The B10 is a new mid-size electric SUV from Chinese brand Leapmotor, priced from £29,995 after a £1,500 grant with a 270-mile range
Leapmotor B10 – can the Chinese electric SUV prove itself in the UK?(Image: )
Leapmotor made waves last summer as the first car manufacturer to introduce its own EV grant, just days after the UK Government announced the official Electric Car Grant. The Chinese brand saw a staggering 2,675 percent surge in interest, and its C10 large electric SUV quickly sold out.
Now, Leapmotor is hoping to replicate this success with the launch of the smaller B10, a competitor to the Skoda Elroq. Thanks to a £1,500 ‘Leap-Grant’, the B10 starts at a mere £29,995, as Richard Aucock from Motoring Research discovered.
Offering more value than Skoda
For a spacious EV packed with features and boasting a range of 270 miles due to its 67.1kWh battery, this price point is quite remarkable. For comparison, the Elroq starts at nearly £32,000 for a model with a range that’s 37 miles shorter. To match the range of the Leapmotor B10, you’d need to shell out over £33,500 on a Skoda.
Thus, the B10 appears to be a bargain. But does it deliver on performance? It’s worth noting that we had our doubts about the C10, giving it a less-than-stellar 2.5-star rating.
However, Leapmotor is a fast-learning company, and it has already assured us that our main concern – the problematic ADAS driving assistance system – has been improved to better suit UK conditions, both in the C10 and the newly launched B10. So, it’s off to rainy Chippenham to put it to the test….
Standard specification comes fully loaded
Upon arrival, the Leapmotor B10 test cars were neatly arranged, sporting the contemporary Starry Night Blue paint colour, a free option, or the rather attractive Dawn Purple, which comes with a £575 price tag. The selection is limited to six colours and either a light or dark grey interior, as Leapmotor aims to keep things straightforward.
Interestingly, while European customers have a choice of trim levels, the UK only receives the top-spec model – the one with a post-grant sticker price of £29,995. This model boasts an impressive array of standard equipment. Key features include 18-inch alloy wheels, electric heated and ventilated front seats, a panoramic sunroof, a heat pump, an electric tailgate, and a 14.6-inch touchscreen that supports apps such as Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon, Spotify, Tidal, Deezer, YouTube, and TikTok.
The Leapmotor B10 exhibits excellent build quality, with tight panel gaps and glossy paintwork. This sense of quality extends to the interior. Although the plastics aren’t quite premium-grade, the car still feels inviting, with soft-touch materials in all the right places.
Inside the Leapmotor B10
The B10’s seats are decent, but I found myself wishing for height-adjustable front seat bases; they feel too flat and lack support. However, the soft faux-leather material partly makes up for this, as does the seats’ climate control functionality. Both the driving position and all-round visibility are commendable, with the latter enhanced by deep side windows.
In contrast to my long-term Volvo EX30, the Leapmotor B10 features a central touchscreen complemented by a colour display in front of the driver. This display conveniently adjusts with the steering column.
The display is clear and user-friendly, unlike some of the touchscreen controls which are too small and challenging to operate while driving. As expected from an electric vehicle, the Leapmotor B10 maintains a quiet ride. It’s particularly silent at city speeds, with road and wind noise remaining minimal even on motorways. The interior exudes quality, free from any creaks or rattles.
Boasting 215hp and a 0-62mph time of 8.0 seconds, it offers ample speed – certainly more than enough for its soft suspension, which can become somewhat lively on uneven roads. While your passengers may not appreciate spirited driving, they will enjoy the comfortable ride provided by the Leapmotor once you’ve eased off the throttle. Because the B10 prioritises comfort, there’s noticeable body-roll in corners. However, despite its tendency to lean, the handling remains balanced – and the tyres offer both excellent grip and a reliable, confident response.
This is a step up from previous B10s, which were equipped with inexpensive tyres made in China. The UK MD insisted on superior rubber for our cars, and the new Nexen tyres provide much better grip on slippery roads.
Traction (the B10 is rear-wheel drive) has also significantly improved. Initially, I found the brakes to be somewhat abrupt, but I did acclimate to them. More irksome was the ADAS emergency lane-keep assist system, which was obtrusive and seemed to activate even when standard lane-keeping was turned off.
It turns out that the emergency function must be separately deactivated in the ADAS menu – a task you’ll need to perform each time you start the car. While Euro NCAP can be blamed for default-on safety tech, Leapmotor could certainly make it easier to disable. Perhaps this will be addressed in a future over-the-air update.
For now, the B10 is far superior to the early C10 I drove in terms of usability. The two cars feel entirely different in this respect.
Turning off the systems
I also noticed a configurable shortcut button on the steering wheel. Later, I discovered that this could store two shortcuts, one for a single click and another for a double click. Quite ingenious.
These enhancements are a testament to Leapmotor EU’s commitment to customer feedback and improving the vehicle’s functionality. I’m eager to see what further advancements will be made with the ADAS.
And while we’re on the subject, Leapmotor, could you consider adding ADAS shortcuts to the swipe-down-from-top feature on the screen? Cheers.
Upon returning to base, I take a closer look at the rest of the car. The rear-seat space is impressively spacious. There’s ample legroom and the large panoramic roof, coupled with the flat floor, creates a light and airy atmosphere.
The boot has a capacity of 430 litres, which is average, and appears somewhat small due to its high floor. However, there’s an additional 25-litre ‘frunk’ under the bonnet for any extra storage needs.
As for efficiency? A commendable 3.7 miles per kWh, a fairly good real-world figure considering the cold, wet and wintery test route.
In conclusion, the Leapmotor B10 puts on a strong performance. The Chinese company has evidently taken lessons from the C10, resulting in the smaller, more affordable B10 being a more market-friendly option for the UK.
Verdict: Leapmotor B10
While it may not provide a thrilling driving experience – how many compact SUVs do? – the Leapmotor B10 offers reliable EV motoring for those not wishing to break the bank. The support package – including a four-year warranty and four years of roadside assistance – should ensure a hassle-free ownership experience.
The C10 was a 2.5-star vehicle, while the B10 rightfully earns 3.5 stars. This is quite an impressive jump from Leapmotor in less than a year, making it a new value brand to keep an eye on.