Leapmotor C10 REEV (2024 - )

Are you willing to take a leap into the unknown? 

Leapmotor is a new brand here – and it’s from China, writes Tim Barnes-Clay. But Stellantis has a 51 per cent stake in it – so it’d be a calculated leap of faith if you went down the Leapmotor road. 

Anyway, what is the C10 REEV? Well, REEV stands for Range Extended EV, which gives this five-door, five-seater SUV better range over the battery electric vehicle (BEV) C10 version introduced recently. 

The brand says the car is "the perfect answer for BEV sceptics" because of its longer range, fast refuelling, and better battery. 

But how does it work? Essentially, the C10 REEV is an electric vehicle with an electric motor driving the wheels. When the battery charge is low, a 1.5-litre petrol engine generates electricity to recharge it, thereby extending the driving range. Think of it as a generator engine – one that’s “engineered for excellence” according to Leapmotor – not least because the directly-coupled-to-the-engine generator design helps cut weight by 8kg compared with competitor range-extenders. Leapmotor says it’s leading the charge in this direction and that the C10 REEV is “sustainable” and “future proof” – and eliminates charging and range anxiety.

Stretching 4,739 mm long, the C10 REEV is a roomy SUV boasting a not-unsightly exterior. The sweeping bonnet line, headlamps with ultrabright LED technology, and signature dumbbell-shaped grille form a robust appearance.

The chiselled side lines, strong waistline, and flat, square-edged wheel arches strengthen its kerbside presence. Additional ground clearance provides stability on less-than-perfect terrain, and roof bars, as standard, give this vehicle a feeling of adventure.

The C10 REEV rides on 20-inch alloy wheels with a striking dark metallic grey finish and five handsome exterior body colours. Glazed Green (pearlescent) is the no-cost option, with Pearly White (pearlescent), Tundra Grey (solid), Canopy Grey (pearlescent), and Metallic Black (pearlescent) offered as options.

A smart locking system, operable via the Leapmotor App, automatically locks and unlocks as you approach. Inside, you can use the Near Field Communication (NFC) digital keycard on the C10's wireless charging pad to start the car - or place the card on the driver's mirror sensor before you get in for convenience.

As for the C10 REEV's infotainment system, well, it’s engaging. It features a 14.6-inch high-definition touchscreen and a 10.25-inch instrument screen. Both displays are laminated to minimise glare and provide better visibility in sunlight.

You can use the touchscreen or the five-way scroll buttons on the steering wheel to grant instant access to principal functions while driving. The touchscreen offers control of the heating, ventilation, driving modes, and audio adjustments through a logically structured shortcut menu.

A built-in navigation system offers efficient route planning with uncluttered graphics and live traffic updates. Furthermore, dynamic routing helps locate handy EV charging stations. We couldn't find Apple CarPlay or Android Auto functionality, though - which could be a dealbreaker for some. Leapmotor says this will be sorted at some point by way of an over-the-air update.

Furthermore, the C10 REEV is equipped with facial recognition technology that observes your expressions for indications of fatigue and tiredness. If it detects any signs of drowsiness, it notifies you and suggests you take a break. This is handy in one sense - but mostly irritating. What's more, it seems to think you're not looking at the road if you're wearing sunglasses. That could just be me imagining it - or maybe I yawned while wearing my shades.

However, it’s better to be safe than sorry, so this technology shouldn’t be scoffed at. Speaking of safety, the C10 REEV is packed with other advanced protection functions and, unsurprisingly, enjoys a top five-star Euro NCAP rating. 
 

The car isn’t agile at all. It is heavy and rolls a lot in corners. It really doesn’t feel that quick, either. But this is a family-focused large SUV - not a hot hatch. 

With three-up (two journalists in the front and a photographer in the rear), plus camera equipment and carry-on flight luggage, we had a sense of what it might be like to use in a family situation. The car will feel even more sluggish fully laden – and yet it’s so spacious and comfortable that we can forgive any flaws. 

The C10 REEV features three driving modes - ECO, SPORT, and STANDARD - accessible via the infotainment display. The ECO mode optimises energy efficiency by ensuring smoother power delivery and light steering for urban environments. SPORT ups the accelerator's responsiveness and gives heavier steering for accuracy at higher speeds. The STANDARD setting offers a balanced setup for daily use.

You can also customise your driving experience with powertrain options: SMOOTH for a smooth reaction in city traffic, ROBUST for a quick response, and STABLE for, erm, stable driving.

For steering, you can select COMFORT for easy handling, SPORT for a spirited response, or STANDARD for everyday balance. Hill Descent Control also provides stability on slippery hills using the vehicle's Electronic Stability Programme.

Our test drive took place between Barcelona and Valencia, and while the roads were smooth for much of the journey, we did encounter some potholes in rural areas. The C10 REEV soaked up these bits of scarred tarmac well, although it squealed on newer bitumen when taking roundabouts too enthusiastically. 

The steering feels very artificial in every setting – you really don’t get a sense of what’s going on underneath the alloy wheels. But again – because the SUV cossets you, you can forgive it.  

Leapmotor, which, as we've said, is Chinese, actually adapted this car for European driving habits via driving simulator tests in Italy. Handling and ride comfort were digitally assessed – and then the physical validation was carried out in China, with the spring stiffness and dampers being adjusted. Leapmotor says a team of Maserati engineers from Stellantis was part of the team to help with all this. 

Even though it’s weighty – it’s still lighter than the BEV version of the C10 – and its cushioning comfort is to be praised. The C10 REEV is perhaps best on the straights at motorway pace, but you can still have a hoot, as we did, threading it down twisty mountain roads. The car will get to 62mph in 8.5 seconds, although, as we’ve hinted, it doesn’t always feel as punchy as that – and it’ll top out at 106mph. 
 

The Leapmotor C10 REEV’s interior is so spacious. Our photographer - a lofty chap, sat happily behind us - two six-foot-tall journalists - and still had acres of space for his knees and head. The SUV will clearly seat five people more than happily, so this is a family car worth considering if room - and range - are your priorities. 

The Leapmotor's boot capacity is 435 litres and will balloon to 1,410 litres with the C10 REEV's rear seats folded down. The car's flexible layout also allows various seat configurations to suit different needs.

Key practical features include a spacious armrest box for small items and device charging, a steering column-mounted drive selector that maximises storage, and strategically placed cupholders. To keep your odds and ends organised, the C10 REEV offers a bunch of compartments - 10 in the front, 10 in the rear, and six in the boot.

The C10 REEV features a rear-mounted 158kW (215PS) electric motor propelling the rear wheels. It is powered by a 28.4kWh battery and provides an official all-electric range of 90 miles. It includes a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine at the front, which is not connected to the wheels but drives a generator to keep the battery charged. 

Thanks to this setup, the C10 REEV has an official fuel economy of as much as 706.2 mpg and CO2 emissions amount to a mere 10g/km. It can cover up to 603 miles using a mix of battery and petrol. 

It is important to highlight the term "official" that was just mentioned - we achieved an average of 44mpg instead of hitting three figures. However, if you invest some time getting familiar with the car and your driving route, it's understandable how you could reach that triple-digit mpg.

Handily, you can select energy modes to help you achieve this – all through the touchscreen. There are quite a few, so here they are summarised:

EV+: In this mode, the powertrain always prioritises the electric motor, and the range extender generator won't kick in until the battery SoC (State of Charge) is below 9%.

EV: This setting also prioritises the electric motor, but the range extender will start to work intelligently (according to speed, power demands and driving characteristics) when SoC is below 25%.

POWER +: When this mode is selected, the range extender engine will always be on, delivering maximum power for more enthusiastic driving.

FUEL: This mode provides full EV driving when the battery is above 80%. When the SoC drops below this, the system will work intelligently, starting the range extender generator when extra poke is needed or when the SoC needs to be maintained.

SAVE: A separate button on the display allows you to customise the range extender starting point, tailoring the SoC (anything between 30% and 80%) where the engine and generator begin to work.

Additionally, the car’s regenerative braking system captures energy back into the battery, offering four settings up to a ‘one pedal’ mode for smooth stops. A ‘freewheeling’ function enhances efficiency during cruising by disengaging the motor.

The C10 REEV supports both AC and DC fast charging. It offers a rapid DC charge from 30% to 80% in just 18 minutes, while home charging with a 6.6kW AC charger takes approximately 4.5 hours.
 

The Leapmotor C10 REEV is an excellent choice if you regularly drive long distances and don't want to stop to plug in or refuel from a pump very often. It has a powertrain that just keeps on giving.

The SUV should also be on your shopping list if you have a family of up to five – and you appreciate genuine room and comfort while on a lengthy journey. The C10's excellent five-star safety score shouldn’t be overlooked, either.

This Leapmotor model isn’t the most engaging to drive, and it doesn’t like being chucked around bends too much - but it’ll try its hardest to cope with them - and everything else you throw at it.

The C10 REEV is a car that, despite its shortcomings, is hard to frown upon. It will be even more likeable once Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are installed.