Leapmotor B10: Cheap Chinese EV Done Right?
Table of Contents
When we tested the Leapmotor C10, we gave it an F. Not because the hardware was terrible. The bones were fine. The software ruined it.
Now comes the Leapmotor B10. I have been driving it for a few days, and honestly, I am more impressed than I expected to be.
It still has issues. Some things need fixing. But here is the bigger point. We are now at a stage where you can walk into a showroom, buy a relatively cheap Chinese EV, and actually get something fundamentally good.
That was not true a few years ago.
Price and Variants
The Leapmotor B10 range starts at 38900 dollars for the Style variant.
Style Variant
56.2 kWh LFP battery
361 km WLTP range
It is fine. It does the job. It will not blow your socks off.
Design Variant
For around 3000 dollars more, the Design trim changes the conversation.
67.1 kWh battery
434 km WLTP range
That is a meaningful jump in range for not much extra money. If you are considering this car, this is the one to buy.
If you are cross shopping, the base version of the BYD Atto 2 still makes strong sense for tight budgets. But if you are looking at the higher spec Atto 2, the B10 Design deserves serious attention.
WLTP figures are manufacturer tested values under European standards. Real world numbers will vary depending on conditions. Source: WLTP protocol guidelines by the European Commission.
Real World Efficiency
It was 38 degrees outside during testing. Not ideal EV weather.
Yet the B10 stayed under 15 kWh per 100 km. On a mostly highway run, it dipped under 14 kWh per 100 km.
That is genuinely impressive for a midsize SUV.
Battery cooling appears to be integrated with the air conditioning system, similar to setups used by other brands. Proper thermal management matters for performance and battery longevity, especially in hot climates.
And yes, the air conditioning blows ice cold. Unlike some earlier Chinese EVs, this one gets the basics right.
Size and Practicality
For a so called small SUV, this thing is big.
Length: 4515 mm
Width: 1885 mm
Height: 1665 mm
That translates into real space.
Boot Space
490 litres with seats up
1475 litres with seats folded
For families, that is excellent. It easily beats many rivals in this segment.
Interior: Surprisingly Good
Entry is via NFC card or phone key. Tap, pull the hidden handle, and you are in. The hidden handle looks cool. I am not fully sold on how it feels.
Inside, it is a pleasant place to sit.
You get:
Soft touch materials in key areas
12 speaker sound system that sounds surprisingly good
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Heated and cooled seats in higher trims
Large central infotainment display
Digital instrument cluster
That already puts it ahead of the C10, which lacked proper smartphone integration.
The screen quality is excellent. Bright, sharp, responsive. Climate controls live inside the display. I still prefer physical buttons, but at least this system works well.
Storage is clever. Hidden cup holders. Wireless charging pad. USB A, USB C, and 12V socket. There is even USB support for dash cam recording.
The Downsides Inside
The front seats lack under thigh support. At 5 foot 11, I struggled to get fully comfortable.
The panoramic sunroof does not open. You can close the blind, but the control is buried in menus. You can use voice command, but it feels like extra effort.
And then there are the safety systems.
They bing. They bong. They interrupt.
Yes, Leapmotor has improved calibration compared to the C10. But it still gets annoying. Most drivers will switch them off.
Rear Seat Space
The B10 rides on Leapmotor’s newer Leap 3.5 architecture. The company itself is young. It started selling cars in 2019 and now operates with backing from Stellantis.
Love Stellantis or not, the backing adds credibility and scale.
Rear seat space is genuinely impressive:
Strong headroom
Good legroom
Flat enough floor despite battery pack
Two separate rear air vents
USB A and USB C ports
Fold down armrest with cup holders
There is even a quirky suction mount feature in the armrest designed to hold bowls for kids. Whether you want spaghetti in the back of your EV is your decision.
Interestingly, the rear seat can feel more comfortable than the front.
Chassis and Driving Experience
Here is where it gets interesting.
On paper, the B10 looks properly engineered.
Rear wheel drive
160 kW rear motor
240 Nm torque
50:50 weight distribution
Multi link independent rear suspension
164 kW DC fast charging
11 kW AC charging
That DC rate is a big deal. It charges significantly faster than some rivals in this price band. Charging performance is a major ownership factor, especially in Australia where DC networks continue to expand.
The independent rear suspension also stands out. Many affordable EVs use torsion beam setups. A multi link system should mean better ride and handling balance.
The Big Problem: Tyres
It rides on Linglong tyres.
They hold the car back.
The B10 understeers more than it should. A rear wheel drive SUV with this setup should feel sharper. Instead, the tyres limit grip and confidence.
If you buy one, budget for better rubber. Change the tyres and the chassis will likely feel transformed.
Ride and Handling
The ride feels soft and comfortable. Body roll exists, but this is not a sports SUV.
It always starts in Comfort mode, which limits power. You have to switch drive modes every time. That gets old fast.
Once set up properly, it drives well. The fundamentals are there. Good balance. Decent efficiency. Strong straight line performance for the class.
For a cheap Chinese EV, this sits near the top of its segment.
Should You Buy the Leapmotor B10?
Short answer: Yes, with conditions.
Skip the Style variant
Go for the Design trim
Replace the tyres
Hope for software updates to refine safety systems
If your budget is tight, the base BYD Atto 2 still makes sense as a complete package.
But if you want:
Rear wheel drive
Faster DC charging
Bigger battery
More space
The Leapmotor B10 becomes a compelling alternative.
It is not perfect. It still bings and bongs too much. The seat needs better support. The software needs polishing.
But this is the key takeaway.
Cheap Chinese EVs are no longer automatically compromised products. The Leapmotor B10 proves that the fundamentals are now solid. And with a few tweaks, this could become a genuinely excellent everyday electric SUV.
Sources and reference
Leapmotor B10 – Specifications and Technical Details
https://ev-database.org/uk/car/3233/Leapmotor-B10-671-kWh
Independent EV database listing battery capacity, estimated real world range and charging performance.
2026 Leapmotor B10 Design Review – CarExpert
https://www.carexpert.com.au/car-reviews/2026-leapmotor-b10-design-review
Detailed breakdown of power output, torque, WLTP range, battery options and DC charging figures.
Leapmotor B10 Specifications – Carwow
https://www.carwow.co.uk/leapmotor/b10/specifications
Official dimensions, boot space data and trim level information.
Leapmotor B10 UK Press Information – Stellantis Media
https://media.stellantis.com/uk-en/leapmotor/press/leapmotor-b10-uk-press-information
Manufacturer backed release covering WLTP range, charging speeds, interior features and standard equipment.
Leapmotor B10 Overview
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leapmotor_B10
General overview of platform, production background and technical summary.
2026 BYD Atto 2 Price and Specs – CarExpert
https://www.carexpert.com.au/car-news/2026-byd-atto-2-price-and-specs-australias-cheapest-electric-suv-detailed
Battery capacity, WLTP range, power output and charging performance for comparison context.
2026 BYD Atto 2 Review – Zecar
https://zecar.com/reviews/2026-byd-atto-2-price-specs-australia-cheapest-electric-suv
Market positioning, battery chemistry explanation and real world context.
BYD Atto 2 vs Leapmotor B10 Size Comparison
https://www.carsized.com/en/cars/compare/byd-atto-2-2024-suv-vs-leapmotor-b10-2025-suv
Side by side exterior dimension comparison for size validation.
