The automotive landscape is rapidly evolving, with new players entering the market and challenging established brands. One such entrant is Leapmotor, a Chinese automaker that has recently made its debut in the Australian market with the C10 electric SUV. This comprehensive review delves into our first Australian drive experience of the 2025 Leapmotor C10, exploring its design, performance, technology, and overall value proposition in the competitive mid-size electric SUV segment.
A New Contender Emerges
Leapmotor might be an unfamiliar name to many Australian consumers, but the company’s rapid progress is a testament to China’s growing influence in the global automotive industry. Founded in 2015, Leapmotor has quickly established itself as a serious player in the electric vehicle market. The C10, part of the company’s first batch of globally exported models, aims to take on popular offerings like the Tesla Model Y in the mid-size SUV category.
What sets Leapmotor apart is its backing by automotive giant Stellantis, which holds a majority stake in the brand. This partnership provides Leapmotor with access to an extensive network of dealers, parts support, and local expertise, potentially giving it an edge over other newcomers in the Australian market.
Exterior Design: Subtle Sophistication
The 2025 Leapmotor C10 strikes a balance between modern EV aesthetics and traditional SUV proportions. Its design is more subdued compared to some of its edgier Chinese counterparts, which may appeal to a broader audience seeking a handsome yet understated vehicle.
Key exterior features include:
- LED headlights with a distinctive daytime running light signature
- A panoramic sunroof with a retractable blind
- 18-inch alloy wheels on the base Style trim
- 20-inch alloy wheels on the higher-spec Design trim
- A power tailgate (Design trim)
- LED rear light bar (Design trim)
The C10’s dimensions place it squarely in the mid-size SUV category, with a length of 4705mm, width of 1908mm, and height of 1780mm. These proportions give it a commanding presence on the road while maintaining manageable city-friendly dimensions.
Interior: Blending Comfort and Technology
Stepping inside the C10 reveals an interior that successfully marries comfort with cutting-edge technology. Unlike some EV interiors that prioritize minimalism at the expense of functionality, the C10 strikes a more balanced approach.
Notable interior features include:
- A 10.25-inch digital driver’s display
- A large 14.6-inch central touchscreen infotainment system
- Dual-zone climate control
- A 12-speaker sound system
- Wireless phone charging
- Synthetic leather upholstery (upgraded in the Design trim)
The Design trim elevates the interior experience with additions such as:
- Heated and ventilated front seats
- A heated steering wheel
- Ambient lighting
- An air quality monitor
One of the C10’s strengths is its attention to seating comfort. The seats feature 12 layers of foam, properly contoured to provide support even for larger body types. This focus on comfort extends to long-distance driving, although some drivers might desire more lumbar and under-thigh adjustment options.
Technology and Connectivity
The C10’s technology suite is comprehensive, centered around the 14.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system. However, it’s worth noting that the system currently lacks Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, which may be a drawback for some users. Leapmotor has stated that this feature won’t be available until a mid-life update or new generation model.
The infotainment system offers:
- Built-in navigation
- Wi-Fi and 4G connectivity
- Voice control functionality
Leapmotor has promised over-the-air updates to enhance the system’s functionality, with plans to add apps like TikTok (for use when stationary) in the future. The company’s background as a software-focused entity suggests that continuous improvements and feature additions are likely.
Performance and Powertrain
The 2025 Leapmotor C10 is powered by a single electric motor on the rear axle, producing 160kW of power and 320Nm of torque. This setup provides adequate performance for daily driving, with a 0-100km/h time of 7.5 seconds. While not as quick as some competitors like the Tesla Model Y, it aligns with Leapmotor’s focus on comfort and practicality over outright performance.
The C10 features a 69.9kWh lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) battery, offering a WLTP-certified driving range of 420km. Charging capabilities include:
- DC fast charging at up to 84kW
- AC charging at 6.6kW
While these charging speeds are not class-leading, they should be sufficient for most users’ daily needs. The C10 also supports vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality, although at launch, an official V2L accessory was not yet available.
Driving Dynamics
Leapmotor has taken an interesting approach to the C10’s suspension tuning, enlisting help from Maserati engineers (leveraging the Stellantis connection) to refine the ride and handling characteristics. The result is a surprisingly well-sorted chassis that offers a comfortable ride without sacrificing composure in corners.
The suspension setup is conventional, using passive dampers rather than adaptive units. This approach delivers a soft and forgiving ride on Australia’s often challenging road surfaces. When pushed harder into corners, the C10 manages to maintain its composure, exhibiting minimal body roll.
However, the soft suspension tuning can sometimes feel overwhelmed by successive bumps, and some drivers might find the ride a bit too floaty. The Dunlop e Sport Maxx tires fitted to the Design grade’s 20-inch wheels provide good grip in both dry and wet conditions.
Around town, the C10 proves easy to maneuver, thanks to its good visibility and unintimidating proportions. The steering is well-weighted and precise, although it may not offer the level of feedback that enthusiast drivers crave.
Safety and Driver Assistance
Safety is a strong suit for the Leapmotor C10, with the vehicle achieving a five-star ANCAP rating under the stringent 2024 testing protocols. Its scores across various categories are impressive:
- Adult occupant protection: 89%
- Child occupant protection: 87%
- Vulnerable road user protection: 77%
- Safety assist: 77%
The C10 comes equipped with 17 driver assistance features, including:
- Autonomous emergency braking (forward and reverse)
- Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic alert and brake
- Lane-keeping assistance
- Driver attention monitoring
- Safe exit assistance
While the comprehensive safety suite is commendable, some users may find certain systems, particularly the lane-keep assist and driver attention monitoring, to be overly intrusive. Leapmotor has acknowledged this feedback and is exploring ways to improve the user experience, including potential changes to alert sounds through future software updates.
Practicality and Space
As a family-oriented mid-size SUV, the C10 offers good practicality. The cabin provides ample space for five adults, with decent legroom and headroom in both rows. The panoramic sunroof adds to the sense of spaciousness, although it does come with a retractable shade to manage heat and light when needed.
Cargo space is competitive for the class, measuring 581 liters with all seats in place (measured to the roof). While this is a respectable figure, it’s worth noting that the C10 doesn’t offer a front trunk (frunk) or a spare wheel, opting instead for an inflator kit stored under the boot floor.
Efficiency and Environmental Considerations
The C10’s efficiency figures are respectable, with Leapmotor claiming a combined energy consumption of 16.7 kWh/100km. This translates to a theoretical range of 420km on the WLTP cycle, which should be sufficient for most users’ daily and weekly needs.
While not class-leading, these figures position the C10 as a competitive option in the mid-size electric SUV segment. The use of an LFP battery chemistry also offers potential benefits in terms of longevity and thermal stability.
Pricing and Value Proposition
Leapmotor has positioned the C10 aggressively in the Australian market, with drive-away pricing (as of early 2025) set at:
- Style trim: $47,500
- Design trim: $51,500
These prices undercut many competitors in the mid-size electric SUV segment, including offerings from more established brands. The value proposition is further enhanced by a comprehensive list of standard features, even on the base Style trim.
The Design trim, expected to account for 70% of sales, offers additional luxury and convenience features for a $4,000 premium. Given the added equipment, this upgrade represents good value for many buyers.
Warranty and After-Sales Support
Leapmotor backs the C10 with a competitive warranty package:
- Vehicle warranty: 7 years / 160,000km
- Battery warranty: 8 years / 160,000km
This warranty offering is among the best in the industry, providing peace of mind for buyers considering a relatively new brand. The company also offers a capped-price servicing program, with the first five years of maintenance priced at $2,000 total.
 A Promising Debut
The 2025 Leapmotor C10 represents an impressive entry into the Australian market from this young Chinese brand. It successfully combines attractive styling, a comfortable and well-equipped interior, and solid performance in a package that undercuts many established competitors on price.
Key strengths of the C10 include:
- Competitive pricing and strong value proposition
- Comfortable ride and competent handling
- Comprehensive safety features and strong ANCAP performance
- Spacious and well-designed interior
- Generous warranty coverage
Areas for improvement include:
- Lack of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration
- Some overly intrusive driver assistance features
- Charging speeds that, while adequate, lag behind some competitors
- Air conditioning performance that may struggle in extreme Australian conditions
For buyers willing to look beyond established brands, the Leapmotor C10 offers a compelling package that deserves serious consideration. Its blend of comfort, technology, and value positions it as a strong contender in the increasingly crowded electric SUV market.
As Leapmotor continues to refine its offerings and potentially expands its Australian lineup, it will be interesting to see how the brand evolves and whether it can maintain its competitive edge. For now, the C10 serves as a promising introduction to the brand and a sign of the increasing maturity of Chinese automakers in the global market.