Leapmotor D19 2026 Review

The 2026 Leapmotor D19 is a seriously big piece of kit – a full-size, three-row flagship SUV that sits well above the brand’s current lineup in both size and ambition.

At over 5.2 metres long and just under two metres wide, it has a proper full-size SUV presence, with a 3110mm wheelbase that points to a strong focus on interior space and third-row usability, with the option of six- or seven-seat configurations.

It’s the kind of footprint that puts it up against traditional large family SUVs like the Toyota LandCruiser – but notably, it enters a space where genuinely electrified options are still pretty thin on the ground.

Built on Leapmotor’s new LEAP 4.0 architecture, it’ll be offered with both battery-electric and range-extender powertrains. The REEV version pairs a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine with an electric drivetrain, offering up to 500km of electric-only range and a maximum fuel range of around 1300km.

The electric version steps things up further with battery sizes up to 115kWh and a claimed range of up to 720km (CLTC).

Performance is where things really break away from the traditional large SUV brief. Even the REEV produces around 300kW, while dual-motor EV versions jump to 410kW.

At the top of the range, a tri-motor variant delivers a massive 540kW and can hit 100km/h in under four seconds, which is wildly swift, and borderline alarming, for something that weighs almost 3000kg.

Thanks to its high-voltage architecture (up to 1000V in BEV form), the D19 can add hundreds of kilometres of range in around 15 minutes, making it one of the quickest-charging large EVs on the horizon.

It rides on dual-chamber air suspension with adaptive damping, while features like rear-wheel steering (‘CrabSteer’) help make it more manageable in tight spaces. Inside, it’s a full luxury scene with multiple screens, high-powered dual Qualcomm chips, and heated, ventilated and massaging seats extending into the second row.

Officially, the D19 hasn’t been confirmed for Australia yet, but it’s very much on the radar, with Leapmotor Australia confirming both the D19 and the smaller C16 are under evaluation for local showrooms.

The C16, for context, is more of a steppingstone into the bigger segments – still a three-row SUV, but closer to five metres long and positioned as a more affordable family option with both EV and range-extender variants.

If that model lands somewhere north of $60K locally, above where the C10 currently lives, it’s fair to assume the larger, more powerful and more premium D19 would push well beyond that – likely into the $70K-plus bracket if it makes it here.

Okay, so most of the following comes from a very brief first impression. We got one short lap behind the wheel, then spent another lap in the second row, which is where the 2026 Leapmotor D19 makes a very strong case for itself.

First up, the cabin feels properly premium from the flourish of features to the tan leather interior – it offers way more luxury than you might expect compared to Leapmotor’s other models.

But spend any time in the back seats and you quickly realise what this car is really about. There’s a big rear screen – ours was playing what we assume was a Chinese soap opera – plus tray tables and massage seats. It’s a pretty indulgent place to be.

The six-seat layout we were in is clever, too. The second-row seats can slide forwards, backwards and even sideways, which makes getting into the third row way easier than you’d expect.

And visually, it holds up. In the dark green finish we saw, it had a bit of a Zeekr 7X vibe about it. It was clean, modern, and more premium-looking than you might expect.

Like a lot of China-market cars, it’s tuned on the softer side out of the box. That’s great for comfort, but not quite what Aussie roads usually demand. It does a good job of soaking things up, though you’d probably want more control if it was for local conditions.

Inside, while it’s undeniably nice, it does start to feel a bit familiar. The screen-heavy layout and overall design approach are very much in line with what we’re seeing across a lot of Chinese EVs right now.

That’s not necessarily a D19-specific issue, but more a broader trend. Still, given how bold the exterior looks, you kind of expect something a bit more distinctive inside, even if just a touch.

It’s not a dealbreaker, but it does feel like some of the individuality is starting to disappear, and something that could have been implemented into a flagship, if nothing else.

There used to be those quirky little details, like unique shapes and design touches, and now it all feels a bit more uniform. For something as big and ambitious as the D19, you’d expect a bit more personality to match.

If it gets the green light for Australia, Leapmotor says the D19 could land here in as little as nine months from confirmation, pointing to an early 2027 arrival.

And that timing could be crucial, because there’s not a whole lot like it right now. The full-size SUV space is still pretty thin when it comes to electrified options, especially anything offering this kind of REEV setup. Up to 500km of electric-only range takes a lot of the usual compromises out of plug-in ownership.

In terms of rivals, there’s not a perfect one-to-one match just yet. The Denza B8 is probably the closest in terms of size, luxury intent and electrified powertrain, but even that doesn’t really come close to matching the D19’s EV-only range capability.

That said, the window won’t stay open forever. With more large, electrified SUVs on the way, including models like the Zeekr 9X, Leapmotor will need to move quickly and price it sharply if it wants to carve out a space.

As for the EV, the Kia EV9 will pose a major threat... or perhaps it’ll be the other way around?

2026 Leapmotor D19 at a glance:
Price: Unknown
Available: N/A
Powertrain: Single permanent magnet synchronous motor
Output: 300kW/520Nm (REEV), 410kW/625Nm (dual-motor), 540kW/745Nm (tri-motor)
Transmission: Single-speed reduction gear
Battery: 63.7-80.3kWh (REEV), 99.6-115kWh (BEV) lithium-ion
Range: 400–500km EV (REEV), up to 1300km combined; 620-720km (BEV, CLTC)
Energy consumption: TBC
Safety rating: Not tested

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