Leapmotor B10 had a week to undo the damage done to my mind by the awful C10, and the little SUV did it with bliss-filled grace. We started the week here. I expected a cheap EV with a nasty cabin that never shuts its gob. Instead, the B10 turned up with a quiet, calm, zen demeanour that was unassuming and rather charming.
B10 Style is a snip at $38,990 drive away, but our Design LR at $41,990 drive away packs entry level with an embarrassing cornucopia of surprise and delight. Extra battery adds EV range, and there are heated and cooled seats, a panoramic glass roof with electric roller shade, a big 14.6-inch screen, accurate yet gentle lane centring and a cabin that does not look or feel cheap. And it is within reach of people who have been told for years that electric cars are for the inner city chardonnay-sippers. Bollocks to that.
I want you to keep in mind that this classy EV with a 6 year warranty is 17k more than the lowest KIA, the Picatno GT-Line. Although still 5k above the Jaecoo, these EVs are showing the ICE price parity that the conservative shills said would never happen.
The Design LR is the one I would lay down my own dollars for Its 67.1kWh LFP battery gets up to 516km NEDC, but as always that is a mere allegation with WLTP closer ro 430km. A full top up never saw north of 420km. Yes, NEDC is optimistic but buyers should expect this fantasy by now. NEDC is a sham. Would you buy a litre of milk expecting 800ml? I think not.
The motor makes a modest 160kW/240Nm, with 0 to 100km/h in 8 seconds. Normally I’d rage on about such diminutive nonsense, but framed by its sensible price, it is perfectly adequate. It is vastly cheaper, larger, nicer to drive, faster to charge, and easier to use than the cute Fiat 500 or Mini Electric.
Charging is much the same showing at a petite 168kW DC. But still way better than the Fiat or Mini for many fewer shekels. Remember, that is the max DC, not the peak, so you’ll get 30 to 80 percent in about 20 minutes even when using the (non-existent) 350kW superfast chargers. Leapmotor also throws in a free AC home charge cable, and the public adaptor that worked a treat worked at the new pole 22kW charger outside our unit block. It is a sub-$42k electric SUV with a price tag that makes the legacy brand excuses look as thin and reedy as Beethoven’s 5th played on a clothes line.
Above: 2026 Leapmotor B10 – Possibly the best value EV ever, and at $42,000 is cheaper than ICE SUVs with the same space
#leapmotor #ElectricCars #ev #leapmotorB10
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ABOVE: Leapmotor B10
The cabin is where the B10 surprised and delighted most. Its uncluttered feel was clean without looking like Old Mother Hubbard’s meat safe. The seats are well ahead of the reheated legacy EV leftovers still being served up at the next table. Heated and cooled front seats at this price show old brands value profit over custom. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were not a drama by the time I had it, despite early launch noise around OTA timing. Unlike other Android Automotive OS models we’ve used, B10’s screen didn’t have the personality of a serial killer.
It is not perfect. The steering has very little feeling, but who cares when the lane centring is brilliant and gentle and all you have to do is relax. The overspeed warning resets are annoying, because as you know, it is the first thing disabled on any car that has it. Speed sign recognition is fine if it works, but a 40% score card is a fail by any measure. Having to tap a card for entry and start is annoying too, although that is partly because reviewers do not get the owner app. A proper proximity key fob would fix the business in five minutes and is something that could be sent to every owner preprogrammed.
The capacious back seat legroom is unmatched in the segment, and that is luxury that money can’t buy. Very expensive cars have rear accommodations fit only for decapitated olygharcs, and while that appeals to most of us, there are some who would prefer their comfort less choppy-choppy.
Against BYD Atto 3, MG ZS EV, Kia EV3, Volvo EX30 and even Tesla Model Y, the Leapmotor B10 feels like more than another cheap EV pitch. It feels like Stellantis may have found a lifeboat. Legacy brands cannot compete directly with China on cost, speed or equipment, and Toyota is finding that out in public as its profits sink into a mire. Partnerships may be the only way the old guard survives.
Most importantly, there is a 5-star ANCAP rating to brag about.
Little Improvements Needed
The phone charger is the same dock where you plonk your card in if you are sans app. I searched every menu before resorting to the user guide, yeah yeah yeah whatever! It says to turn it on you have to tap the greyed out mobile symbol along the top edge of the screen. Nobody ever thinks to tap the miniscule images along the tops of screens.
But wait, there’s more. Apart from the key fob, B10 needs a single button to programme driver preferences under a single press. Brussels dictated bongs, many of them, and not the good kind. We all silence them, making them a complete nonsense and the EU should just let us get on with things instead of making every single trip a living hell. Leaving them on would turn anyone septic in minutes.
Why we think it is good
Reviewers have a penchant for terming anything incable of warp 9.99 corners to be a fail. Testosterone aside, the B10 thumps over the occasional imperfection but that could be fixed with decent tyres.
The B10 is not just good for the price. It is excellent because the price lets its calmness, comfort and equipment speak for themselves, softly and unassumingly. After the dog of a C10, I expected the same amount of bad language. But, no not a bit of it, the B10 turned me into a convert. That should surprise you all because I am a Taurus. Nuff said.
EV SUV Comparo — Leapmotor B10 Design LR vs Similar EVs (Australia)
| Model | Price (DA where possible) | Power | Battery | DC Charge Rate | WLTP Range | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leapmotor B10 Design LR | $41,990 DA | 160kW | 67.1kWh | 168kW | ~434km | RWD |
| BYD Atto 3 Premium | ~$47,000 DA | 150kW | 60.5kWh | 88kW | 420km | FWD |
| MG S5 EV Essence Long Range | ~$47,990 DA | 180kW | 62kWh | 150kW | 430km | RWD |
| Geely EX5 Complete | ~$45,000 DA | 160kW | 68kWh | 100kW | 475km | FWD |
| Kia EV3 Air Long Range | ~$52,000 DA | 150kW | 81.4kWh | 128kW | 600km | FWD |
| Hyundai Kona Electric Extended Range | ~$49,990 DA | 150kW | 64.8kWh | 102kW | 505km | FWD |
| Chery E5 Ultimate | $37,990 DA | 155kW | 61kWh | 80kW | 430km | FWD |
| Jaecoo J5 EV | $36,990 DA | 155kW | 58.9kWh | ~80kW | 402km | FWD |
| Volvo EX30 Single Motor Extended Range | ~$59,990 DA | 200kW | 69kWh | 175kW | 462km | RWD |
| Deepal S05 EV | ~$44,000+ DA est | 175kW | ~56kWh | ~150kW | ~470km | RWD |
What jumps out?
- The B10 Design LR is still one of the best bang-for-buck EV SUVs in Australia.
- Its 168kW DC charging is unusually strong for the price.
- Only the Volvo EX30 really beats it convincingly on outright performance and charging speed, but costs far more.
- Kia EV3 wins range, but not value.
- Geely EX5 is probably the B10’s closest direct rival on equipment/value balance.
- Reddit owners and shoppers keep mentioning the B10’s surprisingly good charging curve and RWD dynamics compared with some cheaper FWD rivals.
Same-Size SUV Comparo — EV vs PHEV vs Hybrid vs Petrol
| Model | Type | Price (approx DA) | Power | EV/DC Charging | Fuel Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leapmotor B10 Design LR | EV | $41,990 | 160kW | 168kW DC | 0L/100km | Cheapest long-range RWD EV SUV |
| BYD Sealion 6 Essential | PHEV | ~$42,990 | 160kW+ | Slow DC / AC only in AU | ~1.1L claimed | Great value, huge interior |
| Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV | PHEV | ~$50,000 | 138kW | CHAdeMO DC | ~1.9L claimed | Old but still old |
| Toyota Corolla Cross Atmos AWD | HEV | ~$52,000 | 146kW combined | No DC charging | ~4.4L/100km | Efficient but VERY expensive |
| Kia Sportage Hybrid | HEV | ~$49,000 | 169kW combined | No DC charging | ~5.3L/100km | Nicely tuned all-rounder |
| Hyundai Kona Hybrid | HEV | ~$42,000 | 104kW combined | No DC charging | ~3.9L/100km | Very economical |
| Mazda CX-5 G25 Touring | ICE | ~$44,000 | 140kW | N/A | ~7.4L/100km | Still a benchmark to drive |
| Toyota RAV4 GX AWD | HEV | ~$46,000 | 163kW combined | No DC charging | ~4.8L/100km | Australia’s default family SUV |
| Nissan Qashqai Ti e-Power | HEV | ~$54,000 | 140kW | No DC charging | ~5.2L/100km | Smooth EV-like feel |
| MG HS Essence Turbo | ICE | ~$38,000 | 125kW | N/A | ~7.0L/100km | Budget alternative |
The interesting bit
At around $42k drive-away, the B10 is now parked right in the middle of mainstream hybrid territory rather than “premium EV” territory.
That means buyers are no longer comparing it to Teslas. They’re comparing it to:
- Corolla Cross
- Sportage Hybrid
- RAV4
- Sealion 6
- Qashqai e-Power
…and that changes the conversation completely.
The B10’s biggest strengths:
- proper EV packaging
- cheap running costs
- fast-ish charging
- rear-wheel drive
- loads of standard kit including charge cables
The biggest question marks:
- brand recognition
- resale
- software polish
- dealer network maturity
Meanwhile the BYD Sealion 6 is becoming the default “I’m not ready for full EV” option because it’s roughly the same money as many EVs while still doing school runs mostly on electricity.
More Electric Stories
- BMW Builds Its Two-Millionth EV While The Anti-EV Mob Runs Out Of Road
- Mercedes-Benz CLA Brings Hybrid And EV Choice To Australia
- Lexus TZ Turns Three Rows Into a Battery Luxury Bus
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Alan Zurvas is the founder and editor of Gay Car Boys, Australia's leading LGBTQI+ automotive publication. Before launching GCB in 2008, Alan's automotive writing was published in SameSame.com.au and the Star Observer. With over 16 years of hands-on car reviewing experience, Alan brings an honest, irreverent voice to every review — championing value and innovation over brand loyalty.
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