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    Leapmotor C10 2025 review - International first drive

    Andrew Chesterton
    Andrew Chesterton
    Contributing Journalist
    4 Oct 2024 • 12 min read

    This is one of the 'newest' new cars you can buy in Australia.

    But wait, aren't all 'new' cars new? Well, yes. But when it comes to the Leapmotor C10, it's not just this all-electric SUV that's fresh out of the box, but the entire Leapmotor brand.

    Leapmotor, you see, is a Chinese company that’s only been in existence since 2015 and rolled out its first vehicle in 2019. 

    Read more about Leapmotor C10

    It was apparently started when the company's founder – who had made a fortune from a security technology company – hired a Renault Zoe in Spain when on holiday, and was convinced he could do it better.

    It was a China-only player, but a recent partnership with auto giant Stellantis (think Alfa Romeo, Jeep, Peugeot etc) has propelled Leapmotor onto the global stage, and the C10 will be in Australia from November, sold through Jeep dealerships, wearing a price tag that seriously undercuts the Tesla Model Y.

    Plus, there's a big surprise in its back seat.

    So, is the C10 worthy of your attention? Let’s find out.

    ShowHide all sections

    Price and features – Does it represent good value for the price? What features does it come with? 7/10

    Pricing is yet to be confirmed but we have a pretty solid idea of where the two-model Leapmotor C10 line-up will land – and it will be well below the Tesla Model Y. 

    2025 Leapmotor C10 2025 Leapmotor C10

    At the time of writing the Musk-Mobile lists at $55,900. The entry-level C10, the Style, will kick off at about $10K less than the Tesla, at around $45K, while the top-spec Design will be around $49K. Both are before on-road costs and any concessions.

    2025 Leapmotor C10 2025 Leapmotor C10

    Standard equipment for the Style includes a huge panoramic glass roof with sun shade, dual-zone climate control, electric front seats, a 10.25-inch driver display and a 14.6-inch central screen with in-built nav but no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. 

    There’s also wireless charging, keyless entry and start (using a little card or your phone), a 12-speaker stereo, 18-inch alloys and LED lighting.

    The Design adds 20-inch alloys, an auto-opening boot, heating and ventilation for the front seats and a heated steering wheel.

    2025 Leapmotor C10 2025 Leapmotor C10

    Now be warned, An MY25 update is coming next year, which will deliver standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but the feature won’t be able to retrofitted to existing cars, so if that tech is important to you, you might want to hold off.

    2025 Leapmotor C10 2025 Leapmotor C10

    And one quick word of warning. All the tech stuff is great, provided it works. Leapmotor hit us with the “these are pre-production cars” line, which usually means kinks are still being worked out, but our two test cars suffered from several tech and driving gremlins, some hilariously inconvenient, others more serious.

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    Design – Is there anything interesting about its design? 7/10

    It all comes down to the angle you're looking at the C10 from. From the front and side it looks mature and entirely inoffensive. It also manages to look smaller than it actually is.

    This thing is almost 4.8m long — about bang-on the length of the Tesla Model Y. But while Elon’s SUV looks big and bulbous, this one looks pretty neat.

    2025 Leapmotor C10 2025 Leapmotor C10

    Helping that is the fact there's nothing overly fancy or complicated about the design, and no over-the-top flourishes likely to age poorly. This is simple, straight-down-the-line design, and it works.

    Inside, it’s a pared-back space but one that’s frustratingly free of physical buttons. Most brands will spin some yarn about aesthetics, or modernity, but to Leapmotor’s credit they just straight up said it was a cost-saving measure. 

    2025 Leapmotor C10 2025 Leapmotor C10

    I love the eco materials used on the seats, which feel like a blend between soft fabric and leather, and in another big perk for the C10, the giant sky roof has a sun shade, which is non-negotiable in Australia.

    Read moreShow less

    Practicality – How practical is its space and tech inside? 8/10

    The C10 measures in at 4739mm long, 1900mm wide and 1680mm tall, and it rides on a 2825mm wheelbase. And those dimensions will see it absolutely cross-shopped against the similarly-sized Tesla Model Y.

    2025 Leapmotor C10 2025 Leapmotor C10

    And that big surprise I mentioned earlier? It’s in the back seat, or all around the backseat, where the room is genuinely massive. This car boasts a seriously spacious second row, and no matter how big your passengers are, there’s plenty of room on offer.

    There’s also USB connection points, wireless charging up front, and a boot that grows from 435 litres to 1410 litres when the rear seats are folded flat.

    2025 Leapmotor C10 2025 Leapmotor C10

    One party trick the C10 offers is the ability to fold the front seats almost flat, so that they connect with the rear seats, creating a bed-like space to chill out on while you’re waiting to charge.

    2025 Leapmotor C10 2025 Leapmotor C10

    It’s kind of cool, but I don’t really know how often you’d be reclining in it while charging on the basement level of a shopping centre carpark or something like that.

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    Under the bonnet – What are the key stats for its motor? 7/10

    The Leapmotor gets a single rear-mounted electric motor, delivering 160kW and 320Nm, which it sends to the rear wheels through a single-speed transmission.

    It’s not the fastest-feeling EV on the market, but in its sportiest drive setting, it's not overly soggy, either. There’s more than enough grunt to get you up and moving, and 100km/h takes just over seven seconds to arrive.

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    Efficiency – What is its driving range? What is its charging time? 6/10

    The C10 is fitted with a 69.9kWh LFP (lithium ferro-phosphate) battery, which delivers an okay 424km of driving range, but its 400V architecture limits its fast charging capability, with the C10 only set up for an 84kW maximum.

    2025 Leapmotor C10 2025 Leapmotor C10

    That means it will take 30min to charge the battery to about 50 per cent, or just over 210km of driving range.

    Read moreShow less

    Driving – What's it like to drive? 6/10

    Competent, comfortable and about as exciting as catching a bus, the C10 is far from the last word in driving excitement, but nor does it feel anything like a first attempt from the upstart Chinese brand.

    I went into the Leapmotor experience expecting a vehicle that would feel more unfinished, and less convincing, but the C10 exceeded expectations, in that it feels much like any other EV that values practicality over perkiness.

    2025 Leapmotor C10 2025 Leapmotor C10

    The ride is comfortable and compliant, even over Italy's (and so, by extension, Australia's) sometimes questionable road surfaces, and even on twister sections, the C10 stays mostly flat and stable, without much of that pitch and yaw that ends up making you feel queasy.

    If you're the kind of driver that gets in and unplugs from the experience, you'll find much to like about the C10. If you pine for engagement and excitement, then you won't find much of either.

    2025 Leapmotor C10 2025 Leapmotor C10

    But I suspect lots of drivers fall into the former camp, and I can confidently report there's little about the C10 drive experience that offends, save perhaps for the overzealous nature of the safety systems, and specifically the squawking of the overspeed warning, which cuts through the otherwise-quiet cabin ambience like a dentist's drill. Speeding fines or no, you will be switching that off.

    2025 Leapmotor C10 2025 Leapmotor C10

    To get the most from the drive experience, you'll want to be configuring the individual drive modes (the rest have shades of Goldilocks about them, with none being 'just right'). But if you engage the sportiest steering and acceleration, and the softest regenerative braking, the C10 will perform at its best.

    One quirk, though, is the traction system tuning, with the C10 happy to break grip when you're too aggressive with the accelerator in damp conditions. If it was fitted with a more powerful motor, I reckon the C10 would be a real handful in the wet.

    2025 Leapmotor C10 2025 Leapmotor C10

    We covered plenty of kilometres behind the wheel, and found the C10 powerful enough in everything from urban traffic to freeway overtakes and quiet enough in the cabin, too.

    That said, the gremlins were plentiful, and Leapmotor will need to iron them out before the C10 arrives in Australia.

    Read moreShow less

    Safety – What safety equipment is fitted? What is its safety rating? 7/10

    The C10 is yet to be crash tested, but the brand is confident of a maximum five-star rating, owing to its seven airbags, 12 ADAS sensors, and 17 driver assistance functions.

    You’ll very quickly learn how to turn off the speed-limit warning, though, which will otherwise make your head explode. 

    Read moreShow less

    Ownership – What warranty is offered? What are its service intervals? What are its running costs? 8/10

    In terms of ownership, the C10 is covered by a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty in Australia, but service intervals and pricing are yet to be confirmed for our market.

    Read moreShow less
    Insurance Quote

    The Wrap

    The best way to describe the C10 is… inoffensive. There’s nothing about the experience that grabs you, nor is there anything noticeably unpleasant. 

    It’s just a big, comfortable electric SUV with plenty of kit and lots of space. 

    Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with travel, accommodation and meals provided.

    Likes

    The price is right
    Oodles of back seat space for the family
    Well equipped from entry-grade

    Dislikes

    Glitchy technology
    Slow DC charging speeds
    Lack of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

    Scores

    Andrew:

    3.5

    The Kids:

    0 Comments
    Disclaimer: The pricing information shown in the editorial content (Review Prices) is to be used as a guide only and is based on information provided to Carsguide Autotrader Media Solutions Pty Ltd (Carsguide) both by third party sources and the car manufacturer at the time of publication. The Review Prices were correct at the time of publication.  Carsguide does not warrant or represent that the information is accurate, reliable, complete, current or suitable for any particular purpose. You should not use or rely upon this information without conducting an independent assessment and valuation of the vehicle.

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