2025 Leapmotor C10 Review: Good Value, But Not Without Flaws

The 2025 Leapmotor C10 is a mid-size electric SUV priced from $47,990 driveaway. It competes directly with the Tesla Model Y (from $58,900), Kia EV5 (from $56,770), BYD Sealion 7 (from $54,990), Deepal S07 (from $53,900) and XPeng G6 (from $54,800). Two variants are available: the Style at $45,888 and the top-spec Design at $49,888, both before on-road costs. This review focuses on the Design variant.

Leapmotor is currently running a promotion for the C10 offering up to $4,000 cash back on 2025 build C10 models.

Leapmotor was founded in 2015 and is backed by Stellantis, which holds a 51 per cent stake in Leapmotor International, the joint venture responsible for exporting vehicles to Australia and Europe. Locally, Leapmotor has 12 dealerships across most states, with plans to grow the network as it expands it sales and product range.

Exterior

The C10 has a clean, modern look. It is not as edgy as the Deepal S07, but the styling is arguably more refined for it. The proportions are well balanced, with a wide stance, slim LED headlights and a smooth roofline. Five exterior colours are available: Pearl White (standard), Terra Grey, Midnight Grey, Metallic Black and Jade Green (all +$990).

The Terra Grey we had on loan reminded me of a Porsche Macan from some angles. Overall a pleasant design that most will find appealling to the eye.

At 4739mm long and 1900mm wide, the C10 is a proper mid-size SUV. The Style rides on 18-inch alloys while the Design steps up to 20-inch wheels. There is no frunk at launch, though Leapmotor plans to offer one as an optional accessory for $249 fitted.

Inside

The interior is a highlight of the C10. There are soft-touch surfaces throughout, rounded edges and a minimal look that feels more expensive than the price suggests. Two interior colour options are available: Midnight Aurora (dark purple) and Criollo Brown. The brown is the better pick as it adds warmth to an otherwise plain cabin. We found the ‘brown’ however to be a bit more on the orange side. The cabin could have done with a more contrast in colours, as we felt there was too much ‘orange’ and not enough dark surfaces.

The centrepiece is a 14.6-inch touchscreen powered by a Snapdragon 8195 chip. It is fast and responsive. Ahead of the driver is a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, which sets it apart from the Tesla Model Y. The system runs LeapmotorOS, an Android-based operating system. Built-in apps include Spotify and TuneIn, with more coming via over-the-air updates.

The big downside however is there is no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. This is a hardware limitation of the current LEAP 3.0 platform and will not change until a mid-life update. The built-in navigation and Spotify work well, but the absence of phone mirroring will be a sticking point for many buyers.

Fortunately the software in the C10 is one of the best we’ve used outside of Tesla’s class-leading system.

The front seats are soft and squishy, with six-way power adjustment for the driver and four-way for the passenger. There is no lumbar support or thigh extension, which can cause discomfort on longer drives. The Design adds heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel.

The second row is a very spacious and comfortable place to be. There is ample leg, head and shoulder room. The bench reclines further than most and the flat floor makes three-abreast seating possible. A notable omission is rear cupholders. The front seats can fold flat to create a lounge space, which works with Camp mode to keep the climate running overnight.

Storage is generous: two front cupholders, a wireless phone charger, USB-A and USB-C ports front and rear, a large under-console bin and big door pockets. The panoramic fixed glass roof comes with a retractable sunblind as standard.

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On the Road

The C10 is powered by a single rear-mounted electric motor producing 160kW and 320Nm. It is rear-wheel drive only for now. Leapmotor however will be bringing an AWD version to Australia later in 2026.

The 0-100km/h time is claimed at 7.5 seconds, which is slower than the Tesla Model Y RWD (5.9 seconds) but adequate for everyday driving.

Four drive modes are available: Eco, Comfort, Sport and Custom. The Custom mode lets you adjust throttle response, steering weight and regenerative braking independently. Regenerative braking has three settings: light, regular and strong. One-pedal driving is available but can only be activated or deactivated when stationary.

The suspension was tuned with input from Maserati engineers and leans firmly toward comfort. It soaks up urban road imperfections well. At highway speeds the cabin is impressively quiet, with minimal wind or road noise. On rough rural roads the suspension can feel overwhelmed, and the body roll in corners is noticeable given the near-2.0-tonne kerb weight.

Driving around town in the C10 is a pleasant experience. While tuned for comfort it handles very well. The rear-wheel drive setup and the aforementioned tuning from the Maserati engineers makes for one of the better driving experiences in the medium SUV segment.

Steering has three settings but none feel particularly engaging. The normal mode is the best of the three. The turning circle is excellent for a car this size, making parking and U-turns easy. The surround-view camera is mediocre in quality given the high-resolution screen it is displayed on. There are only rear parking sensors, which is a gap for a family-focused vehicle.

The safety systems are the most frustrating part of the C10. The driver attention monitor, speed limit assist and lane-keep assist all generate frequent and loud alerts. The lane-keep assist cannot be turned off while driving at all, requiring a stop and a trip through sub-menus. These however could be solved by an over-the-air update in the future.

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Battery, Range and Charging

The C10 uses a 69.9kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery with a claimed WLTP range of 420km. Real-world urban efficiency has been recorded as low as 14.2kWh/100km, which would extend range well beyond the official figure. On the highway, efficiency is closer to 20kWh/100km, giving a realistic highway range of around 330km.

DC fast charging is on the slow side, peaking at 84kW. A 30 to 80 per cent charge takes around 30 minutes. AC charging supports up to 6.6kW, taking around six hours for the same 30 to 80 per cent top-up. The DC charging speed is slower than rivals like the BYD Sealion 7 (150kW) and XPeng G6 (215kW). All C10 buyers receive a 12-month complimentary Chargefox subscription.

Warranty and Running Costs

The C10 comes with a seven-year, 160,000km vehicle warranty and an eight-year, 160,000km battery warranty. This is one of the strongest warranty packages in the segment, beating the Tesla Model Y (four years, 80,000km) and matching the Kia EV5 on years. Roadside assistance is covered for five years.

Service intervals are every 12 months or 20,000km. Capped-price servicing covers the first five services at a total cost of $2,000, which works out to around $400 per service. That is affordable for an EV. Leapmotor currently has 12 service centres across most states, with plans to grow the network.

Recommendation

The Leapmotor C10 is a solid option in the mid-size electric SUV segment. It is priced well below most rivals, offers a genuinely spacious and well-finished interior, and backs it up with one of the best warranty packages in the class. The exterior design, quality of materials and overall driving experience belie its affordable price tag.

The main weaknesses are the safety systems, which are among the more intrusive we have tested. The absence of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto could be a big drawback for some buyers. AC and DC charging is also on the slow side compared to rivals. If you mainly charge from home, then this won’ be an issue.

If you can live with those limitations, the C10 Design at $47,990 driveaway (plus a limited time cash back offer) is hard to argue with. The warranty, servicing costs and cabin quality punch well above the price. It works best as a city and suburban car. For long-distance driving, the C10 REEV with its 950km range is the better choice and is worth waiting for.