A leaping what now? Fair question. I do the whole car thing for a living and, until very recently, I hadn’t heard of Leapmotor either.
Turns out it’s the latest Chinese domestic brand to set its sights on global domination, and the C10 is the electric SUV with which it hopes to do it.
Ignore them at your peril. The brand was only brought into existence in 2015, and didn’t produce its first car until 2019. And yet, it’ll probably sell 250,000 cars this year, with a company target of 500,000 global sales annually by 2030.
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Helping with the global push is Stellantis (owner of Jeep, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Peugeot, Citroen, and many more); the auto giant currently holds a 51% stake in Leapmotor’s international operations. Which is why, come November, you’ll be able to buy the C10 at Australian Jeep dealerships.
But… should you? Read on.
So what’s the story behind the Leapmotor C10?
It’s a Tesla Model Y-sized electric SUV that prioritises cabin space and practicality above (way above) driver engagement and excitement.
That means you get a big, screen-filled cabin, a comfortable ride, a backseat big enough to play football on, passable EV tech, and a drive experience that’s so vanilla, it’d fit right in at one of the many gelaterias we passed on our Italian drive route.
Who’s the buyer?
Honestly, anyone who is considering a Tesla Model Y — or any other sizeable electric SUV — should take a look at the C10. It does much of the same stuff, albeit while wearing a much lower price tag.
Tell us about your first impressions?
While not exciting, it’s also not in any way aggravating, and doesn’t feel like a first attempt at a global product.
We suffered some tech glitches in what we were told were pre-production examples of the C10, but those aside, I was impressed by the look, feel, quality, and composure of this Leapmotor; which offers a quiet and comfortable alternative to ICE-powered SUVs.
Give us the top line on performance and efficiency. What’s it like to drive?
Remember I mentioned “passable EV tech”? While the rear-mounted electric motor (160kW and 320Nm) is enough to get the C10 up and moving easily enough, and will see it knock off the sprint to 100km/h in just over seven seconds, the Leapmotor’s charging capability feels a bit underdone.
The C10 is fitted with a 69.9kWh battery, which delivers 424km in driving range. But it’s only set up for 84kW DC fast charging (the Model Y is between 170kW and 250kW). That means it will take 30 mins to take on 50% charge.
Tech and connectivity — what’s the word?
Downside time. The tech is modern feeling, and properly fast thanks to its quantum chip, though there’s no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, which many (myself included) feel is a deal-breaker.
That’s all coming on the MY25 update next year, but won’t be able to be retrofitted, meaning that if you’re buying in 2024, you’re looking at an aftermarket solution for this one.
… and the lowdown on safety?
No crash test yet, although Leapmotor is expecting five stars, owing to the array of cameras and sensors that surround the C10. Some — we’re looking at you, overspeed warning — are mind-bendingly annoying. Be ready to switch those off.
One thing we should know before a test drive?
To Leapmotor’s credit, the C10 arrives with a seven-year unlimited-kilometre warranty. Yes, it’s a new brand: but that’s decent coverage should anything go pear shaped.
Tell ’em the price!
Crucially — less than a Model Y. Leapmotor hasn’t confirmed exact pricing. The company has suggested that the entry-level C10 (‘the Style’) will HOVER around $45,000. Meanwhile, the top-spec ‘Design’ will be around $49,000.
At time of writing, the aforementioned Tesla is $55,900: meaning Leapmotor is offering real savings.
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