New Leapmotor B05: 300-mile electric hatchback for £29k
The fourth Leapmotor model to hit the UK market will be the B05, and it will have up to 300 miles of range...
On sale Late July Price from £28,995
When the Nintendo Switch hit the market in 2017, it provided a more affordable alternative to bulkier, pricey consoles, but it still delivered a high-quality gaming experience and was hugely popular among young buyers – and in many ways, the upcoming Leapmotor B05 will seek to do the same thing, with a keen price tag and performance to rival some more expensive models on sale today.
Indeed, the Leapmotor B05 electric hatchback will arrive at the end of July to take on the likes of the VW ID 3 Neo, MG4 and Peugeot e-208, slotting in between the Chinese brand’s B10 electric SUV and T03 small car.
The B05 will be underpinned by the same tech that's used in the B10, and features a 67.1kWh (usable capacity) battery providing an official range of 300 miles. That makes it more efficient than entry-level versions of the ID 3 Neo and MG4, but both of those cars come with longer-range options than can officially travel more miles on a single charge.
It has a maximum charging speed of 174kW, which is more than the MG4 and all but the highest-spec versions of the ID 3 Neo. At those speeds, a 30-80% top-up should take 17 minutes.
The B05 features a 212bhp electric motor driving the rear wheels, plus it comes with a launch control system, which when engaged allows the B05 to accelerate from 0-62mph in 6.7sec. That’s slightly slower than the mid-range MG4 Extended Range, but swifter than all but the highest-performance versions of the ID 3.
It won’t get the same range-extender option available in the larger Leapmotor C10, though, which uses a plug-in hybrid-like system with a petrol engine to charge up the battery instead of driving the wheels.
Outside, the B05 gets a similar profile to the larger B10, with thin LED headlights, a light bar spanning the width of the rear and flush door handles. However, compared with its bigger sibling, the B05 is lower-slung, with a more rakish roofline.
It comes with 19in alloy wheels and in a choice of yellow, grey, metallic black, blue and silver paint hues.
The interior is light and airy thanks to a panoramic glass roof – the largest of all its direct competitors – and feels spacious front and rear with decent-feeling materials used, although the boot has a high lip to lift things over, which might hamper usability. All models will come with synthetic leather heated front seats (which also have electric adjustability), wireless smartphone charging and a hidden storage compartment.
The general ambience is rather minimalist, and it gets the same, large and clear 14.6in central infotainment touchscreen as the B10. Like that car, there's a little too much reliance on the screen to operate features such as air-con and door mirrors, but it is at least bright and clear. There’s also an AI-powered voice assistant and a suite of driver assistance tech.
With 345 litres of boot space, the B05 is slightly less practical than the ID 3 Neo (385 litres) and the MG4 (363 litres). For reference, the BYD Dolphin has the same amount of space as the B05, and we managed to fit five carry-on suitcases in its boot.
The Leapmotor B05 will arrive in UK showrooms in late July. Prices start at £28,995, including Leapmotor's £1500 Leap-Grant, which undercuts the Dolphin, MG4 and the expected price of the ID 3 Neo, but a Peugeot e-208 will cost you much less.
