Leapmotor C10 Review

Those currently shopping for an affordable all-electric SUV here in Singapore have an entire smorgasbord to choose from. There's the popular Atto 3, the distinctive Deepal S07, or the refined MG S5, just to name a few.

And, now also contending at the same price range as these three is this new SUV: The Leapmotor C10.

The Leapmotor C10 comes with a 69kWh battery that can be charged at a maximum power of 84kW

Introductions first

Judging from the number of inquisitive glances I received over my past three days with the car, some introductions are warranted.

Headquartered in Hangzhou, China, Leapmotor has been manufacturing cars for the Chinese market since 2019. But the firm has only recently appeared on the global stage following the formation of a new joint venture with the Stellantis Group, founded to sell Leapmotor cars outside China.

Looking for an electric SUV that has plenty of room for rear passengers? This Leapmotor C10 is sure to please

This C10 that you're looking at is one such car from the firm now available for purchase in outside of China. And it measures in at 4,739mm long and 1,900mm wide, so line this up with the three cars above and its footprint is the second largest of the bunch (the Deepal S07 is only a touch longer and wider but stands shorter than this C10).

Those with even just a faint familiarity with the latest Chinese cars should find it no surprise that this C10 translates its sizeable exterior dimensions into generous cabin space. Those seated at the rear will not be found wanting for leg, knee, and head room.

Available space for luggage in the C10, at 435 litres, is the weakest amongst the aforementioned alternatives, but even this figure isn't too far from the 440-litre boot found in the Atto 3.

The 14.6-inch infotainment system offers high resolution but does without Apple CarPlay or Android Auto

Getting the house tour

Jump into the front seats and you'll also find the C10 mighty spacious. The cabin here is for the large part a minimalist affair with the two roller-style buttons and the steering column-mounted gear selector and signal lever forming your only physical controls.

The upshot of this approach is that the cabin strikes as a near-premium place to sit in, especially if you get yours with the Camel Brown interior as we have here. Curiously, this C10 comes with features including a panoramic sunroof and ventilated front seats, but these seats also make do without adjustable lumbar support.

Build quality here is commendable, and while hard plastics abound, there's also a faux-Alcantara material utilised on the upper sections of the door cards - don't imagine that this space feels cheap.

The cabin of the C10 comes with some handy features including a panoramic sunroof and ventilated front seats

The 14.6-inch infotainment system here is not quite as successful. It delivers on resolution and those who have been in a Chinese car certainly won't find anything alien about the layout of its various menus.

But loading up and operating the in-built navigation app takes up quite a bit of time - frustrating if you're already on the move. The in-built Spotify on our car would also distractingly refresh the screen whenever it plays a new song. These issues are forgivable, of course, were it not for the fact that both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are unavailable here.

And the Leapmotor C10 also falls prey to the typical dangers of a thoroughly screen-based interface. These include the fact that the air-conditioning vents require a precise touch to adjust, and switching between drive modes (or the amount of regenerative braking) requires quite a few button presses from the home screen.

Owners will lock and unlock their car via an app, although an NFC card is also available

Exploring deeper

It's a good thing that this electric SUV offers up quite the orthodox driving experience.

The most notable thing about driving the C10 is that the ride isn't anywhere near the underdamped experience you get in plenty of Chinese SUVs. It's still a comfortable place to sit in, with larger undulations being smoothly glided over in the C10. But it could still do with improved isolation from sharper edges when you're driving over poor surfaces.

Otherwise, its thoroughly set up for an easy inner-city driving experience. Leave the Leapmotor C10 in its 'Comfort' driving mode and you get an incredibly light steering, alongside acceleration and braking that is easy to modulate via the corresponding pedals. We saw the Leapmotor averaging 5.9km/kWh over our three-day drive, which is a bit better than its official stated energy economy of 5.3km/kWh and translates into a real world range of close to 365km between charging sessions.

However, you might want to note that this energy economy is still weaker than the Deepal S07, which managed to clock close to 6.5km/kWh when we drove it.

The Leapmotor C10 bring spacious accommodations and the opportunity for all-electric mobility to families at an approachable price point

Paying for dinner

So, should you make this your next all-electric family SUV? At $175,999, this Leapmotor C10 is quite the steal. The Deepal S07 will set you back a dearer $192,999, although it is admittedly a more powerful option.

Meanwhile, MG's S5 is asking for a total of $183,888, and opting for the $177,888 Atto 3 means you'll be settling for a smaller car.

But also consider the fact that the Leapmotor C10 also manages to stand out amongst this crowd for the sheer passenger space that it offers and its rather accomplished road manners, and those looking to go electric on a minimal upfront cost really should give this car a serious look. If only it came with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

Catch our reviews of these other affordable all-electric SUVs:

The Omoda E5 is handsome and comes with some tasty features

The Proton e.MAS 7 is a well-rounded and largely polished electric SUV

Or perhaps the refreshed Tesla Model Y is closer to what you're looking for?