you get in the Elroq.
It's only really around the flip-down cupholders that it feels a bit cheap, and the holders themselves feel like they might snap a bit easily, so be careful how heavy handed you are with your Costa.
I found the driving position OK (though the steering wheel could adjust a bit lower), and having standard heated and cooled seats is a real bonus, but I also found that the seat lacked lower back support so I'd personally sacrifice the ventilated seats in favour of adjustable lumbar support.
Naturally, you get wireless Apple and Android as standard, as well as voice control, nav and over-the-air updates. You even get a whale, which leaps out of the ocean and across your infotainment when you start the car. Which is just what you always wanted, isn't it?
There are also Pet Mode and Camping Modes, not to mention a 360-degree parking camera, blind spot assist, adaptive cruise control and all the driver assistance systems you could want.
In fact, you may want fewer assistance systems, as the Leapmotor's aids are really intrusive. You can turn them off easily via a shortcut on the steering wheel, which is good to know as the lane keep assist will see white lines that aren't there, and the driver attention warning will berate you just for glancing at the screen – which you're probably doing to figure out why the car won't stop beeping.
You also can’t turn off the indicator flash that happens every time you open a door, which will be annoying until the one time it stops you from clouting a passing cyclist or similar.
Motors, performance and handling
With 215hp sent to the rear wheels, the B10 feels brisk enough for daily driving. The 0–62mph sprint takes 8.0 seconds, so it’s not rapid, but it feels punchy enough for everyday stuff.
That’s provided you avoid the most eco-focused drive mode, which neuters the throttle to the point of making it feel almost alarmingly short of response. All the other modes are fine, though, bringing a bit more weight to the steering and more urgency to the throttle response so that the B10 feels pleasant enough.
This is a softly sprung car on the move, so it can feel sloppy in the way it goes around corners, but it also soaks up the worst bumps in the road, making it feel comfy overall. It’s a car that rewards a more laidback style of driving.
Running costs and pricing
The B10 is only available in one fully loaded specification, which includes everything from a panoramic roof and 360-degree camera to heated and ventilated seats, ambient lighting, and keyless entry. It’ll cost you a respectable £31,495 and that’s even before the £1,500 ‘Leap grant’ saving.
A four-year/60,000-mile warranty covers the car, while the battery gets eight years and 100,000 miles, which is OK although you get longer vehicle warranties with MG, Kia, Hyundai and Toyota.
We looked at the PCP deals on offer on the Leapmotor website, and a 36-month/24,000-mile deal with a £3k deposit down will give you monthly payments of £280. It’s competitive, but not the biggest bargain you’ll find.
The B10 sits in insurance group 32 (of 50), though some people have found it difficult to get insurance through some suppliers for Chinese cars that there isn’t a great deal of data on yet.
Verdict
The Leapmotor B10 delivers lots of car for the money. It’s spacious, comfortable and stuffed with tech that would cost thousands extra elsewhere. The range and charging speeds are competitive, and for families who simply want an affordable EV, it makes sense.
However, it lacks the polish, refinement and driving sophistication of mainstream rivals, and the overbearing driver aids and some cheap-feeling details give away its budget roots.
The B10 offers plenty of space and comfort as well as a strong spec, but rivals like the Nissan Leaf and Ford Puma are able to use their electric car grant eligibility as a springboard to offering even great value and familiar badges.
9
