Leapmotor B10 2026 Review

The 2026 Leapmotor B10 arrives in two variants: the B10 Style at $38,990 drive away and the B10 Design Long Range at $41,990 drive away (both prices are until March 31, 2026).

As usual, premium paint costs extra, $990 in this case.

It was briefly Australia’s cheapest electric SUV when it was announced in late 2025, before BYD muscled in and stole the crown. Still, the value proposition here is genuine.

Both model grades are handsomely equipped, the cheaper B10 Style getting 18-inch alloys, a fixed panoramic glass roof (1.8 square metres of sky), a 14.6-inch 2.5K floating touchscreen, an 8.8-inch digital driver cluster, wireless phone charging as well as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The Design LR adds power-adjustable and heated/ventilated front seats, ambient LED lighting in 64 colours (yes, they dance to music), a powered tailgate, tinted rear windows, a 12-speaker stereo with a dedicated woofer in the boot and nicer seat upholstery.

On the tech and safety front, both models get a Qualcomm Snapdragon CPU, 16GB of RAM, Over-the-Air (OTA) updates, a 360-degree 3D camera that doubles as a dashcam, embedded apps like Spotify and TikTok with 2.5GB of complimentary monthly data.

Voice control is part of the deal and can tell which occupant is speaking, and there’s the requisite Leapmotor smartphone app for remote car monitoring and functionality.

Seven airbags (including a front-centre bag) and a five-star ANCAP rating round out a comprehensive package.

The powertrain is a single rear-mounted electric motor generating reasonable mumbo (160kW/240Nm), sent through a single-speed reduction gear like pretty much every other EV.

The B10 Style uses a 56.2kWh LFP battery with a claimed range of 361km (WLTP) while the Design Long Range gets a 67.1kWh LFP unit and stretches that to 434km (WLTP).

Both models support DC fast charging, with the Style maxing out at 140kW and the Design LR extending to 168kW (30 to 80 per cent in 18 minutes), which is pretty good for a cheap EV. Maximum AC charging is 11kW and it comes with a 3.3kW V2L (vehicle to load) function that allows owners to run appliances, TVs, camping equipment and so on. However, you must buy a separate cable.

The Leapmotor B10 is backed by a competitive six-year, 150,000km vehicle warranty and a standard eight-year, 160,000km battery warranty.

Service intervals are set at 12 months or 20,000km, which is common for EVs, and capped-price servicing and roadside assistance lasts eight years – both above average.

Let’s start where it matters most: the 2026 Leapmotor B10 represents impressive value for money.

If you compare the B10 with an EV from an established brand like the Kia EV3 ($47,600 to $63,950 excluding on-road costs) and even some other Chinese challenger brands, it comes up trumps.

The small SUV is loaded to the gills with equipment and unlike the Leapmotor C10 it has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality, which automatically give it a leg up on its bigger sibling… which has had a lukewarm reception from buyers and critics alike.

But most astonishing of all is that the B10 is genuinely fun to drive. Although the bar is set pretty low, given that most Chinese cars these days drive with the precision of a soggy croissant.

The B10 surprised everyone during the launch drive.

Indeed, the rear-drive layout and 50:50 weight distribution gives the B10 a playfulness that’s completely at odds with its bargain-basement price and it’s banal, bubble-butted cookie-cutter exterior design.

On the mountain roads of Beechmont in Queensland – the kind of tight, twisting stuff usually frequented by motorcycles and hot hatches – the B10 handled with poise and enthusiasm.

Body roll is minimal and grip levels are reasonable. Plus, the tyres are staggered like a Porsche and are slightly wider at the rear with 235/50s versus the 225/50s up front.

Deceleration is rapid when you pump the anchors and the ultra-light steering is urban-friendly and fit for purpose, so it’s no Porsche 911 in terms of car-to-driver connection. Yet this SUV is engaging in a way that’ll astonish owners, especially given its budget pricing.

How is this small SUV so agile and engaging?

Maserati-tuned suspension. And this is no marketing gimmick. Oddly, Leapmotor doesn’t advertise this fact – and it should. Although Maserati probably wouldn’t be too keen…

The way the Leapmotor SUV rides over various surfaces – including gravel – is best described as balanced. Moreover, the B10 is compliant enough for everyday comfort and composed enough to stay flat through corners. You do feel bigger hits but overall, it is far more settled than many Chinese challengers in this budget zone.

On dirt roads it’s equally assured, with a languid, playful rear end that’ll produce a grin and a gentle fishtail if you’re in the right mood (and turn ESP off).

It’s also got a tight turning circle and that combines with the light steering to make urban driving and parking an absolute cinch.

Inside, the 14.6-inch central touchscreen is another highlight. It’s high resolution, has logically laid out menus and crucially for Australia, the laminated surface kills sun glare.

Split-screen mode lets you resize and drag sections around, which sounds gimmicky until you use it.

Built-in satnav is good, with real-time traffic and charging-station recommendations baked in.

The fact that Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included (wired and wireless) is only notable because the Leapmotor C10 doesn’t have it.

The B10 is generously proportioned for a small SUV at 4515mm long. In fact, it could almost be classed a mid-size SUV, given the current Mazda CX-5 is only 60mm longer at 4575mm.

Boot space runs from 490 litres with the rear seat in place to 1475 litres when they’re folded down and a dual-floor boot design neatly hides charging cables when not in use.

Twenty-two storage spaces are dotted through the cabin says Leapmotor (I counted 14 but math was never my strong suit). Some of the obvious cubbies include a deep glovebox that swallows a 14.0-inch laptop whole.

The ADAS (advanced driver assistant systems) are surprisingly capable. In peak-hour traffic leaving Brisbane Airport, the systems handling lane-keeping and adaptive cruise work with quiet confidence. But the lane-keep system is intrusive… more on that later.

The oil-cooled electric motor is impressively hushed at speed and three selectable regeneration modes (including one-pedal driving with a comfortable stop feature) give you good control over how the car slows.

In terms energy efficiency the Leapmotor showed a clean pair of heels on the launch drive, bettering its 15kWh/100km claim with low 14s. Impressive.

The Linglong Sportmaster e tyres are the B10’s Achilles heel.

They’re eco-rated rubber, which is great for range but tend to protest loudly the moment you ask them to work hard.

Push the B10 with any enthusiasm and they’ll start complaining in a way that doesn’t match the car’s otherwise sporting character. It’s not a deal breaker but was noticed around roundabouts and on fun roads.

A set of proper performance tyres would transform this car and remain an easy aftermarket upgrade for anyone who wants to properly exploit the chassis.

Steering in Comfort mode is very light – almost unnervingly so on open roads. It’s well-suited to urban crawling and tight car parks (where the B10 will mostly find itself) but Sport mode is the way to go at faster speeds.

Some of the convenience tech comes with trade-offs, for example adjusting the door mirrors requires diving into the touchscreen, which is a minor annoyance.

The front seats don’t drop as low as some drivers might prefer and the lane departure warning on rural roads can be overly aggressive and intrusive. My mum would freak out.

That said, you can assign the custom steering wheel button to disable it relatively quickly, which is a welcome workaround.

The dashcam functionality only records to a USB stick, so you’ll need to remember to plug one in. The fixed panoramic roof is genuinely massive and lovely, but there’s no opening section which might bother those who like a blast of fresh air on a hot afternoon.

There’s not traditional key fob for the car, just two key cards and one mechanical key. The keycards must be placed in a certain spot on the exterior mirrors which is annoying (but good for car security). Most owners will download the app, which turns your smartphone into a proximity key and is a far better solution.

The last not so good point is the fact that the Leapmotor dealer network is sitting at around 20 service and sales points nationally. That’s building (and this car will certainly aid in this respect) but it’s worth factoring in if you’re outside a capital city. Depreciation is also likely to be savage.

If you’re shopping for a small electric SUV on a budget and want a dynamic driving experience, then yes, put this on your shopping list.

At $41,990 drive away, the B10 Design Long Range is an impressive package with a polished infotainment system, solid real-world range and a cabin that feels more expensive than it costs.

The main rivals to cross-shop are the BYD Atto 3 (similar sizing, more established dealer network) and the Geely EX5 (a personal favourite that deserves a head-to-head comparison). While the Leapmotor trades blows with both in value terms, it easily out-drives them.

If the range numbers or network coverage concern you, wait for the REEV (range-extender) version of the B10 that has been confirmed for Australia. But if you want a small EV that’ll put a smile on your face every time you carve your way up an on ramp to the freeway, the B10 is currently the front-runner.

2026 Leapmotor B10 Design Long Range at a glance
Price: $41,990 drive away (until 31 March 2026)
Available: Now
Powertrain: Single permanent magnet synchronous motor, oil-cooled
Output: 160kW/240Nm
Transmission: Single-speed reduction gear
Battery: 67.1kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP)
Range: 434km (WLTP)
Energy consumption: 15kWh/100km (WLTP)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2025)

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