Most of the new electrical automobile producers rising from China are sub-brands of main conglomerates, similar to Geely, Chery, GAC, and GWM, amongst others. Leapmotor is slightly totally different. Similar to Nio and Xpeng, it was shaped as an unbiased startup in 2015, wanting to crack into the then-emerging electrical car house.
That independence shifted considerably in 2023, when Stellantis acquired a 20 % stake within the firm for $1.8 billion. The next yr, the 2 shaped a three way partnership, giving the group a 51 % share and unique rights to export, promote, and construct Leapmotor EVs outdoors China.
The model’s first mannequin, the S01, was unveiled in late 2017, and like so many different Chinese language vehicles launched earlier than 2020, it wasn’t what anybody would think about fascinating. Nonetheless, the EV house has made important progress since then, as has Leapmotor, which now boasts a number of attention-grabbing fashions in its lineup. Considered one of them is the C10.
First unveiled in late 2023, the C10 arrived in Europe and Australia in late 2024, serving as a direct rival to the Tesla Mannequin Y, Geely EX5, and Kia EV5. Can it probably be any good?
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Any new entrant into the EV market needs to be priced competitively if it desires consumers to take discover, so it’s a very good factor Leapmotor has achieved simply that with the C10. In Australia, it’s bought with a single EV powertrain and a newly-launched range-extender EV choice, combining a 28.4 kWh battery and a 1.5-liter petrol engine. We just lately lived with the flagship C10 Design with the BEV powertrain.
Costs for the EV begin at AU$45,888 (~$30,100) for the entry-level Model and rise to AU$49,888 (~$32,800) for the C10 Design, earlier than on-road prices. Issue these in, and also you’re round AU$55,000 (~$36,100). That undercuts the bottom Kia EV5 by about AU$2,000 (~$1,300) and the Tesla Mannequin Y by practically AU$10,000 (~$6,600).
All BEV C10 function the identical 69.9 kWh lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) battery and a single electrical motor. This motor delivers 215 hp (160 kW) and 236 lb-ft (320 Nm) of torque. It drives the rear wheels, in contrast to the single-motor Kia EV5, which is front-wheel drive. Leapmotor quotes a driving vary of 420 km (261 miles) on a cost, which is okay, however not nice. Charging is sub-par, as DC charges max out at 84 kW, which means you’ll want half-hour to cost from 30-80%.
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A Typical EV Cabin
The inside of the Leapmotor C10 is nearly as minimalist as you will get. Similar to a Tesla, in addition to just about each different new EV popping out of China, the cabin is dominated by a big central infotainment show that measures 14.6 inches and is joined by a ten.25-inch digital instrument cluster.
The infotainment system is great. Whereas it frustratingly doesn’t assist Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, the software program may be very fast and affords each perform you can ever dream of. You’ll be able to select from a wide range of backgrounds, entry necessary inside and exterior features straight from the display, and use it to regulate options just like the wing mirrors. Similar to a Tesla, then.
Leapmotor’s designers have additionally adopted the Tesla method in not including any bodily buttons, switches, or dials, which is a disgrace. So, you must dive into the display to vary issues just like the HVAC settings, which generally is a nuisance on the transfer. It additionally leaves the inside feeling very bland and missing in persona.
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Easy, But Plush
With that being stated, Leapmotor’s alternative of supplies at this value level needs to be recommended. The dashboard, seats, door panels, middle console, and floating console are all trimmed in easy artificial leather-based that actually feels extra premium than a few of the scratchy plastics present in Kia’s EV5. Nonetheless, the orange end of our take a look at car was slightly too brilliant for our style.
Different welcome touches embrace a wi-fi cellphone charger, some metallic speaker grilles, and a panoramic glass roof, which, in contrast to in a Tesla, features a sunshade. General, the cabin feels very spacious, and there’s loads of leg and headroom for adults within the second row. Nonetheless, I wasn’t a fan of the entrance seats as they lacked any type of lumbar assist. However, the seats do have heated and ventilated features, which is a plus.
Elsewhere, all C10 fashions include a strong 12-speaker audio system, DAB+ digital radio, a heated steering wheel, configurable ambient lighting, and rear privateness glass. There’s additionally a voice assistant you’ll be able to ask to open the home windows or the sunshade.
Safety Quirks
You’ll be able to acquire entry to the C10 in considered one of two methods. The primary choice is to make use of the offered keycard and faucet it on the driving force’s facet wing mirror. The second (and simpler) choice is to sync the automobile with the Leapmotor app, which means it’ll routinely unlock when your cellphone approaches and lock it while you go away.
Evaluate: Why The Kia EV5 Makes Extra Sense Than A Mannequin Y
To begin the C10, you need to both place the keycard on the charging pad or enter a PIN code. This may increasingly looks as if an pointless step. In any case, if the keycard is already inside, why does it have to be positioned on an NFC reader? It does, nevertheless, present a second stage of safety, in case a nasty actor scans your keycard’s frequency to get entry to unlock the automobile and get entry to the cabin.
As soon as the startup process is finished, it’s similar to pulling away in loads of different EVs, as there’s no Begin/Cease button. Pull the column shifter into Drive or Reverse, and also you’re away. All of it works very easily, however maybe the one draw back is that when you can draw back inside seconds, the infotainment display takes round 10 seconds to load.
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Driving the C10 for the primary time, I used to be impressed with the visibility and the smoothness offered by the throttle and brake pedals. Nonetheless, I used to be shocked by how remarkably the sunshine steering is in its Consolation setting. You’ll be able to actually steer the C10 with a single finger. Some could like that, however others gained’t. I rapidly switched the burden of the steering into Sport mode and far most popular it. Then the chimes began.
Not-So-Security Methods
Like so many different automobiles we’ve examined from China, a few of the C10’s security and warning techniques can turn out to be tiresome. For one, the driving force monitoring system will begin ringing if you happen to have a look at the central show for a few seconds, and even look within the mirror. I carried out an over-the-air software program replace throughout my time with the C10 that ought to have mounted this, however didn’t.
The warnings don’t cease there. There’s an overbearing velocity restrict warning often known as the ‘Clever Pace Help.’ Loads of different vehicles have these warnings these days, however most solely begin ringing while you exceed the velocity restrict by a sure margin. Within the C10, a girl’s voice blares via the audio system, telling you you’ve simply exceeded the posted velocity restrict by 2 km/h. The lane warning and emergency lane warning assistant options are additionally susceptible to errors, chiming even if you happen to’re proper within the middle of the lane.
Luckily, all of those techniques might be disabled within the settings, however you’ll need to do it each time you get behind the wheel, which isn’t very best. It’s additionally sensible to disable the reside site visitors setting within the built-in navigation system as a result of if it detects that there’s site visitors merging from the left or the appropriate, the lady’s voice returns, nagging you once more every time.
The Good
As soon as these techniques are disabled, the C10 really reveals itself to be an excellent all-rounder. It has been properly damped for a heavy SUV, ironing out bumps valiantly and remaining surefooted whatever the highway floor. I additionally favored the rear-wheel drive setup, because it means the C10 doesn’t endure from any of the torque steer of the Kia EV5.
Leapmotor affords Eco, Consolation, Sport, and Customized drive modes, in addition to a one-pedal driving. I discovered Eco to be far too docile, as you actually need to plant your foot on the throttle for it to begin transferring. Sport was my decide. Frustratingly, the one-pedal mode can solely be engaged while you’re stopped and place the C10 into Park, so it’s not one thing you’ll be able to allow on the fly like in lots of different EVs.
Cruising round city within the C10 is a delight. It’s whisper quiet at gradual velocity and feels smaller than it truly is. A slight annoyance is that above 70 km/h (43 mph) or so, a faint whistling sound begins to barely intrude into the cabin, maybe from the roof rails. However if you happen to’re listening to music, you gained’t discover it in any respect.
Effectivity is sweet, however actually not class-leading. Leapmotor quotes 19.8 kWh/100 km, however I averaged 17 kWh/100 km throughout my time with it. As talked about, DC charging is beneath common, topping out at a peak of simply 84 kW. However for individuals who can cost at dwelling, that gained’t be a lot of a problem.
Verdict
Leapmotor does have fairly a mountain to climb. It should produce automobiles to not solely rival manufacturers inside long-standing, and thus rather more skilled, Chinese language conglomerates but additionally a number of legacy automakers. It has, nonetheless, achieved a very good job with this mannequin.
Whereas the vary and the charging go away slightly to be desired, the C10 does what an EV ought to. It’s snug, straightforward to drive, spacious, and feels recent and trendy. Nonetheless, these searching for a car with persona can be disillusioned, because the C10 lacks it. Then once more, the identical might be stated for many EVs today, as driver engagement will not be precisely a precedence for both consumers or producers and vehicles like Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 N are the exception, not the norm.