Leapmotor B10 (2025 - )

Chinese manufacturer Leapmotor seems to hold an edge over its domestic competitors, particularly with the backing of the formidable Stellantis, writes motoring journalist Tim Barnes-Clay.

This automotive giant emerged from the merger of the PSA Group and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, boasting a portfolio that includes brands such as Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Citroën, DS, Fiat, Jeep, Maserati, Peugeot, and Vauxhall/Opel, among others.

Stellantis has also acquired a 51% stake in Leapmotor International – the entity responsible for managing Leapmotor's operations outside of China.

The strategy is straightforward: utilise Stellantis' extensive dealer network and industry expertise to introduce Leapmotor vehicles to the UK market and beyond.

Leapmotor has already launched the compact T03, a fully electric city car, as well as the C10 SUV. Now, it's gearing up to unveil another SUV: the smaller all-electric B10.

While the name might sound like a new band or an aircraft model, it actually refers to a fully electric compact crossover SUV. But the big question is: does it deliver?

We took it for a spin to give it a thorough evaluation.
 

If you’ve seen the larger C10, you’ll already have a sense of what the Leapmotor B10 looks like.

While they are by no means identical and, as mentioned, the B10 is smaller, it does exhibit a sibling-like resemblance, particularly with the headlight arrangement and the slim slits on either side of a gap in the front.

Beneath that, there’s a cliff-edge-like drop, with a blank panel in the centre, positioned above the number plate. At the same time, the lower grille extends downwards and outwards at the edges, resembling two massive air intakes, flanked by chiselled cheekbones.

On the sides, a pair of well-defined creases sit above the wheel arches - these creases run down and along the bottom of the doors, which are slightly concave between the front and rear wheels.

Flush door handles and a modest amount of cladding are also present. Meanwhile, the rear features a generous amount of blank space, highlighted by a horizontal light bar that subtly thins out in the middle, allowing the Leapmotor name badge to sit nicely beneath it.

It looks appealing, stylish, and contemporary - and from the front, quite futuristic.

The B10's line-up is straightforward. There are no trim levels or engine options – just a single model that’s packed full of everything Leapmotor has managed to include, except for the kitchen sink.

As standard, you receive 18-inch alloy wheels, a 14.6-inch 2.5K HD infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a DAB radio, an 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster, full LED headlights and taillights, and wireless keycard entry.

You also get heated and ventilated, fully reclinable seats, pop-out door handles, a 360-degree surround-view camera, a wireless mobile phone charging pad, and a 12-speaker sound system that syncs with your music and features 64-colour ambient lighting.

Completing the package is a large panoramic sunroof, along with a heat pump, which uses significantly less power than conventional air conditioning and is often an expensive optional extra on many other vehicles.
 

Testing is straightforward, given that there's only one motor to assess.
The 219PS unit keenly drives the rear wheels from the start, achieving a zero to 62mph time of 8.0 seconds, which is quite respectable, maxing out at 106mph.
It is not exceptionally rapid, and the sensation of pressing the accelerator isn't quite the overwhelming surge of instant power that you experience in some competitors, but it remains fairly brisk. In fact, fully flooring the throttle can lead to wheelspin that its safety systems struggle to control effectively.
If the acceleration feels too aggressive, setting it to its lowest Eco mode will significantly rein in the power.
The electric motor is oil-cooled, which Leapmotor claims enhances its smoothness and improves efficiency - in fact, the company asserts that the motor is 94% efficient.
In terms of handling, the B10 isn't impressive, exhibiting considerable body roll in corners. Admittedly, no SUV handles exceptionally well, but the Leapmotor falls notably short of its rivals regarding its ability to navigate bends at speed.
The steering is very light - arguably too light in some driving modes - and it doesn't provide much feedback to instil confidence when pushing on.
The ride is quite comfortable, absorbing potholes and irregularities in the road surface well.
It is clearly a vehicle designed for comfort rather than cornering ability - but if it wishes to compete with premium brands, it will need to achieve a better balance between the two.
The B10 isn't the quietest car either. While the powertrain is nearly silent, being all-electric, there's a fair amount of wind and tyre roar at higher speeds. Leapmotor has indicated that it will soon transition to offering Hankook tyres as standard, instead of the current Linglong brand, which may enhance this aspect.
There are three regenerative braking modes, which are consistent and predictable. However, frustratingly, they must be adjusted via the touchscreen, whereas paddles behind the steering wheel would be more convenient.
Another bothersome feature is that the driving assistance systems are incredibly intrusive, sometimes attempting to steer you back into line unnecessarily or triggering warnings for merely glancing away from the road ahead.
This is not an isolated issue, as other Chinese manufacturers also struggle with overly sensitive systems. Chery - marketed in the UK under its own brand as well as its two sub-brands, Omoda and Jaecoo - recently recalibrated its safety features following customer complaints of excessive zeal.
We hope Leapmotor will take similar steps by collaborating with Stellantis to refine these systems.
 

The seats in the Leapmotor are very cushioned, providing plenty of support, making it easy to get comfortable.
The B10 features six-way powered adjustment in the driver’s seat, which allows for a proper driving position to be easily found.
In terms of space, you won’t encounter any issues up front, with ample headroom and legroom. Additionally, there’s a high centre console separating you from the front passenger, which should help prevent any competition for elbow room.
In the back, it's much the same, with plenty of space for taller passengers, even with the panoramic sunroof included as standard.
The boot space in the B10 measures 430 litres, which is reasonable, though several competitors offer more. The Leapmotor, however, has a clever feature, providing an extra 25 litres of 'frunk' space under the bonnet.
The SUV’s boot capacity expands to 1,700 litres if you fold the rear seats over in a 60:40 split, and the boot itself is a conveniently square shape, allowing you to make the most of the space available.
There are also 22 storage compartments located throughout the cabin, including a hollowed-out dashboard, whilst the glove compartment is a good size.
 

The Leapmotor B10 charges at a maximum rate of 168kW, allowing for a 30-80% top-up in just 20 minutes. While this sounds impressive - and it is, some competitors are even faster - and the marketing tactic lies in the figures: many manufacturers quote charging times from 10-80%, so by offering a lower percentage range, Leapmotor's time appears deceptively swift.

Running costs should be low, particularly if you can charge it at home and steer clear of pricier public charging stations.

Additionally, Leapmotor is the first manufacturer to provide its own electric vehicle grant, known as the 'Leap-Grant', which effectively reduces the purchase price of a B10 by £1,500. Therefore, it's important to note that the car is very competitively priced considering what it offers.

Reliability remains uncertain, as Leapmotor is a new brand in the UK. However, it includes a four-year, 60,000-mile warranty, and the battery comes with an eight-year, 100,000-mile guarantee.
 

The Leapmotor B10 is a very impressive all-electric SUV on paper.

It is highly practical, featuring a spacious interior and offering a comfortable ride, alongside a beautifully designed cabin filled with technology, all as standard.

The range and charging speeds are commendable, as is the acceleration – so it’s a case of what’s not to like.

However, when it comes to delivery, the driving experience simply doesn’t measure up to some competitors, and its handling is far from what you’d expect from premium brands. There’s significant lean in the corners, which isn’t helped by subpar tyres, although we’re pleased to note they will be replaced soon.

The safety systems are overly intrusive as well. While this may be a simpler issue to address than the handling, the Leapmotor B10 still lacks the refinement found in some of its rivals, let alone premium brands.

That said, it does score highly for being more affordable and better equipped than most of its challengers.

Ultimately, where the Leapmotor B10 truly excels is in its remarkable value for money.