Leapmotor B10

Most new brands have to conquer the market on their own. They therefore learn by trial and error. With Leapmotor, things are different. It is part of the European company "Stellantis", which also includes Fiat, Opel, Peugeot and Citroën. Therefore, Leapmotor has more knowledge of and better access to the European market. Although the B10 has been designed and built in China, European tastes have been explicitly taken into account.

Space

To reduce fear of the strange new brand, the B10 has a friendly and approachable appearance. Slim headlights and a tall build create a modern and solid element. The B10's dimensions are similar to those of the Peugeot 3008, Volkswagen ID.4, Kia EV4 and Kia Sportage.

Interior space is by no means comparable to that of other SUVs in this segment. Four large adults sit comfortably in the B10. Head and legroom in the rear is therefore comparable to that of SUVs that are one or even two segments larger. The boot space is also large. Leapmotor has even managed to make an extra storage space under the bonnet, although it is modest.

Equipment

Leapmotor is all about modern technology and this is partly reflected in the minimalist design of the dashboard, where the Chinese manufacturer has taken inspiration from Tesla, to say the least. However, this is where it is first noticeable how Leapmotor has arrived at a competitive price, as many interior parts are hard plastic. Still, thanks to the shape and colour, this looks nice, so the B10 is by no means perceived as inferior. Moreover, strategic places (around the door handles, for example) do have soft fabric.

All functions that can be controlled via a screen are. That is why there are almost no buttons in the cabin. Initial familiarisation therefore requires some study, but thanks to the logical menu structure, it doesn't take long. The system always responds quickly to driver commands, which adds to the good feeling about the technology.

Software development is Leapmotor's strong point. While the establishment has great difficulty developing software (or even outsources it to external parties out of sheer desperation), Leapmotor has developed its own operating system responsible for the entire vehicle. The infotainment system, safety features and powertrain all share the same central computer. The B10 is therefore a so-called "software defined vehcile". The big advantage of this is that the B10 can be improved for years to come. That's how it should be!

Though Leapmotor falls short in a few areas. For instance, the sound of the audio system is wimpy. To indicate how puny: there are phones that produce a fuller sound. So the speakers and amplifier have been cut back too much.

When it comes to active safety, Leapmotor has actually tried too hard. When all driver-assistants are engaged (by default after every start), the B10 is exceptionally meddlesome, sounding a bell or buzzer at least every 10 seconds. In the process, the computer pushes and pulls the steering wheel so often that the driver hardly knows whether the car is responding to him/her or to the electronics. (edit: Leapmotor informed shortly after publishing this report that these problems will be fixed in the next  software update).

Electric car

Most Chinese newcomers owe their existence to the existing brand's slow conversion to electric driving. The B10 is therefore only available as an electric car (although the platform is suitable for a "range extender"). There is a choice of 56- and 67-kWh capacity batteries for a range of 361 and 434 kilometres respectively.

The electric motor is always rated at 218 hp / 240 Nm. In practice, this is more than enough. In fact, in sport mode, the B10 is so eager that it is uncomfortable for passengers. That's why most kilometres were covered in eco mode, and even then the B10 performs well. Recovering energy during braking and coasting can be done on three levels, but even on the highest setting, the B10 does not brake much on the engine. This, too, is cause for a software update as far as Autozine is concerned.

During the test drive on a varied route under moderate weather conditions, consumption was 15.1 kWh / 100 km. That is not only good for a car of this size, but even more economical than Leapmotor promises! The promised range could therefore also effortlessly be realised.

Driving behaviour

The low consumption is partly due to weight saving. Leapmotor develops and manufactures 60% of its components in-house. Therefore, more and more components can be integrated into a smaller, lighter unit. And because all digital signals travel over the same cable, there is 67% less cable in the B10 than in a conventional car. Specialists from Fiat and Alfa Romeo then handled the fine-tuning of the chassis on their own private circuit in Italy.

However, in standard and comfort mode the steering is so light and unfeeling (test car on "Linglong" tyres), the B10's handling lacks confidence. Despite rear-wheel drive, the B10 has no better steering feel than other cars. And despite the lack of an engine between the front wheels, they cannot turn in further than usual for a smaller turning circle.

Only in sport mode does the B10 approach the promised European feel. However, that depends on speed. The faster it is driven, the less confident the character. In town and on country roads, the B10 is in its element and there the car excels in quietness and comfort.

Conclusion

Is the Leapmotor B10 not only more affordable than compact SUVs from the establishment, but also cheaper than those from Chinese competitors? Absolutely! For the price of a compact hatchback, Leapmotor offers a spacious SUV. The build quality is good and only on details is it noticeable how Leapmotor economised.

With its space, the B10 surpasses not only more expensive, but also much larger cars. Unfortunately, handling at high speeds lacks confidence. In town and on county roads, on the other hand, the B10 convinces with comfort and decisiveness. The electric powertrain is good, as consumption is modest and the range is sufficient for carefree travel.

Maybe even more important than the competitive price, is the clever design. The B10 is a true software-driven car, which is something that many brands strive for, but something that only a few actually offer. Some of the things that have now been listed as criticisms can therefore be easily improved with software updates. In short: the Leapmotor B10 is a good investment now, which will only get better in the long run.