There was a real feeling of déjà vu during our first encounter with the Leapmotor C10 which took us back to our recent test of the Deepal S07.
Both are very new fully-electric Chinese mid-sized SUVs that are imported by well-established automotive companies, Deepal by Inchcape and Leapmotor by Stellantis.
During our week behind the wheel of the Leapmotor C10 we didn’t find a single person who had ever heard of the brand. Not surprising, because the company was only formed in 2015 with its first model, the S01 EV two-door coupe launched on its domestic market in 2019.
The C10 is Leapmotor’s first venture into the international market, brought on following the company’s link with Stellantis. It was launched here in November 2024 with two variants, Style and Design, priced at $45,888 and $49,888 respectively plus on-road costs.
A plug-in hybrid variant, tagged C10 REEV (for Range Extender) was added earlier this year with another model, the B10 compact fully-electric SUV due in mid-2025.
The Leapmotor C10 Design that we tested is just over 4.7 metres long, so around the same size, and price range, as the hybrid versions of Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, and Mitsubishi Outlander.
As well as the Deepal S07, fully-electric rivals include the Tesla Model Y, XPeng G6, Geela EX5 and BYD Atto 3 with more on the way.
Standard features in both C10 models include a 2.1-metre panoramic sunroof, automatic LED headlights, dual zone automatic climate control, powered front seats, LEAP Pilot safety package, wireless smartphone charging pad, and a 360-degree camera.
C10 Style has 18-inch alloy wheels, Design steps up to 20-inch alloys and also adds a powered tailgate, heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats, silicone leather seats, air quality monitor and multi-coloured interior ambient lighting.
STYLING
In many ways the profile of the Leapmotor C10 is reminiscent of the earliest SUVs, square and functional, with none of the fastback lines that are becoming more prevalent in many current SUVs.
The front and rear treatment however transform it into a very neat and attractive vehicle with full-width narrow horizontal LED light bars across both the squared-off front and rear.
There are five exterior colour from which to choose: Pearl White, Terra Grey, Jade Green, Midnight Grey and Metallic Black.
INTERIOR
While there are five external colours there are only two for the interior: Midnight Aurora, a dark purple hue, and Criollo Brown.
Our test vehicle was the latter colour but, unless I’ve gone colour blind, it’s not brown. It’s a bright orange that could have come directly from Donald Trump’s make-up kit.
The interior of the C10 is spacious and beautifully crafted. excellent. The silicone faux-leather seats are plush, supportive and comfortable.
Both front seats have power adjustment and can be folded almost flat.
There is a large variety of storage spaces in the front including a deep console box and a tray beneath to hide items.
Rear seat space and comfort is outstanding. The combination of a square body shape and long-ish wheelbase provides an amazing amount of room.
Rear cargo space is listed at 581 litres when measured to ceiling height but, more practically, 435 litres to window level where it rises to 1410 litres with the rear seats folded. Ther’s no spare wheel, only a tyre repair kit below the boot floor.
POWERTRAIN
Leapmotor C10 is powered by a single rear-mounted 160kW/320Nm e-motor with a 69.9kWh lithium ferro-phosphate (LFP) battery pack.
It uses Cell-to-Chassis (CTC) technology meaning the battery cells are integrated into the structure of the car, leading to a greater driving range of up to 420km, based on the WLTP cycle**.
With a maximum DC charge rate of up to 84kW recharging on the go, from 30-80 per cent, can be achieved in approximately 30 minutes, while equivalent AC charging will take just over six hours with an onboard charger capable of 6.6kW. Included as standard are both mode 2 and mode 3 charging cables and Vehicle-to-Load capability.
SAFETY
Leapmotor C10 has been awarded the maximum 5-star ANCAP rating. In addition to the normal statutory safety features, including seven airbags, it uses an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) with a range of sensors and other systems providing adaptive cruise control, front and rear collision warning, intelligent speed assist, rear cross traffic alert and braking, autonomous emergency braking, traffic jam assist and blind spot warning.
Then there are what we would describe as optional features that are automatically turned on whenever the vehicle is started but which can be turned off. These include four systems that alert or intervene when it senses that the driver deviates from the centre of a lane: Lane Departure Warning, Lane Centring Control, Lane Keep Assist and Emergency Lane Keep.
Similarly, the Driver Drowsiness and Attention Warning and Advanced Driver Distraction Warning, while sensible safety features, are far too sensitive and can also be turned off if required.
Note that each of these features automatically turn back on when the vehicle is stopped and the entire process has to be repeated.
INFOTAINMENT
Display is through a centrally-mounted 14.6-inch touchscreen and a 10.25-inch driver information screen. The definition on both is excellent while the touchscreen is responsive although it doesn’t tilt towards the driver like that in the Deepal and so needs a bit of a stretch.
There are two Type A and Type C USB ports in the front and rear and a wireless smartphone charging pad in the centre console.
Neither Apple CarPlay nor Android Auto are available at this stage although we’ve been assured that both will be added as part of regular software upgrades using over-the-air (OTA) technology. Until this happens the embedded system is the only SatNav option.
Both variants have a premium 12-speaker surround sound system.
DRIVING
There are a couple of options for unlocking the Leapmotor C10. The standard method is by tapping an NFC and Bluetooth smartcard against a small device on the driver’s side mirror which unlocks all four doors.
Unlike other vehicles with flat door handles they don’t open out when the car is unlocked with the inevitable risk of damaged finger nails.
The preferred option is the Leapmotor app with features that include remote access, car location, air-conditioning control, aiming and access to embedded apps such as Spotify, TikTok and Zoom via the touchscreen. The apps run through an inbuilt 4G connection.
As with all vehicle with battery power the C10 does have the instant acceleration that makes them so rewarding to drive. However, at just under 2000 kg it’s fairly heavy so isn’t as sharp of the line as lighter vehicles.
Out on the open road the C10 Design with its 20-inch wheels provides a smooth, comfortable and quiet ride. The body feels quite stiff partly because the battery pack is built into the car’s structure.
There are four drive modes (Eco, Chill, Sport and Custom) and three levels of regenerative braking, accessible – of course – through the touchscreen including one-pedal mode.
There is a choice of steering modes to suit different tastes and conditions.
Battery range is listed at 420 km. We did have some charging problems which meant that we had to rely on domestic power and couldn’t make a reliable comparison.
SUMMARY
For a brand that’s been around for less than a decade, Leapmotor has hit the ground running and the C10 is an impressive vehicle in many respects but incredibly frustrating in others.
On the positive side it’s a spacious and comfortable family vehicle that’s equally at home in either urban or motorway conditions and would make an excellent long-distance cruiser. It offers outstanding value or money and, once
The issue isn’t these features themselves, which are to be commended, but the manner by which they are accessed, almost exclusively through the touchscreen rather than can be extremely frustrating and, even more.
Fortunately, help is on the way. Both the Australian and European NCAP bodies are very conscious of driver distraction as a growing factor in road crashes and will be rewarding manufacturers that use easily-accessible separate physical controls.
At this stage there are no plans to make physical buttons mandatory for a 5-star safety rating. Hopefully that will follow in the future.
While we have highlighted the many frustrations from what is a very innovative vehicle by the end of our week behind the wheel we had grown to understand and appreciate its quality.
Potential buyers will need to be patient as they scroll through the seemingly endless controls stored within the touchscreen. We barely touched the surface.
Finally, although the Leapmotor brand is effectively unknown in Australia, it is being backed by Stellantis, the world’s fourth-largest automobile manufacturing group.
RATINGS
Looks: 8/10
Performance: 7/10
Safety: 6/10
Thirst: 7/10
Practicality: 8/10
Comfort: 9/10
Tech: 9/10
Value: 8/10
AT A GLANCE
MODEL LINE-UP
C10 Style RWD: $45,888
C10 Design RWD: $49,888
Note: These prices do not include government or dealer delivery charges. Contact your local Leapmotor dealer for drive-away prices.
SPECIFICATIONS (Leapmotor C10 Design fully-electric five-door wagon)
POWERTRAIN
Single rear-mounted electric motor
Maximum power: 160 kW
Maximum torque: 320 Nm
Battery Type: Lithium ferro-phosphate
Battery Capacity: 69.9 kWh
Energy consumption: 19.8 kWh/100km
Range (WLTP): 420 km
DRIVELINE: Single-speed, automatic, rear-wheel drive
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES:
Length: 4739 mm
Wheelbase: 2825 mm
Width: 1900 mm
Height: 1680 mm
Turning Circle: Not supplied
Kerb Weight: 1980 kg
BRAKES:
Front: Ventilated disc
Rear: Ventilated disc
STANDARD WARRANTY:
Vehicle: Seven years, 160,000 km
Battery: Eight years, 160,000 km
