Review: Newcomer Leapmotor leaps into Aussie market

Another new manufacturer has reached Australia, and early indications are that it has room for improvement.

2025 Leapmotor C10 electric car. Picture: Supplied

It’s not easy to keep up with all the new brands coming to Australia.

The latest contender is Leapmotor, a Chinese automotive start-up attempting to pull customers away from established brands.

Unlike some new brands, it’s not starting from scratch.

With a heavy backing from Stellantis, the parent company of Jeep and Peugeot, Leapmotor enters the competitive landscape with reassuring foundations.

Available in two variations, the Leapmotor C10 starts from $47,500 drive-away for the entry-level Style, rising to $51,500 drive-away for the better-equipped Design.

2025 Leapmotor C10 electric car. Picture: Supplied

First impressions?

This Leapmotor looks the part.

The sleek and sporty design is on trend, with standout exterior colours such as Jade Green (a hot pick for 2025) and Terra Grey.

The interior feels spacious with comfortably plush seats and premium materials.

The C10 Design is packed with luxury features including a heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats, an electric tailgate, air-quality monitor, ambient lighting, rear privacy glass and striking 20-inch alloy wheels.

A shaded panoramic sunroof is a nice touch.

Practicality is a strong point, with 26 smart storage solutions plus a total of four cupholders and five charging ports.

Storage is decent with 581L of space, or 1410L with rear seats down.

The Customisable fold-flat seating is clever, perfect for families going camping, a trip to drive-in cinemas or anyone just wanting to catch a nap.

There’s also no physical key or fob for this car instead it uses an NFC key card or your mobile phone to enter.

Interior of the Leapmotor C10 electric mid-size SUV. Picture: Supplied

I’m not sure how I feel about this set up – it means you’ll always need to ensure your phone is charged and have a spot for the NFC key card.

While the price may catch your eye, be prepared to compromise on a few things.

From the moment you start driving, the Leapmotor frustrates.

The first “nag” from the car came when it told me to remove my sunglasses, despite them just being regular dark lenses as opposed to mirrored or reflective items.

Once I got going, another headache began: the Advanced Driver Assistance Systems features.

While most new cars are packed with ADAS elements to secure a five-star ANCAP rating, the C10 takes them to another level.

Every time you leave the car, the ADAS features reset itself to default settings. Picture: Supplied

Features like lane keeping assistance are hyper sensitive, consistently beeping at you.

Over the speed limit? Beep.

Pop the cruise control on? Beep.

Yawn? Beep.

Turning these features off isn’t as easy as pressing a button.

You have to pull over and stop to disable them – great for safety, annoying for the driver.

But the kicker?

Every time you leave the car, the system resets itself to default settings.

Some people may like the extra safety assurance, but for me it just felt like a constant interruption and distraction.

For a software company, Leapmotor still has a long way to go.

The infotainment system, while impressive in size (14.6 inch), is glitchy, and voice commands, especially for adjusting climate control, are often misunderstood. At one point, I asked the system to lower the temperature, only for it to randomly adjust two hours later.

A lack of Apple CarPlay or Android Auto integration feels like a missed opportunity in 2025, where smartphone connectivity has become a must-have in new cars.

However, Leapmotor does have a large collection of apps integrated (TikTok is on the way) and three years of free connected services includes map updates, music and video streaming and the use of the Leap App Store.

Storage in the 2025 Leapmotor C10 is descent with 581L of space, or 1410L with rear seats down. Picture: Supplied

Despite frustrations with technology, there are positive aspects to the C10.

The 69.9kWh lithium iron phosphate battery delivers a range of 420km (WLTP) which is not bad for a mid-size SUV.

It also supports fast charging from 30 to 80 per cent in just 30 minutes.

For a vehicle with not a lot of power (160kW and 320 Nm) the C10 is surprisingly zippy and responsive.

With European-tuned suspension developed by Maserati, I expected the C10 to deliver a smooth and refined ride.

However, I was a bit disappointed with how the car handled rougher roads, where it lacked the composure of more polished alternatives.

Verdict

This leap lands awkwardly. With its nagging technology and half-baked software, it’s hard to say whether this EV is ready to compete in the Australian market. Though I will praise the C10 for its design and price, it feels like a car still in development.

3 stars

Leapmotor C10

Price: From $47,500 drive-away

Warranty/Service: 7-yr/160,000km, $2000 for 5 yrs

Motor: Rear mounted electric motor, 160kW and 320Nm

Safety: 7 airbags, auto emergency braking, active cruise control, lane keep assist, rear cross traffic alert

Range: 420km

Cargo: 581L

Spare: Space saver

Originally published as Review: Newcomer Leapmotor leaps into Aussie market