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Leapmotor C10

The Leapmotor C10 is a 100% electric family SUV in the D-segment. The Leapmotor brand is pushing hard in Europe. The brand already delivers a Leapmotor T03, an EV of less than 20,000 euros. In addition, the brand is coming out with a Leapmotor B10. The provisional top model is the C10, whose suspension has been fine-tuned by Stellantis with teams from Alfa Romeo and Maserati.

Collaboration with Stellantis

How is that possible? Simple! Stellantis has partnered with Leapmotor. A smart move, because this way Leapmotor benefits directly from the service network of Stellantis in the Netherlands. So although Leapmotor is a new player in the Netherlands, the brand does have a decent network right away. That should help attract customers. Value for money is incredibly important at Leapmotor. In this review of the C10, we go into all aspects of this SUV.

Leapmotor C10 dimensions.

The C10 has a length of 4,739 mm, a width of 1,900 mm and a height of 1,680 mm. The wheelbase comes out to 2,825 mm. The car weighs 1,980 kilograms. Aerodynamic features – such as the underbody protection, the low-slung battery pack, and the front and rear wheel spoilers – reduce outside noise and reduce drag. Even the windshield is soundproof. The overall noise level comes out to less than 76 dB(A) keeps, which is 3-5 dB(A) lower compared to competitors in this segment. Whether you notice that in practice? Definitely! The C10 is exceptionally quiet. Handsomely done.

Cell-to-Chassis Technology

The C10 SUV was developed using Cell-to-Chassis technology, which integrates the battery cells into the structure of the vehicle. This benefits the rigidity of the car. You can feel that too, because the handling of this C10 is remarkably good. The suspension also has a fine tuning. In case you care: in the EuroNCAP crash test, the C10 achieved the maximum safety score of five stars.

Drivetrain Leapmotor C10

The Leapmotor C10 is equipped with a 160 kW (218 hp) electric motor with a maximum torque of 320 Nm, good for a 0-50 km/h sprint of 3.9 seconds. Sprinting from 0 to 100 km/h takes 7.5 seconds. The 69.9 kWh battery pack guarantees a WLTP range of 424 km. The family SUV comes standard in Europe with an 11 kW AC on-board charger, which makes it possible to recharge 100 kilometers of driving range in about 1 hour and 40 minutes. With a DC charger – up to 84 kW – the battery charges from 30 to 80 percent in just 30 minutes. Not earth-shattering, but acceptable figures. The braked towing weight is 1,500 kilograms with 100 kilograms of roof load.

Also a little practical?

With a luggage space of 435 liters, the Leapmotor C10 can accommodate up to seven 20-inch suitcases. When the rear seats are folded down, the luggage space increases to 1,410 liters, which is sufficient for fifteen suitcases of the same size. The luggage compartment has a maximum depth of 1,820 mm and a width of 1,110 mm. You can easily store stuff in it, mainly due to its angular shape.

26 storage compartments

The C10 has as many as 26 interior storage spaces: ten in the first row, ten in the second row and six in the trunk. The hollow armrest with storage space is ideal for storing small items or charging portable electronic devices. The center dual cup holder feature internal spring-loaded side supports for added convenience. The transmission switch is attached to the steering column to save space.

LEAPMOTOR C10: affordable, but anything but ‘cheap’ – REVIEW – AutoRAI TV

What about the finish?

The interior is finished – even for this price – with high-quality and environmentally friendly materials. Examples are the seats finished with Oeko-Tex Standard 100 upholstery and the use of cellulose to reduce CO2 emissions during production by 30%. The build quality is of a high standard, only we do have our doubts about the orange interior. Fortunately, Leapmotor also supplies a black interior. That looks a bit more neutral. Of course, this is a matter of taste. For completeness, for the interior there is a choice of Criollo Brown or Midnight Aurora. There is a choice of five exterior colors: Canopy Grey, Pearly White, Tundra Grey, Glazed Green and Metallic Black.

Razor-sharp displays

The C10 has a 10.25-inch digital instrument panel (1920×720 resolution) and an HD 14.6-inch central touchscreen (2560×1440 resolution). Both displays are laminated to reduce glare and improve visual quality in daylight. A Snapdragon chipset provides maximum computing power. The system runs on LEAP OS 4.0, design inspired by Android tablets. Operation is very simple. A bit like in a Tesla. In that respect, they have copied that well at Leapmotor. Even adjusting the side mirrors has to be done with scroll keys on the steering wheel. There are five charging points provided in the car: two in the front (USB Type-A and Type-C), two in the back (USB Type-A and Type-C) and a wireless 15W induction charger in the front.

Multi-mode mood lighting

A striking detail in the interior is the hidden electric ventilation vent. In addition, the C10 is equipped with innovative multi-mode ambient lighting that can also respond to the rhythm of the music if desired. The audio system includes an amplifier and 12 speakers designed to support 7.1 surround sound. Total power comes out to 840 W. There is a choice of four audio modes: Enjoy, Surround, Theater and Dymamic.

Electric panoramic roof

The SUV also has a power panoramic roof of a whopping 2.1 square meters and ergonomic seats made up of seven different cushioning layers. The seats are incredibly comfortable, fortunately have somewhat longer seats, and the adjustability is also good. In terms of feel, the steering wheel could be moved a bit further towards the driver, but even now it is quite acceptable.

The ADAS offering consists of as many as seventeen systems. These include:

• Lane Departure Warning (LDW).
• Lane Keeping Assistance (LKA).
• Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
• Forward Collision Warning (FCW).
• Automatic Emergency Brake (AEB)
• Blind Spot Detection (BSD).
• Door Opening Warning (DOW).
• Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA).
• Driver Drowsiness Warning (DDW).

The driver assistance systems in the Leapmotor C10 deserve some fine-tuning. Beeps and warnings sound regularly. This is quite irritating, because sometimes there is no reason for alarm bells to ring. Fortunately, much can also be turned off, quickly via the infotainment system. Perhaps Leapmotor can tweak some things through an over-the-air update to make the C10 a little friendlier in this area.

Two versions: Style and Design

The Leapmotor C10 is available as Style and Design, both equipped with a 69.9 kWh battery. Equipment is as follows.

Equipment Style

• 18-alloy wheels
• Automatic dual-zone air conditioning
• Heat pump
• LED headlights
• Electrically adjustable front seats
• Bluetooth and NFC key
• Rear Parking Sensor
• 360° camera
• Hi-Fi system with twelve speakers
• Panoramic sunroof with an electrically operated sunshade
• 10.25-inch HD instrument panel
• 14.6-inch center display with 2.5K image resolution are standard
• Navigation, Wi-Fi and 4G connectivity
• Wireless smartphone charger
• Recessed door handles
• Privacy glass
• Driver and front passenger airbags, front side airbags, side air curtains
• Level 2 ADAS (12 sensors with 16 ADAS functions)

Equipment Design (extras compared to Style).

• 20-inch alloy wheels
• Heated steering wheel
• Silicon leather seat upholstery
• Heated and ventilated front seats
• Electric tailgate
• Mood lighting
• Continuous taillights

Warranty Leapmotor C10

On the C10, you get 4 years to 100,000 kilometers on the vehicle. Leapmotor guarantees a minimum battery capacity of 80 percent for the first 8 years or 160,000 kilometers. In the Netherlands, the C10 has a starting price of 39,050 euros, including fixed additional costs. The Design version has an additional cost of only 1,500 euros: from 40,550 euros. Business lease from 529 euros, excluding VAT. Additional taxes can be added from 211 euros per month.