Leapmotor C10 REEV Design 2025 Review

Despite its added PHEV technology, the 2025 Leapmotor C10 REEV Design is listed at $2000 less than its $47,888 pure-EV equivalent (all prices are before on-road costs).

Some justification comes via the fact the petrol engine’s only task is to charge the LFP battery – there's no physical connection to the drivetrain. Therefore, Leapmotor doesn’t describe the C10 REEV as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV), although the functionality, from the user’s viewpoint, is identical.

That said, the Leapmotor C10 REEV’s mid-size SUV competition does include PHEVs: the three-model Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV range that extends from $57,290 to $73,790, GWM Haval ‘s PHEV Ultra is $50,990 and BYD’s Sealion 6 Premium PHEV is $52,990.

The Leapmotor REEV is significantly cheaper and, with pure-EV ranges of all the aforementioned rivals consistently less than the C10 REEV’s claimed 170km, it faces no challenges on that front.

The 2025 Leapmotor C10 REEV scores points with its unfussed cabin where minimalism and the choice of quality materials make for a premium feel.

That’s backed up by recessed outer door handles, plenty of soft-touch surfacing and the supportive cushioning of the Design variant’s power-adjusted (six-way for the driver, four-way for the passenger), heated and cooled OEKO-TEX silicone leather-trimmed front seats. The driver also gains memory settings and a heated steering wheel.

There’s a surfeit of handy-oddments storage spaces around the front and rear of the cabin (Leapmotor claims a total of 26) including an armrest-covered central storage bin and a handy open space at the forward end of the centre console.

There’s also a heat-pump for the climate control system that favours automatic, screen-activated settings over manual adjustment. Because this can lead to inadvertent, continued functioning when the vehicle is unoccupied, it takes some getting used to.

The light, sand-coloured trim of the test car, along with its large glasshouse and panoramic sunroof (fixed but incorporating a powered sunshade) helps emphasize a sense of spaciousness in the back.

Continuing its premium stance, the Design version features a powered tailgate, air-quality monitor and coloured ambient lighting. The Design’s 20-inch ‘Trident’ wheels are also an inch bigger than those fitted to the Style. The bad news is there’s no spare, just an inflator kit.

The Leapmotor C10 REEV is covered by a six-year/150,000-kilometre warranty, while the battery gains an eight-year/160,000-kilometre plan. There’s also eight years of roadside assist. Servicing is every 12 months or 10,000km, with prices capped at $4000 for eight years – or an average of $500 per workshop visit.

At the time of writing Leapmotor has 12 dedicated dealerships in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Canberra, with more expected to be announced towards the end of 2025.

Although the EV version has a five-star ANCAP safety rating, the 2025 Leapmotor C10 REEV is presently unrated. However, a full score would be a reasonable expectation.

The safety tech is extensive and comprises a comprehensive list of all familiar functions including (low-speed only) autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, pedestrian, cyclist and motorcycle avoidance, lane-centring, traffic jam assist, 360-degree camera, self-dipping LED headlights and blind-spot monitoring.

The notable exclusions are front cross-traffic alert and front parking sensors. While there are seven airbags, including a front centre bag, there isn’t a driver’s knee bag.

All largely contained within the 14.6-inch centre touch-screen, the 2025 Leapmotor C10 REEV’s technology mirrors its EV equivalent with in-built sat-nav, Bluetooth, location tracking, 4G-enabled Spotify and Zoom access as well as a wireless charging pad.

There’s no head-up display and, as yet, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are not part of the C10’s picture.

The driver instrument cluster is a 10.25-inch digital screen viewed through the flat-bottom steering wheel – on which the only physical controls are to be seen. Comprising unmarked touch-buttons and rotating dials on both left and right-side spokes, these control just about everything, from outside mirror adjustment to cruise-control settings.

Audio comprises a solid 840-Watt 12-speaker system with digital and FM radio but, sadly for those living outside major cities, no AM band.

The 2025 Leapmotor C10 REEV’s hybrid driveline is, in effect, quite simple.

The only task the out-sourced 1.5-litre petrol engine must perform is to ensure the 28.4 kW/h lithium iron phosphate battery pack is charged. The 158kW/320Nm permanent-magnet electric motor is mounted at the back where it drives the rear wheels through a single-speed reduction gear transmission.

Like all PHEVs, the 2025 Leapmotor C10 REEV quotes astounding fuel economy and emissions figures.

Just 0.9L/100km and 21 g/km of CO2 borders on insignificance as they’re only achievable with almost-constant external battery re-charging – and could be reduced even further if the petrol engine was not fired up at all.  

Our test car showed – admittedly with prolonged use of the petrol engine through difficulties accessing a convenient charging outlet – 7.2L/100km and 17.5kWh/100km via the C10 REEV’s trip computer. This ruled out any hope of the 50-litre fuel tank achieving a 1000km-plus range.

The fact that the C10 REEV can be quickly charged – it can go from 30-80 per cent in around 18 minutes on a DC fast charger, or to 100 per cent overnight on a household 240-volt AC outlet – makes it far less overwhelming.

The 2025 Leapmotor C10 REEV’s driving dynamics are a mix of good and questionable.

On the good side are the smooth unobtrusiveness of the electric motor, the refined, Maserati-tuned MacPherson strut/multilink independent suspension and the stretch-out passenger comfort. It all enhances the C10 REEV’s suggested premium nature.

While the well-damped and comfy ride is composed and absorbent, the rear-drive handling is responsive and assured. The nicely weighted and reasonably quick steering helps convey a sense of reassuringly stable grip despite the comfort-biased 245/45R20 tyres, too.

Initially, the electric motor suggests a familiar, deep-seated sense of smooth, torquey responsiveness. But, although its 1950kg kerb weight is relatively light for an electrified medium SUV, the C10 REEV’s actual performance is not that impressive.

Leapmotor says it will cover the zero to 100km/h sprint in 8.5 seconds, which sounds about right – at least some degree of the expected EV grunt can be accessed in Sport mode.

Not as challenging as some of its Chinese compatriots, the C10 REEV is nevertheless bothered by elements of its ADAS technology, which sees the driver fighting with the wheel if the car determines it’s too close to a white line.

With a sense of classy cleanliness backed up by apparent build quality and robust material choices, the C10 Design’s interior expresses style and simplicity.

Accessed by flush door handles, the cabin is almost unexpectedly roomy (the Leapmotor C10 is wider and longer in wheelbase than the Mitsubishi Outlander, Haval H6 and BYD Sealion) with its generous leg, head and shoulder room. The seats feel well-cushioned and grippy, while there’s an abundance of high-quality soft-touch surfacing.

There are downticks though. The external wing mirrors are adjustable only by accessing the centre touch-screen, the NFC-operated unlocking is activated by tapping the driver-side mirror, the combined transmission/cruise-control lever defies logic and there are no individual air-vents on the dash. The manual, somewhat-clunky internal rear-view mirror would also benefit by being replaced with an electrochromatic unit.

The C10’s REEV’s luggage area measures 546 litres with all seats up and 1375 litres when they’re folded. Surprisingly, that’s slightly less than EV versions, but competitive in the segment.

There are plenty of reasons why the 2025 Leapmotor C10 REEV should make its mark on the mid-size SUV market.

There are some annoying idiosyncrasies, which are easily addressable via an update from the brand. However, there’s also already enough substance that it would be no surprise to see Leapmotor vaulting up the Australian sales charts.

2025  Leapmotor C10 REEV Design at a glance:
Price: $47,888 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Powertrain: 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol-electric
Combined power output: 158kW/320Nm
Transmission: One-speed
Battery: lithium iron phosphate
Range: 1150km (NEDC) with 170km EV range
Energy consumption: 15.2kWh/100km (claimed)
Fuel: 0.9L/100km
CO2: 21g/km
Safety rating: Not tested (C10 EV 5 stars)

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