Leapmotor B10 Is the Comeback Queen After the C10 Drove Us Spare?

Leapmotor C10 drove us nuts on first experience. In fact, it was horrific. Its good looks and comfy cabin in no way made up for the psychotic on-road personality. It was constantly biting and nipping and moaning and complaining and we were well shot of it. While C10 got some updates, it still lacks CarPlay that B10 got.

Since the C10 drive, the B10 was launched with almost all of the same faults. Since we didn’t get to drive the B10 until the updates had been pushed we weren’t cream-pied before being presented with a mimosa. Oooooo, Mimosa!

Why the B10 is so different

The Over-The-Air (OTA) update partially sorted connectivity and driver assistance. Hoorah. However, if the interface looks familiar it is because it is based on the glitchy Android Automotive Operating System we’ve been critical of lately. As of early 2026, Leapmotor B10, which uses the LEAP 3.5 platform, has LeapOS 4.0 Plus operating system, features deep integration with Android ecosystems. Like many other brands, such as BMW, the Stellantis joint venture twiddles the AAOS to be able to say they have a proprietary system, but they don’t. It is still AAOS.

Updates added wireless/wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and that alone makes a terrific difference to the driving experience. Not only that, the updates fixed the wayward ADAS (ACC and LCC), introduced a very touchy one-pedal driving option, made for faster infotainment boot times, and changed personalised customisable shortcut settings. All of this should have been done before release but better late than never.

Above: 2026 Sealion 8 Premium a 359kw Beast

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Leapmotor B10 side view driving

Leapmotor B10 front 3/4

Leapmotor B10 cornering driving

Leapmotor B10 rear badge

Leapmotor B10 side badge

Leapmotor B10 front seats dashboard and console

Leapmotor B10 rear seats

Leapmotor B10 steering wheel

Leapmotor B10 rear luggage area hatch open

No Caption

ABOVE: Leapmotor C10 drove us mad, B10 redeems it.

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Before we move on, let’s recap on the Key Updates (2026):

• Connectivity: Both wired and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto allow phone mirroring. This addition was essential if B10 was to stand a chance.
• Driving Dynamics & ADAS: Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and Lane Centering Control (LCC) enable smoother deceleration on curves and are generally less painful to use. A dedicated “One Pedal Driving” mode was added, something almost all EVs had from the start.
• User Interface (UI): The infotainment system now has a faster boot-up time and adds a left-side split-screen for navigation.
• Customisation: Drivers can create personalised shortcuts for ADAS, acceleration response, and regenerative braking level preferences. Again, this is something most EV brands already had
• Voice Control: Expanded functionality allows for voice-activated control of windows, air vents, and music. It remains painfully uncooperative much of the time, but CarPlay handles the things you’ll use most.
• Safety & Security: Enhanced “life presence detection” for improved rear-cabin occupant monitoring. I’m not sure anyone will notice whether it is there or not.

What’s B10 like to drive now

Whether our first C10 car was delulu, broken, busted or befuddled, this week’s B10 is a different kettle of fish completely which is, dare I say it, absolutely charming.

The chalk’n’cheese comparison didn’t change the entry via card debacle, but one must take these things in one’s stride. With the phone key an owner wouldn’t have this issue, but as a rental or borrowed car, it definitely would.

There was no joy in permanently silencing the bongs either. The first thing every reviewer shows is how to silence the warnings, but the wider question is how bad must they be if the OEM has a TikTok video about “how to”? You must silence over-speed or you’ll need therapy, and that goes for every single car that has the system. Thanks Brussels!

For those smarmy readers thinking, “well I don’t speed so it won’t bother me,” yes, it will. The system doesn’t know if school is in or out, and even on freeways will brain fart a speed change of 40kph or more thinking you’re on a side road. Speed sign recognition is wrong much of the time, and that is that. The system will link to the smart cruise too, so it will chuck out the anchors at cruise speed for no good reason. Isn’t that fun? China doesn’t use EU rules, so the home market allows owners to turn that rubbish off and leave it off.

There the bad news ends.

I can’t overstate enough how different this car is to the one we first endured. There are no bongs every 50 seconds from the faulty tyre pressure sensor. Apple CarPlay makes music and phone messaging easier. The ADAS system is smoother, though still not perfect. We still needed a card to open the door, then to put it in the reader to drive. I’ve tried to set PIN to drive so we’ll see if that works without the phone. Oh, and get this, the card reader is on the side mirror like the C10, isn’t that a real knee slapper?

The radio was easily programmed for favourites, but the sound system is still a little thin and reedy for my tastes.

Sport mode is spicy enough to add fun, but the 1-pedal is so touchy that it will take some getting used to. I’d rather have it than not.

Battery and range in C10 are the same as our first review, read about that here. B10 is slightly different because of an updated platform and many say it is this that gives B10 something C10 can’t match no matter how many scalpels are taken to it.

As you read on, remember the drive-away price of $41,990 is a snip compared to similar sized EV SUVs but is now at parity with ICE powered dinosaurs. Considering the price of running an EV is much less than an ICE SUV, the ability to run completely on green electricity, being able to charge at home, Leapmotor B10 has completely redeemed itself.

The drive is not exciting, but B10 does feel surprisingly posh. We set steering to light, response to sport, programmed radio favourites and let the rest take care of itself. Neither the charge rate nor 0-100 are record breaking, but when considered alongside space and price, B10 is more than adequate. If you really want a laugh, take a look at C10’s charge rate below.

Leapmotor B10 has taken Leapmotor from the absolute bottom of the pile to a contender for a place in our Top ten EVs, though I suspect C10 still won’t cover itself in glory. Adding a key fob to give all users proximity access, and the top-ten place would be even higher.

So, yes, the Leapmotor B10 is the comeback queen. Yes, it needs a fiddle here and there, surely a key fob is an easy fix.

FULL REVIEW NEXT WEEK

Other GayCarBoys EV Stories:

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• 2022 Polestar 2 Dual Motor Review
• Polestar 2’s Android Google Operating System Top 10 Tips
• Polestar 2 VS Tesla Model 3
• Polestar 2 Where Its Google OS is Star-Trek-Meets-Car-Trek
• How Much and How Long to Charge My Polestar 2?
• We drive 2019 Jaguar I-Pace SE EV400 Electric car
• 2023 IONIQ5 Epiq VS 2023 Genesis GV70 Elect

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Written by Alan Zurvas

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.