Leapmotor C10 Review 2025

For those in the market for a family-sized electric SUV the breadth of choice has expanded significantly over the past year as established ‘legacy’ brands and new marques from China launch a flurry of models. One of the latter is the Leapmotor C10 — let’s explore how its credentials stack up.

Most people in the UK won’t yet have heard of Leapmotor, although that will undoubtedly change in short order given its partnership with Stellantis — that’s the group which owns Jeep, Peugeot and Vauxhall among others.

Two fully electric models are available immediately from the brand — the Leapmotor C10 described here as well as the city car-sized Leapmotor T03. An ambitious growth programme follows with an range being added to the model mix annually for at least the next three years, including some to be manufactured in Europe.

So, how is Leapmotor making the C10 stand out in order to gain attention in what’s already a competitive arena? Well, its key attraction is good, old-fashioned value for money — and there’s a lot to be said for that given the ever-tightening disposable incomes that many families are facing.

There’s a single Leapmotor C10 version available that costs £36,500, which isn’t exactly cheap but it’s packed to its proverbial rafters with a standard equipment list that’s far too comprehensive to list fully here. Highlights of its kit roster include dual-zone climate control, automatic LED head lights, electrically adjustable, heated and ventilated front seats, a 360-degree parking camera system, a panoramic glass roof and 20-inch alloy wheels.

It's also armed with a raft of driver assistance systems including adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking and an array of 12 high-precision sensors comprising of six cameras and half a dozen radars. Combined with its rigid construction and seven airbags, they helped the Leapmotor C10 gain a full five-star Euro NCAP rating when it was tested in 2024.

As there’s only one version of the Leapmotor C10 available, you don’t need to weigh up the pros and cons of different battery sizes and performance options. Its 69.9kWh battery pack is nestled under the floor sending energy to a front-mounted electric motor that produces 218PS and 320Nm of torque, with a 0-62mph time of 7.5 seconds.

According to the WLTP Combined cycle standard, the C10 can drive 263 miles before needing to be recharged. Its 6.6kW maximum energy flow for AC domestic wallbox recharging is a tad lower than many electric SUVs. Leapmotor quotes a little over six hours for a 30-80% charge when hooked-up to one, so a complete flat-to-full replenishment is likely going to be in the 11-12-hour ballpark.

Better news lies with rapid charging using public facilities thanks to the DC connection managing that same 30-80% recharge in just 30 minutes. Of course, it’s not cost-effective to do this all the time, but it’s useful when undertaking longer journeys.

How do those numbers compare with the C10’s rivals? With the Comfort Range battery, the excellent Renault Scenic E-Tech’s range is 260 miles, although it only has 170PS available and less standard equipment for its £37,495 starting price.

Very recently revitalised, the Skoda Enyaq 60 has 204PS of power and a 268-mile driving range, but it starts at £39,000, while another Chinese newcomer is the Skywell BE11. It also has a 204PS motor and costs just a little more than the Leapmotor at £36,995, but that’s for the smaller battery with a 248-mile range.

Space inside the five-seater, 4739mm long Leapmotor C10 should be more than sufficient for most families’ needs, with a sufficiently broad rear centre seat so that its occupant doesn’t feel like the poor relation. In addition to the 20 storage areas dotted around the front and rear seating areas, there are a further six in the boot, two of which are dedicated under-floor wells for the charging cables.

With the rear seats in use, the Leapmotor C10’s boot capacity is 435 litres, which expands when folding the 60:40 bench over to 1410 litres. Brownie points at the ready here as well because when folded those seatbacks provide a near horizontal loadspace, free of ridges and steps to hoick long, heavy items over.

Sadly, we’ll knock some points off for the C10’s dashboard — yes, it looks contemporary and minimalist, with a 10.25-inch driver’s display panel and a centrally mounted 14.6-inch multimedia touchscreen, but the physical control count is minimal. Beautifully sharp their graphics may be, but it soon becomes a chore prodding away while driving simply to adjust the interior temperature or switch on the heated rear windscreen.

Order books for the Leapmotor C10 opened in autumn 2024 with customer deliveries beginning in February — the first example going to former England footballer Michael Owen, apparently.

Keep this page bookmarked to read our comprehensive full Leapmotor C10 review in the weeks ahead.