Road tested by Hugh Maguire.
The advance of Chinese car manufacturers into Europe continues unabated.
Already here in Ireland we have, BYD, MG, Leapmotor, GWM (Great Wall Motors) Maxus, and XPENG, but not everyone knows for example that Volvo and Polestar are also Chinese based and owned by the huge Chinese conglomerate Geely.
These brands have made rapid inroads into the European and Irish car market predominantly because they are priced very competitively, offer lots of standard specification and many have decent warranties. That has appealed to Irish buyers many who don’t care about pedigree and history and just want a car that is well kitted out and on the surface of it a at least seems good value for money.
Leapmotor is another such brand. Launched in Ireland just last December it is in itself a young brand having being founded in China as recently as 2015.
The fact that many of these “new” Chinese brands have little or no legacy does not seem to be putting off buyers and so it is with Leapmotor.
Leapmotor offer three EV models in Ireland right now and have just announced a hybrid too in the form of the B10 “Hybrid EV”. It seems Leapmotor like rivals BYD have quickly branched out into hybrids too as they see the market is not fully ready to go 100% electric. Leapmotor’s city car is the T03, their compact SUV is the B10 EV on test here and then they have their larger SUV the C10 which I road tested previously.
It can be quite difficult to differentiate one EV from another particularly those from China as frankly they all look quite similar inside and out so how do Leapmotor hope to be a bit different?
I’m told they hope that their focus on Autonomous driving, Intelligent Infotainment and self developed EV tech will boost their appeal. Well let’s find out as I road test the new B10.
First Impressions.
The boxy shape of course has its benefits when it comes to interior space but honestly the B10 will not win any prizes for individuality or flair in its exterior styling. Apart from the “Dawn Purple” metallic paint on my press test car its a rather bland looking compact SUV.
So what’s it like inside?
Like many other EV’s from China the interior seems to follow a template and in my opinion it is not the best one either. As here in the B10 it consists of a large 14.6 inch central touchscreen perched on top of the dashboard and a smaller 8.8 inch LCD driver display. Its a pretty minimalist look in here with just those two screens, Not a button in sight and this for me is a huge negative. It makes the simplest of tasks such as adjusting the door mirrors for example an annoying and lengthy process of screen prodding. Not just infuriating but frankly dangerously distracting! A fact recognised now by EURO NCAP who will award less points to cars that do not feature buttons for the main controls. A move I totally support.
VW are already getting ahead of the game and have re introduced a row of nice buttons for all the major functions in the ID 3 Neo as well as including nice analogue style round dials digitally produced of course. However it adds back some character something I have constantly said is seriously lacking in many of the latest EV’s.
So back to the B10. Overall the interior looks and feels quite good though not class leading. There is a huge list of standard kit from heated and ventilated seats to a lovely panoramic glass roof. Like all new cars from China it has that annoying infra red eye scanner so you are constantly reminded to ‘focus on the road” should you use the touchscreen while driving. However even more annoying is the wildly over sensitive lane assist which particularly on a country road is constantly binging and posting a message. It will drive you crazy unless de activated prior to every drive.
The new B10 certainly boasts a really roomy cabin despite its compact exterior dimensions. Leg and headroom both front and rear are excellent. A reasonable amount of storage space exists in the cabin but the glovebox is very small and the door pockets could be larger. Boot space is decent but again not class leading.
The boot is accessed via an electric rear tailgate. The external button to do this is a well hidden tiny button in the rear light cluster making it a nuisance when loading. Alternatively you need a couple of prods of the touchscreen. Not very intuitive for what is supposed to be practical family transport.
So what’s powering the B10?
The B10 has a 67.1kWh battery powering an electric motor driving the rear wheels. Claimed WLTP range is some 434 km. Over my weeks road test which included a mix of urban, motorway and rural road driving I achieved a real range of 305km. This is about what you will get in normal usage. There are no paddles for selection regenerative braking but once again via the touchscreen you can pre program the amount of regenerative braking prior to each drive. Road tax is €120.00.
How does it drive?
It goes reasonably well in a straight line. The handling is safe but that rear end can be provoked to slide on a wet road though the stability control kicks in quickly to sort things out. The steering is completely lifeless. In short its a method for getting from A to B not something to inspire someone who enjoys actually driving. The ride is quite good on all but the most uneven road surfaces.
Hugh’s Verdict.
The Leapmotor B10 does everything well and nothing badly. It does not shine in any particular area. In it is relatively inexpensive, practical and easy to live with. If those are virtues you value then the B10 certainly delivers.
Prices start at €35,996 after SEAI grant and VRT Rebate.
Likes:
Spacious despite its compact dimensions.
Very well equipped.
Practical and easy to live with.
Dislikes:
Uninspiring drive.
Overly sensitive ADAS
All functionality through touch screen.