Game-changer alert: Meet the 2025 Leapmotor C10 REEV Ultra Hybrid

Australians have never had as much variety as they do now when it comes to choosing a family car. 

It wasn’t that long ago that suburban driveways were only filled with traditional, gas-guzzling sedans and station wagons. But, today, there’s a kaleidoscope of cars doing the heavy lifting on school runs and daily commutes, from small hatchbacks to high-riding soft roaders, and even dual-cab utes. 

Beyond the vast mix of types of vehicles being used, there’s also more diverse powertrain options – from conventional petrol and diesel engines, hybrids, plug-ins and fully electric vehicles – as well as a raft of new brands entering the local market that make finding the right car even harder. 

All of them have their strengths and weaknesses, but most are compromised in some way or another: price, space, fuel economy or features. 

What if there was one that breaks that rule, such as the Leapmotor C10 REEV Ultra Hybrid, which promises to deliver an affordable yet luxuriously appointed and spacious mid-sized SUV with all the best attributes of an electric vehicle, but none of the range anxiety or unknowns. 

Sounds too good, right? Well, let’s check it out… 

Leapmotor is a new entrant to the Australian market, but arrives here with significantly more pedigree than other newcomers as part of Stellantis, which is one of the world’s largest automotive groups that oversees multiple brands including Jeep, RAM and Alfa Romeo.

In Australia, Leapmotor offers two variants of the C10, a fully electric model and the Ultra Hybrid plug-in we’re focusing on here.

In both cases, there are two trim levels to choose from; the entry-level Style that costs from $45,900 driveaway in the Ultra Hybrid configuration and the flagship Design that commands a $4,000 premium.

That positions the C10 REEV Ultra Hybrid as one of the most accessible plug-in hybrid mid-size SUVs in Australia, and one that is perfectly suited to modern young families that are looking for modern style and usable functionality but don’t want to compromise on everyday convenience.

The stylish Leapmotor C10 is equipped with a generous list of standard equipment that fuses modern technology with practical applications.

Despite the minimalist design of its cabin, all variants are fitted with luxurious appointments such as dual-zone climate control air conditioning, twin digital screens, embedded satellite navigation, wireless phone charger, a full-length panoramic glass sunroof, digital key and leather interior trim.

In the Style model, this material is called TechnoLeather, while the Design model has plusher Silicone leather made from sustainable materials and certified by Oeko-Tex. In both versions, owners have the choice of two stunning colour palettes: Black with subtle purple highlights or Camel Brown with black surfaces on top.

Beyond the extensive list of equipment already offered in the Style model, the Design trim brings larger 20-inch alloy wheels (compared to 18s), a powered tailgate, heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, multi-coloured interior ambient lighting, an air quality monitor and a host of unique exterior highlights.

Building on the packaging advantages of its platform, the C10’s Tardis-like cabin provides a spacious, flexible interior that is as comfortable as it is classy.

The minimalist design is conspicuously absent of any distractions with a simple T-bar design that separates the main dashboard from the floating centre console that runs between the front seats.

In front of the driver, there’s a two-spoke steering wheel with fingertip scroll wheels to adjust the myriad of functions on the 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster as well as the larger 14.6-inch infotainment display in the middle.

Most of the common functions can also be adjusted using voice control, which is activated by saying ‘Hey Leapmotor’. Here, users can talk in a natural conversation to adjust the temperature controls, audio system, power windows, navigation instructions and more.

The C10’s infotainment display uses Leapmotor’s proprietary operating system, which has a logical layout of its menu structure and includes satellite navigation, Bluetooth connectivity, built-in Wi-Fi and an app store that allows users to download apps such as Spotify, TuneIn radio and even TikTok to keep you amused when recharging the battery.

As for space, the C10’s cavernous cabin has plenty of room for five with excellent headroom across both rows and a generous amount of legroom for those in the back – more than most other mid-sized SUVs.

Plus, you can fold all the seats flat, which transforms the cabin into a bedroom, which is perfect for camping trips or when recharging the battery on a low-voltage charging station.

In any case, everyone is treated equally in terms of comfort, with plush materials throughout the cabin, soft cushions on all the seats, multiple USB power outlets to keep mobile devices topped up and an array of convenient storage spaces.

And the boot is big enough to handle everyday family duties – from school runs, weekly grocery trips, weekend sporting events and holiday getaways – with 546 litres of cargo space with the rear seats in use, and 1,375 litres when they are folded forward.

The Leapmotor C10 REEV Ultra Hybrid raises the bar for plug-in technology to new heights.

Where most of its direct competitors in this class use the combined outputs from a petrol engine and an electric motor to drive the wheels, the Leapmotor is essentially an electric car with a battery pack, while the petrol engine acts like an on-board back-up generator. This is classified as a range-extender electric vehicle.

In essence, the C10 REEV Ultra Hybrid is only driven by the rear-mounted 158kW/320Nm electric motor, which, in turn, is provided energy from the 28.4kWh Lithium ferro-phosphate (LFP) battery pack mounted under the floor.

Like any electric vehicle, the battery pack can be replenished by an external source like a public charging station or home charger, and takes approximately 18 minutes to recharge from 30-80 per cent on a DC station.

But it is also consistently topped up by the lean-burning petrol engine while on the move, which means it can travel much further than a traditional EV. Leapmotor claims the C10 REEV Ultra Hybrid has a combined range of 1,150km (NEDC), which means you can drive from Melbourne to Canberra without having to recharge or refuel.

Because of this, the Leapmotor C10 REEV Ultra Hybrid has a significant fuel economy advantage against the most popular mid-sized SUVs. powered by internal combustion engines, as well as hybrids and almost all of its plug-in rivals.

Leapmotor claims the C10 REEV Ultra Hybrid has a combined fuel consumption figure of just 0.9L/100km.

On top of being amazingly affordable to run, Leapmotor also provides exceptional long-term owner benefits with a six-year/150,000km warranty on the vehicle and an eight-year/160,000km warranty on the battery.

It also includes free roadside assistance for eight years and offers a capped-price servicing scheme for the same period that costs $4,000, with scheduled maintenance every 12 months or 10,000km.

With plenty of new brands entering the Australian market, Leapmotor stands out from the rest thanks to its trusted partnership with Stellantis, one of the world’s largest automotive groups.

But, more than that, it delivers where it counts. The C10 REEV Ultra Hybrid is a stylish, comfortable and spacious SUV that suits the progressive Australian family lifestyle with the latest in digital technology and safety features.

Plus, it has all the best attributes of an electric car – quiet, seamless performance – without the compromise of range anxiety or lengthy charging periods. With 16 dealerships around Australia and counting, now is the perfect time to take one for a test drive. Explore more about the Leapmotor C10 REEV Ultra Hybrid today.

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