Launched here in late 2025 the Leapmotor B10 is a fully-electric compact SUV from the
new Chinese brand backed by the huge Stellantis group which brings a number of
brands to Australia including Jeep, Peugeot, RAM, Fiat and Alfa Romeo.
We’re told that the unusual name is a loose translation from the Chinese Lingpao Qiche
that means Zero Run Automobile. Makes sense.
Leapmotor B10 is the brand’s second model joining the larger C10 SUV that arrived
here in early 2025. It’s currently EV only but we’re told that an extended range hybrid
(REEV) version will be added later this year.
We understand that a Leapmotor B05 compact electric hatchback will be added to the
range later this year. Others, yet to be confirmed, include a city electric SUV and a large
seven-seat SUV plug-in hybrid.
Two variants of the B10 are available, both powered by the same rear-mount motor but
charged by different Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries.
The entry-level Style has a 56.2 kWh battery and is priced at $37,888 plus on-road
costs while the B10 Design Long Range generates 67.1 kWh and sells for $40,888 plus
ORCs.
The B10 is backed by a six-year, 150,000km vehicle warranty and an eight-year,
160,000km high-voltage battery warranty.
EXTERIOR
While Leapmotor B10 shares much of its overall styling with its larger C10 sibling its
compact proportions give it a slightly sportier look. Having said that there’s little that will
have it stand out from its numerous compact SUV rivals.
Both B10 variants come with LED automatic head and brake lights, a fixed panoramic
glass roof with a powered blind, LED automatic headlights and 18-inch alloy wheels.
The Design LR grade adds an LED dynamic rear light bar, rear privacy glass, automatic
power folding mirrors, rain-sensing wiper and a power tailgate.
Oddly, there is no rear wipers on either model.
Six colours are available. Light White and Starry Night Blue are standard. The other four
are $990 options: Galaxy Silver, Tetra Grey, Dawn Purple and Metallic Black.
INTERIOR
The inside of the Leapmotor B10 is a real surprise with a look and feel that’s
comparable with a much more established and more expensive brand.
As is the norm with Chinese EVs the dash is dominated by a large touchscreen and no
physical controls.
There are some quirky features such as the three oval openings at the top and bottom
of the dashboard in front of the passenger. Nobody could work out if they were
functional or just decorative.
Style comes with grey fabric seats with the Design getting what Leapmotor calls
TechnoLeather aka synthetic seats.
The front seats are heated, ventilated and powered with six settings for the driver and
four for the passenger. The steering wheel is also heated.
The customizable 64-colour interior ambient lighting system can sync with the car’s
sound system.
The twin cupholders in the front are tucked behind the centre console and difficult to
reach especially at night. Which isn’t a bad thing because they fold up and down, as my
grandson suggest, like toilet seats. Five-year olds notice these things !
Boot space, once you discover that it’s accessed through a small button in the right
centre of the rear, is a decent 490 litres including the extra under-floor space where
items such like as the charging cables (mode 2 and 3) and the tyre repair kit which,
sadly, is required in lieu of a spare wheel.
There is a small frunk for storage under the bonnet.
Vehicle to Load (V2L) is standard although the cable isn’t. It costs around $280.
With the rear seatbacks folded boot space expands up to 1475 litres.
The tailgate can also be opened through the touchscreen.
POWERTRAIN
The B10 is powered by a high-efficiency electric motor delivering 160kW and 240Nm of
torque. Zero to 100 km/h is listed at 8 seconds with a top speed of 170km/h.
The Style has a 56.2 kWh battery with an 11kW maximum AC rate through three-phase
power that can charge from zero to 100% in around six hours. With single-phase power
that drops to 7.4kW and around 10 hours.
Both Style and Design LR support 11kW AC charging and ultra-fast DC charging up to
168 kW (Design LR), enabling a 30-80% charge in approximately 20 minutes.
The charge port is located at the rear driver’s side.
Both Style and Design LR support DC charging up to 168 kW (Design LR), enabling a
30-80% charge in approximately 20 minutes.
SAFETY
Leapmotor B10 was tested by ANCAP in November 2025 and received the maximum
five-star rating. A positive for parents is a near-perfect child occupant protection score.
There are seven airbags including one in the front centre position. Also standard are
adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, lane
departure warning, emergency lane keeping, speed assist system, blind sport
monitoring, front collision warning, rear cross traffic alert and braking, rear parking
sensors, and driver attention monitoring.
As is now the norm with Chinese EVs the frustrating and incessant alerts that have
drivers screaming “”Just Let Me (expletives deleted) Drive!” such as lane correction,
speed limit alert and driver alert can be turned off.
While they do need to be turned on every time the car re-starts there is a customisable
button on the steering wheel where they can be turned off again with a single touch.
One surprising omission in either model, and a trap for the unwary, is the absence of
front parking sensors.
INFOTAINMENT
Standard in both B10 variants are a 14.6-inch colour touchscreen and an 8.8-inch LCD
driver instrument cluster. There’s also satellite navigation, 360-degree camera with
guidelines, an integrated 360-degree dashcam recorder and wireless smartphone
charger.
The high-resolution screens are both fast and sharp.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both wireless.
Style comes with a basic six-speaker audio system. Design adds 12-speaker surround
sound.
DRIVING
At 4.5 metres the Leapmotor B10 is only marginally smaller than the C10 and can carry
five adults in reasonable comfort.
Entry into the B10 is through a frustrating digital keyless system that requires an NFC
key card to be tapped on a tab on the outside of the driver’s side mirror. There is a
smartphone App as an alternative. While both methods unlock the doors, they don’t
open the flush handle which needs a button to be pushed and the handle then pulled
out.
The card then has to be placed on the left-hand side of the centre console otherwise the
vehicle won’t start, although it can then be moved. Fortunately, commonsense has
prevailed and after a wave of buyer complaints, we’re assured that physical keys will
progressively be introduced with the keycards remaining only as a backup.
On the positive side there is a Leapmotor App that provides remote access as well
features such as vehicle status, vehicle location and scheduled charging.
B10 is a capable city transporter with the smooth, steady acceleration that is the norm in
electric vehicles, It lacks the whiplash pick up of performance EVs but does moves from
zero to 100 km/h in 8.0 seconds making it sharp enough for quick lane changes when
needed.
There are three drive modes: Comfort, Standard and Sport. In Sport there’s noticeably
more response in steering and throttle for greater driving enjoyment.
Stellantis input shows up in a relatively firm but comfortable ride. It grips the road and
corners securely with minimal body roll.
There is three-stage brake regeneration with One-Pedal driving available in the Design
LR.
Leapmotor quotes NEDC range of 442 kilometres from the Style and 516 km with the
Design. These equate to the more realistic WLTP numbers of 361 km and 434 km
respectively.
Energy usage is listed at an impressive 14.0 kWh (Style) and 14.1 kWh (Design).
SUMMING UP
With so many new brands coming from China it’s getting increasingly difficult to
evaluate each of their credentials and compare them with each other.
While some like MG, BYD and GWM are now well-established others, including
Leapmotor, are still largely unknown. The fact that it’s part of the Stellantis group,
currently the world’s fourth-largest automobile manufacturing group should reassure
potential buyers.
Importantly, Stellantis didn’t just take Leapmotor off the shelf. Its engineers provided
significant input into the design, chassis tuning and driving characteristics.
It’s a reasonable spacious and comfortable family vehicle that’s equally at home in
either urban or motorway conditions and it’s large enough to make for an excellent long-
distance cruiser.
Potential buyers will need to be patient as they scroll through the seemingly endless
controls stored within the touchscreen but by the end of our week-long test we had
grown to understand and appreciate its quality.
Best of all, it offers outstanding value for money especially with the extra features and
extended range in the Design variant costing just around $3000 more than the Style.
RATINGS
Looks: 8/10
Performance: 8/10
Safety: 8/10
Thirst: 7/10
Practicality: 7/10
Comfort: 7/10
Tech: 7/10
Value: 8/10
AT A GLANCE
MODEL LINE-UP
Leapmotor B10 Style: $37,888
Leapmotor B10 Design Long Range: $40,888
Note: These prices do not include government of dealer delivery charges. Contact your
Leapmotor local dealer for drive-away prices.
SPECIFICATIONS (Leapmotor B10 Design Long Range RWD SUV)
ELECTRIC MOTOR:
Maximum power: 160 kW
Maximum torque: 240 Nm
Acceleration (0-100 km/h: 8.0 seconds
DRIVELINE: Single-speed automatic, RWD
BATTERY: Lithium Iron Phosphate 56.2 kWh (Style), 67.1 kWh (Design)
DRIVING RANGE (WLTP):
Style: 361 km
Design LR: 434 km
CHARGING:
Single Phase AC: 7.2 kW
Three Phase AC: 11 kw
DC: 140 kW (Style), 168 kW (Design LR)
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT, AND CAPACITIES
Length: 4515 mm
Width: 1885 mm
Height: 1665 mm
Wheelbase: 2735 mm
Turning Circle: 10 metres
Kerb Weight: 1845 kg
WARRANTY:
Vehicle: Six years / 150,000 km
Battery: Eight years / 160,000 km
Service Intervals: 12 months / 20,000 km
