Leapmotor C10 review
Category: Electric car
The C10 is a reasonably priced, tech-heavy electric SUV from Chinese brand Leapmotor

What Car? says...
SUVs are the top car choice for families now and it's a fiendishly competitive market, so it's brave of Leapmotor to launch in the UK with an electric SUV – this Leapmotor C10.
The C10 is going to have to do something special if it’s to tempt customers away from cars such as the Skoda Elroq and Renault Scenic. So what does it bring to the table? Well, for starters, it costs around the same as those rivals but is much bigger – 4.7m long to be exact, which is the same length as a BMW iX3.
There's also a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) Leapmotor C10 REEV available, which uses a petrol engine generator to boost range. It's a rival for family SUVs such as the Kia Sportage and MG HS PHEVs.
No matter the version you choose, it’ll cost you less than a Kia EV6 or Skoda Enyaq (which are both around the same size), but Leapmotor’s focus on value means it shouldn’t feel cheap next to them. All C10s get lots of standard equipment.
Does that mean it’s just cheap and cheerful? Read on to find out, as we rate the Leapmotor C10 against the best electric SUVs...
Performance & drive
What it’s like to drive, and how quiet it is
Strengths
- +Mostly smooth ride
- +Reasonably hushed at a cruise
- +Decent performance
Weaknesses
- -Only one battery option and the range is average
- -Skoda Elroq is more comfortable
- -Rivals have sharper steering and smoother brakes
The all-electric Leapmotor C10 combines a 69.9kWh battery with a 215bhp electric motor. That sounds like a decent amount of power, but at nearly two tonnes, the C10 needs it.
Power delivery is less fiery than in a Tesla Model Y, which gives you more of a kick in the back if you plant your right foot, but the C10 builds speed quick enough and will officially sprint from 0-62mph in 7.5 seconds. That’s slightly quicker than most of its rivals, including the entry-level Renault Scenic and Skoda Elroq but can’t keep up with higher specced versions of those rivals.
With a 69.9kWh battery, the C10 can officially travel up to 263 miles between charges, which is further than the 59kWh Elroq 60 and about the same as the 60kWh Scenic Comfort range. That said, the Elroq 85 has a 77kWh battery and a 360-mile range for around the same price as the C10.
The Kia EV6 and 77kWh Skoda Enyaq – which are a similar size to the C10 – will go quite a bit further between charges but are also much more expensive.
The C10 has a mostly smooth, comfortable ride, with the suspension dealing with small bumps and undulations well. It has a firm edge over some potholes and sharper imperfections, though, and such impacts can be accompanied by a thud and some side-to-side sway.
The Elroq has a more compliant, forgiving ride, especially with the optional adaptive suspension (which is not available on the C10). The Scenic is more comfortable too.
The C10’s handling is average at best. True, that firm edge does a good job of keeping the C10’s body upright, but front-end grip proves rather limited on a tight, twisty section of country road.
What’s more, the steering is quite light and numb, lessening your sense of connection to the front wheels. Mind you, its lightness does make navigating city streets and tight car parks a doddle.
The C10 is quite a refined car to drive around in, suffering from little road and wind noise regardless of whether you’re driving slowly around town or at motorway speeds. The brakes lack the spongy feel that plagues some rivals (like the Elroq), but they’re incredibly grabby and subsequently hard to modulate.
We also believe the safety systems are worth mentioning here. They’re sensitive to the point where they’re a hindrance rather than a help, with too many bongs, warnings and tugs of the steering wheel.
You can switch off the lane-keeping assist, including the extra emergency lane-keep system, but that involves going through on-screen menus, rather than just pushing a button, as you can in the Scenic. Leapmotor says it plans to perform over-the-air (OTA) software updates to improve the systems.
"Around town, switching from Sport or Comfort mode and into Eco mode makes the C10's steering really light. I found it similar to when Fiat used to offer a city mode, and is ideal for navigating tight car parks." – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

Interior
The interior layout, fit and finish
Strengths
- +Good all-round visibility
- +Elevated driving position
- +Interior screens are really clear
Weaknesses
- -No Android Auto or Apple CarPlay
- -Not many physical controls
Stepping inside the Leapmotor C10, you instantly notice that the designers must have had pictures of Tesla car models on their walls. Indeed, all the materials feel very similar, with the tops of the doors getting the same rubberised material across them.
That's not necessarily not a bad thing: there are very few boring plastics and any harder, untextured surfaces are hidden low down and out of sight. Build quality seems pretty solid too.
Every C10 comes with a digital driver's display as standard, so you don’t have to look at the main touchscreen to see how fast you’re going, as you do in, say, a Tesla Model Y. At 10.3in, the display is pretty impressive, showing you all the info you need with a high resolution. Unlike in many news cars, you can't connect up your smartphone using Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.
While we’re on the topic of screens, the C10's infotainment touchscreen measures 14.6in, has a sharp resolution and reacts quickly when you prod it. You do have to delve into the touchscreen to do pretty much everything, including making changes to the air-conditioning, which is more distracting than, say, the air-con control panel in the Kia EV6 or the physical buttons in the Renault Scenic.
You’ll find hardly any physical buttons inside the C10, with the only exceptions being four buttons on the steering wheel and two scroll wheels. Aesthetically, they’re identical to what you’ll find in the new Tesla Model 3.
If you like the high seating position of a family SUV, the C10 will be right up your street. It’s also really easy to get comfortable behind the wheel, thanks to every C10 coming with electrically adjustable front seats that have plenty of movement forward, back, up and down.
Forward visibility is good, with small window pillars and large front windows giving you a good view out at junctions and over the car's nose. The view over your shoulder is impressive too, with large rear windows and large cut-outs in the rear pillars increasing what you can see.
To make parking easier, rear parking sensors and a 360-degree camera come as standard. You’ll also see plenty when it gets dark, thanks to the standard-fit automatic LED headlights.
"While the infotainment screen is pretty impressive, it’s a bit of a shame you don’t get Apple CarPlay or Android Auto because the built-in maps aren’t the best." – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

Passenger & boot space
How it copes with people and clutter
Strengths
- +Lots of front and rear space
- +Flat floor in the rear
- +Impressive storage up front
Weaknesses
- -Smaller boot than rivals
- -Rear seats aren’t very versatile
Even if you’re over 6ft tall, you won’t have any complaints when it comes to front space in the Leapmotor C10. In fact, we’re pretty sure even your tallest friends will have head, leg and shoulder room to spare.
Front storage is decent too, with the C10 offering a deep cubby under the central armrest, a large space under the centre console, a pair of cupholders and a wireless charging pad to place your phone on. The only place where it's not so good is the door bins, which will take a standard water bottle but are not very big.
Rear space in the C10 is just as impressive as it is in the front, with those tall friends having generous head and leg room that’s on the level of the Kia EV6. There’s also a flat floor across the rear, making it more comfortable for people sitting in the middle seat. Speaking of which, the decent width of the C10 means you should fit three people comfortably in the rear.
The rear seats don’t do anything particularly interesting, with only the ability to split 60/40 and fold down flat. That’s not as versatile as the 40/20/40 seats you get in a BMW iX1 or Renault Scenic.
At 435 litres, the C10’s boot space is pretty big and should easily swallow a family’s luggage for a weekend away. Even so, that’s less space than you’ll find in pretty much all of its rivals, with the Skoda Elroq offering 470 litres, the EV6 490 litres, the Scenic 545 litres and the Skoda Enyaq 585 litres.
"Given the length of the C10, it’s disappointing that the boot isn’t as big as its rivals'. That said, at least you get a frunk for storing the charging cables, giving you more space in the boot." – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

Buying & owning
Everyday costs, plus how reliable and safe it is
Strengths
- +Lots of standard kit
- +Well priced
- +Plenty of safety kit as standard
Weaknesses
- -No reliability data yet
- -Rivals charge faster
If you’re buying the Leapmotor C10 with cash, you’ll find its price tag appealing, because while the 52kWh Skoda Elroq will cost you less, the C10 undercuts the rest of its rivals, including the Kia EV6, Renault Scenic and Skoda Enyaq.
Better still, if you’re a company car driver, the C10’s lower list price should mean it costs slightly less in salary sacrifice than most rivals, despite sitting in the same BIK tax bracket.
Despite the low price tag, Leapmotor certainly hasn’t skimped on standard kit, with the single trim level getting 20in alloy wheels, vehicle-to-load (V2L), dual-zone climate control, heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, keyless entry and start, a panoramic sunroof and an EV heat pump.
You’ll be slightly less impressed by how quickly (well, slowly) the C10 charges up. You see, with an 83kW maximum charging speed, it’s not as quick as rivals – getting from 30-80% charge in 30 minutes, when the Scenic and Elroq will get from 10-80% in about the same time.
Being such a new brand, Leapmotor wasn’t included in the 2024 What Car? Reliability Survey. The C10 comes with a four-year standard warranty, and the brand is backed by Stellantis so you’ll have easy access to servicing and parts.
The C10 scored the full five stars when it was tested for safety by the experts at Euro NCAP. Standard safety equipment includes automatic emergency braking (AEB), lane-centring control, lane-departure warning, blind-spot detection, rear cross-traffic detection and braking, and a driver drowsiness monitor – although we found some of these systems annoyingly sensitive.
"Leapmotor doesn't have a proven reliability record here so I think it's good news that it has access to Stellantis service centres, which will hopefully make it much less hassle if anything goes wrong." – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer
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FAQs
At the time of writing, the Leapmotor C10 starts at £36,500 so it will cost less than all electric SUV rivals except the cheapest, 59kWh version of the Skoda Elroq. You can check the latest prices using our New Car Deals pages.
In theory, you can charge the Leapmotor C10 at its maximum charging rate of 83kW, so a 30-80% charge should take around 35 minutes. That’s slower than rival electric SUVs, most of which will manage to go from 10-80% in the same time.
The Leapmotor C10 is sold in the UK with a 69.9kWh battery and can officially travel up to 263 miles between charges. That’s further than the 59kWh Skoda Elroq and about the same as a Renault Scenic but less than most electric SUVs.
No. The C10 gets loads of standard equipment but auto parking isn’t on the list. It does, however, get rear parking sensors and a 360-degree camera as standard.
RRP price range | £36,500 - £36,500 |
---|---|
Number of trims (see all) | 1 |
Number of engines (see all) | 1 |
Available fuel types (which is best for you?) | electric |
Available doors options | 5 |
Company car tax at 20% (min/max) | £73 / £73 |
Company car tax at 40% (min/max) | £146 / £146 |
Available colours |