Leapmotor C10 Review

Nowadays, competition in Malaysia's D-segment pure electric SUV market is increasingly fierce. Many brands focus on configurations and range, but the pricing often deters family users. The 2025 Leapmotor C10 EV attracted significant attention upon launch—with a starting price of only RM 125,000, a RM 34,000 drop compared to the 2024 model, while the range improves from 424km to 477km. In this test drive, we focus on whether the price reduction affects the core experience and whether the upgrades can meet daily household needs.

In terms of appearance, the 2025 C10 EV continues the simple and robust design style. Its overall contours are boxy, in line with the positioning of a mid-sized SUV. The front face eliminates the traditional grille, adopting a closed design paired with a horizontal LED daytime running light, with Leapmotor's logo embedded in the middle, providing decent recognizability. The side profile features straight lines, with a waistline extending from the front fender to the rear, adding a sense of layering, while the 180mm minimum ground clearance ensures passability. The rear is equipped with a horizontal tail light that echoes the front, and the lower end features a concealed exhaust (a characteristic of electric vehicles), while the silver skid plate on the rear bumper adds a slight off-road vibe. The lighting system is entirely LED, with automatic headlights and front fog lights as standard, ensuring convenience for daily use.

Sitting inside, the interior focuses on practicality. The dashboard uses a symmetrical layout, with most areas wrapped in soft-touch materials, providing a decent feel. The 10.25-inch full LCD instrument panel offers clear displays, showing real-time information such as range, speed, and driving assistance data. The 14.6-inch 2K central control screen is the visual centerpiece, offering smooth operation and supporting commonly used navigation and multimedia functions. A multifunction steering wheel is standard, although the 2025 version has been downgraded to manual adjustment compared to the 2024 model's electronic adjustment. For the seats, the driver’s seat supports electric adjustment, memory, and a welcome function; the front passenger seat also features electric adjustment. The leather seats provide moderate wrapping and support, making long rides comfortable. The rear seats can fold down in a 60/40 split, expanding the trunk space which can accommodate items like strollers or suitcases with ease. Regarding space, the 2825mm wheelbase offers ample rear legroom. A passenger of 1.8m has two fists of space from the knees to the front seat, with adequate headroom as well. The rear is also equipped with air conditioning vents and power outlets for added practicality.

In the power department, the 2025 C10 EV is equipped with a rear-mounted permanent magnet synchronous motor, delivering a maximum power of 118kW (160PS) and a maximum torque of 320N·m. Although this is slightly lower than the 160kW of the 2024 model, it is sufficient for daily driving. The power response is direct when starting, and a light press on the accelerator delivers a noticeable push-back feeling. The official 0-100km/h acceleration time is 7.5 seconds. During overtaking, pressing the accelerator deeply produces smooth power output with no apparent lag. There are three driving modes to choose from: Eco, Standard, and Sport. In Eco mode, power output is gentle, making it suitable for city commuting; in Sport mode, the accelerator becomes more responsive, and acceleration is more aggressive.

In terms of handling, the front MacPherson and rear multi-link independent suspension setup is tuned towards comfort. When driving over speed bumps or bumpy roads, the suspension filters out most vibrations, and the body does not exhibit noticeable bouncing. During high-speed cornering, body roll is kept within a reasonable range, and the steering precision is decent, with minimal play. As a rear-wheel-drive model, the steering feel is moderate, making it easy to drive daily. Braking performance is stable, with front ventilated discs and rear ventilated discs. The brake pedal offers a linear feel, and the vehicle maintains good stability during emergency braking.

Battery range is the focus of this upgrade. The official pure electric range is 477km. We tested it under working conditions with half urban roads and half highways, with the air conditioner on throughout. The range achievement rate is about 85%, and the actual range is around 400km, which is sufficient for a week of commuting. Fast charging can charge from 30% to 80% in 0.5 hours, and slow charging takes 4 hours to fully charge, significantly faster than the 6.1 hours of the 2024 model, showing noticeable improvement in charging efficiency. In terms of power consumption, it is about 15kWh/100km under urban conditions and about 18kWh/100km on highways, performing decently overall. Noise control is done well, with little to no wind or tire noise at speeds below 60km/h. On the highway, tire noise is slightly more noticeable but does not affect conversations.

In terms of safety features, the 2025 Leapmotor C10 EV is very well-equipped. Seven airbags, lane change assist, lane departure warning, autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control (ACC), and a 360-degree surround view camera system all come as standard, providing sufficient safety assurance for daily driving. Compared to peers like the BYD ATTO 3 or MG ZS EV, the C10 EV has advantages in wheelbase and rear seat space, while also offering a more affordable price with no obvious shortcomings in configuration.

In summary, the key highlights of the 2025 Leapmotor C10 EV are its high cost-performance ratio, upgraded battery range, and practical space configuration. Although its powertrain and steering adjustment have slightly regressed, the significant price reduction ensures that overall practicality is not compromised. It is suitable for families focusing on space and battery range, capable of handling daily commutes and weekend family outings. For budget-conscious consumers looking to purchase a mid-sized pure electric SUV, this car is also a good choice. If you don’t have high demands for power and prioritize balanced performance, the 2025 Leapmotor C10 EV is worth considering.