A second car from a new brand to the UK. We get behind the wheel of the Leapmotor C10 family SUV…
Yes, the Leapmotor C10 is yet another SUV from yet another Chinese manufacturer.
The difference is that unlike most of the other new car brands from China, Leapmotor is a joint venture with Stellantis – the group which already includes Peugeot, Vauxhall, Fiat, Citroen, Jeep – to name but a few.
So, rather than having to set up from scratch, Leapmotor is leveraging Stellantis’ experience, which includes access to dealerships and an after-sales network.
I’ve already reviewed the dinky Leapmotor T03 city car. Now it’s the turn of the C10 mid-sized SUV.
One thing is for sure – it has its work cut out. It’s a hugely competitive sector and its many rivals include the big-selling Tesla Model Y, the Xpeng G6, BYD Atto 3, Omoda E5, Skoda Enyaq, Nissan Ariya, MG ZS EV, Vauxhall Grandland and Hyundai Kona Electric.
About the same size as the Tesla, the Leapmotor C10 follows the high-riding SUV template that’s made this type of vehicle so popular the world over.
I don’t mean that in a derogatory way. It’s a good-looking car with a no-nonsense design that’s well-proportioned with the focus on practicality.
And the Tesla-style flush-mounted door handles that pop-out automatically as your approach, or retract when the car is locked or moving, are a classy feature.
Oh, and there’s a rear wiper hidden under the spoiler at the top of the tailgate – an essential that’s not a given on all EVs.
It not unlike Elon Musk’s car’s inside too, with a plush, minimalist look and feel, and plenty of tech – especially for the price point. Build quality gets the thumbs up too.
Starting at a very competitive £36,500, the C10 is launching in the UK with just one version featuring a high level of specification as standard.
Available in five colours – Canopy Grey, Pearly White, Tundra Grey, Metallic Black and Glazed Green (my favourite) – it comes standard with 20-inch alloy wheels, electrically adjustable heated and ventilated front seats, panoramic sunroof, privacy glass, automatic LED headlights and taillights, plus electrically operated heated and folding exterior mirrors.
There’s also a large central 14.6-inch touchscreen, 10.25-inch driver’s display, plus a full suite of safety and driver assistance features including adaptive cruise control (ACC) and autonomous emergency braking (AEB). In fact, the C10 was awarded a maximum five stars by independent safety testing body Euro NCAP.
At the heart of the car is a 69.9kWh battery and a single electric motor on the back axle producing 215bhp and 236lb ft for 0-62mph in 7.5 seconds.
So, it’s rear-wheel drive and its claimed range is a decent 263 miles. Its DC rapid charging rate is capped at 84kW, which is less than the average 150kW you’d expect in this class, but its 30 to 80% capacity charge time of 30 minutes is reasonable, all the same.
Interior passenger space is excellent, front and back, but the 435-litre boot (1,410 litres with the rear seats folded down) is useful, but not class-leading.
That said, visibility is excellent, and if you need extra reassurance when manoeuvring, rear parking sensors and a 360-degree panoramic camera, make parking easier and safer in tight spaces.
Oh, and a cool feature of the C10 is that you can fold the front seats back to create an almost-flat space for lounging, or sleeping, should the need arise!
To get moving, there’s no start button. Just flick the column-mounted gear selector up or down to drive either forwards or backwards.
On the road, the Leapmotor C10 is brisk without being savagely fast, like some EVs. The accent is more on comfort and refinement, and judged on those terms, it fulfils the brief.
The suspension set-up is on the firm side and it has a tendency to thud over poorer surfaces at low speed. Pick up the pace on better A-roads and motorways, and it smoothes out imperfections better.
In town, its light steering and tight turning circle are just the job. The C10 drives well enough on more challenging roads, but there’s a bit of body lean in faster corners and the brakes are grabby.
Grip is good, helped on my test car by the Dunlop e-Sportmaxx tyres fitted, no doubt.
There are three driving modes – Eco, Comfort and Sport – which change throttle response, steering feel and regenerative braking sensitivity. As ever, Sport is fine for fun, short bursts, and Eco further dulls the engagement factor, so best to stay in Comfort for the best blend of performance and efficiency.
The Leapmotor C10 offers selectable levels of brake regen, including a ‘one-pedal’ mode and a ‘freewheeling’ function with no regenerative braking. Sadly, there are no steering wheel paddles to adjust the level of regenerative braking.
Just like the Tesla Model Y and some other rivals, too many of the car’s essentials are controlled via the infotainment screen and there are no physical buttons for short cuts and climate, for instance.
On the plus side, there is a decent driver’s display for important information such as speed, remaining charge and traffic sign recognition.
There are a few glitches too. The sat nav dropped out at one stage and the infotainment screen’s ‘night mode’ was triggered too easily when I drove through a shady woodland area.
And unfortunately, like most new cars, the endless bongs and chimes from the driver assist systems are very intrusive.
However, the deal-breaker for some will be the lack of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity at launch.
I’d need to drive the Leapmotor C10 for a week or so to give a proper estimate of real-world range. Based on my test drive on mixed roads in Kent, where I achieved a creditable average efficiency of 3.8 miles per kWh, I’d say it’s capable of around 210 miles on a full charge, though colder weather and an aggressive driving style will knock it down.
Finally, the C10 is covered by Leapmotor’s four-year/60,000-mile warranty, plus an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty for the battery. Leapmotor also reckons the C10’s battery has an expected lifespan of more than 372,000 miles. Quite the claim.
Along with the pint-sized T03, the C10 is another competent debut car offering serious bang for your buck from a new brand to the UK. Now Leapmotor needs to work on creating a wow factor for its models.
Verdict: The Leapmotor C10 is a welcome addition to the fiercely competitive electric family SUV scene. Great value for money, safe, and pleasant to drive, there’s loads of space for passengers, and it has the back-up of the established Stellantis dealership network.
