Chinese EVs are often packed to the brim with features. But the midsize Leapmotor C10 comes with a very different sort of USP: a hypoallergenic, family-centric interior
Singapore — With the Leapmotor C10 parked out front at the dealership, I indulged in a bit of conversation with the brand’s product guy before taking the Chinese electric SUV for a spin. I was quite surprised when he told me that Leapmotor’s approach to the C10 is rather different from that of its peers.
But before I get into the C10’s most unique selling point, some of you might not be familiar with yet another of the many Chinese marques to have hit our streets.
Leapmotor, formally Zhejiang Leapmotor Technology, is headquartered in Hangzhou, China. The company began in 2015, but it was in 2023 that it joined forces with automotive goliath Stellantis — itself the product of the merger between Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) and the PSA Group, which included Peugeot, Citroën and Opel.
A pleasant exterior
Designed around what the brand calls “techno-natural aesthetics”, the Leapmotor C10 is easy on the eyes.
There’s a minimum of sharp edges, but the electric SUV steers clear of going down the “blobject” route. The wafer-thin lighting signatures further add to the exterior’s elegance.
As for its shoes, the C10 sits on 20-inch alloys shod with 245/45 R20 Dunlop e.Sport Maxx tyres.
Hypoallergenic biscuit
Instead of a traditional key, you’ll either need to use the app to enter the C10 or rely on the supplied key card, which you can tap against the right-hand wing mirror to gain access.
The biscuit-coloured interior is minimalist, with the air-conditioning vents presented as two strips across the dashboard. The 14.6-inch infotainment touchscreen’s menu bears a resemblance to those found in many of the C10’s Chinese peers, and is near-indistinguishable from them when the default wallpaper is deployed.
What the C10, like many current Chinese EVs, lacks is a good scattering of buttons on the dashboard. The screen is central to just about all the car’s functions.
This includes adjusting the regenerative braking, which you’ll find yourself digging through various sub-menus to locate each time you start the car. On warm days, the screen-controlled air-conditioning vents can prove frustrating, too.
It also lacks Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. However, if you’re the sort who just needs your own music playlist and the occasional help of SatNav, both functions are built into the infotainment system. I would wish, though, that the navigation app would load a little quicker.
The key standout feature of the Leapmotor C10 is its OEKO-TEX Standard 100-certified silicone synthetic leather, which Leapmotor claims is friendly to a baby’s skin. With that said, I did notice that the C10 is rather devoid of that new-car smell.
The safe-on-skin faux leather, paired with a rather long 2,875mm wheelbase, makes the Leapmotor C10 quite the ideal family transport. For the front occupants, the seats are ventilated.
The long rear doors, which can swing open to almost 90 degrees, provide easy access. Paired with a relatively straight roofline that gives you the required space to lean inwards, the C10’s rear seats are an ideal place for mounting child safety seats or infant capsules.
The 435-litre boot is decent enough, and I like that there is a roller-retractable cover to hide your goods. There is also a tiny 32-litre frunk up front for additional stowage.
Tweaked by Maserati… really?
The first thing I noted was how well-sorted the SUV’s chassis is. I was told that Leapmotor tapped into the group’s resources, with engineers from Maserati helping to tune the C10’s suspension.
On an interesting side note, another Stellantis brand — Citroën — briefly owned Maserati when it was still independent, decades ago.
The C10 delivers a generally comfortable driving experience, but attacks corners with a certain eagerness that I find lacking in some other bread-and-butter Chinese EVs. As a result, I find the drive genuinely confidence-inspiring.
The rear-wheel-drive setup also helps reduce understeer whenever the surfaces are less than ideal.
However, the suspension does display some weakness when it comes to rebound over our many newer-generation sleeping policemen. The steering, too, could do with a little more feel.
With output rated at 132hp and 320Nm, the Leapmotor C10 reaches the benchmark 100km/h in a leisurely 10.7 seconds. It’s not quick, but it is reasonably sufficient for city traffic, and there is definitely enough grunt for overtaking.
With a blend of city and highway driving, I averaged 6km/kWh, which is better than the official 5.3km/kWh quoted by the manufacturer.
Midsize space, compact money?
Actually, yeah.
While the Leapmotor C10 lacks a few key features, it offers a spacious, family-friendly cabin, sensible range and a surprisingly well-sorted drive — all wrapped up in a midsize package that doesn’t ask midsize-SUV money. With a list price of $194,999, you are essentially getting a bigger car while dwelling in Aion V and BYD ATTO 3 Evo territory.
Photos & Text: Clifford Chow
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Spacious cabin | Infotainment is laggy, no Apple CarPlay and Android Auto |
| Confident handling | Lack of physical buttons |
| Hypoallergenic child-friendly interior |
Leapmotor C10 Electric 69.9kWh
| Drivetrain | Full Electric |
| Layout | Single Motor, Rear-wheel Drive |
| Motor power / torque | 136hp / 320Nm |
| Battery capacity | 69.9kWh |
| Efficiency | 5.3km/kWh |
| Electric Range | 149km |
| 0-100km/h | 10.7 seconds |
| Top Speed | 170km/h |
| VES Band | A1 |
| Dealer | Cycle & Carriage |
| Price | S$194,99 with COE and VES |
| Verdict | Wins on space, handling and price |
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