The electric SUV market is an arena of fierce battle, and the latest participant to throw down the gauntlet is the Leapmotor B10. This new car, the fruit of the Chinese technology brand, arrives in Bulgaria with the ambition to offer an abundance of innovation and luxury at an extremely attractive price. After automotive giant Stellantis acquired a controlling stake in Leapmotor, the mission became crystal clear: to create an affordable electric alternative that would compete with established players like Kia, Hyundai, Skoda and Dacia.
The Leapmotor B10, with its impressive 4.5 meters in length, is positioned in the golden mean of compact SUVs. While competitors like the Skoda Elroq and Enyaq may boast greater notoriety, the B10 undercuts them mercilessly in terms of price. The price offer of the Leapmotor B10 makes it a phenomenal value for money.
The question is: what exactly do we get for this amount and where are the inevitable compromises imposed? We received answers to these questions during our extensive test drive, which the brand conducted on the French Riviera and where, of course, our team was present. Here are our impressions of the B10 model.
Exterior
The advantages of the appearance are not small at all. With a modern, clean silhouette, the B10 showcases smooth surfaces that exude a contemporary look, completely in tune with current trends. The car also impressed us with interesting color solutions. The ability to choose between attractive, even slightly extravagant colors such as metallic purple “Dawn“ or pastel blue “Starry Night“, undoubtedly adds a touch of individuality.
But of course, the look also has its drawbacks. they are associated with unoriginal design: Honestly, the appearance of the B10 is derivative and largely resembles countless other electric SUVs that already cross the roads, but on the other hand, the designers have managed to take all the most positive from the various designs. But uniqueness, but it is missing here.
One such example is with the already tired LED strip: The rear light strip, although inevitable, is already starting to look shabby. In conclusion, we will say that the B10 is beautiful, but not memorable. The designers have clearly opted for the harmless elegance that most people like, instead of boldness.
Interior
Here the main plus is a feeling of luxury and spaciousness. The interior is one of the key advantages of the Leapmotor B10. And the light artificial leather, combined with the standard panoramic glass roof, creates an airy and welcoming atmosphere. Another thing to mention is the rich equipment: Heated and ventilated seats, for example, are standard.
The space for passengers is more than adequate. The space in the back seat is very good, offering comfort even for taller passengers. The multimedia and the screen in front of the driver are highly informative, contrasting in any light and much more intuitive than already proven models, such as those from Volkswagen, for example. But this is where the few shortcomings in terms of the interior lie.
The main one is the excessive screen dependence: Like Tesla, almost everything is controlled via the massive 14.6-inch touchscreen. Even the climate control controls are buried in the menus, which can be annoying while driving, but as we already mentioned, the lack of physical buttons is somewhat compensated by the simplicity of using the screens.
The quality of the materials and that of the body itself also impressed us. Especially since we went to France with the attitude of a not-so-quality Chinese car. However, the reality turned out to be completely different. Perfectly fitting details, materials that create expensive and absolutely precise gaps between individual details.
Returning to the shortcomings, we will mention the relatively small luggage space: With 430 liters of volume, the trunk is acceptable, but it lags seriously behind competitors in the class. However, this is one of the inevitable compromises at the expense of passenger space, which is abundant in the B10.
Engine and Driving Characteristics
If we had to define the performance of the Leapmotr B10 in one word, it would be "Adequate". The only rear-mounted electric motor with a power of 215 horsepower currently provides enough agility for everyday use. And the acceleration to 100 km/h in eight seconds is more than decent.
The 67.1 kWh (LFP) battery offers a range of around 435 km according to WLTP, as well as an impressive charging speed of up to 168 kW. But the other competitors have this too. Here, the thing that makes the Leapmotor B10 superior to most of its more famous competitors is the exceptional ride comfort. This is the defining characteristic for this type of car, and the B10 is unashamedly focused on comfort, smoothly absorbing even the biggest bumps.
Naturally, this perfectly smooth ride also leads to the inevitable disadvantages of more sporty driving. When cornering sharply at high speed, there is no significant tilt due to the low center of gravity caused by the battery in the floor of the car, but the feeling of body sway is more noticeable.
The driver assistance systems (ADAS), which the Chinese are very proud of, are actually hypersensitive and alert you to the slightest thing, which can be extremely discouraging while on the road. "My God!", one says to oneself as the steering wheel tries to correct it for no apparent reason. but against the background of the fact that they care about your safety, we can close our eyes to this so-called flaw.
Conclusion and price
Looking at the prices of the B10's direct competitors, we can safely say that the price is one of the main trump cards of this car. The Leapmotor B10 in Bulgaria is offered at prices starting at just under 62,000 leva including VAT. This amount makes it the undisputed price leader in the segment, as it is evident that the car is significantly cheaper than established competitors with similar characteristics.
Our opinion is that the Leapmotor B10 is an extremely attractive offer for people looking for maximum equipment and technology for a minimum price. With its decent mileage, fast charging and luxurious, spacious interior, it is the perfect family electric car for everyday use and comfortable trips.
But! This is not a car for the so-called "street racers". If driving dynamics are "holy of holies" for you, then the careless body control, oversensitive ADAS systems and the need for real engine sound may turn you off. Here are the prices for Bulgaria:
On the other hand, however, the B10 is the perfect pragmatic choice or in other words - a "smart" purchase. in fact, you have approximately 80% of the quality of premium models, but you pay less than 50% of their price. For us, despite some compromises, the Leapmotor B10 is worth it because of the comfort and impressive amount of technology you get for this money. The question is whether you will be ready to believe this Chinese startup, but on the other hand you have the promise from Stellantis, who would hardly include a "sham" Chinese brand in their portfolio if they were not sure of its qualities.