2025 Leapmotor C10 Design Review

The 2025 Leapmotor C10 enters the Australian EV market as one of the most affordable options available, offering mid-size SUV proportions and interior space comparable to a Tesla Model Y, yet priced closer to a smaller BYD Atto 3. 

At a glance, it promises outstanding value: a bold design, a feature-rich cabin, and decent range for under $50,000 before on-roads. It also benefits from the backing of automotive giant Stellantis, lending it a degree of legitimacy some new Chinese EV brands lack.

However, beyond the spec sheet and show floor appeal lies a set of practical challenges. The C10 is marred by software limitations, clunky user experience, and infuriating oversights—chief among them the complete lack of Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. 

While its design and boot space tick the right boxes, daily usability is hampered by irritating driver assistance systems, sluggish default drive modes, and some of the slowest EV charging speeds on the market today. This review dives deep into where the Leapmotor C10 shines—and where it stumbles hard.

How much does the Leapmotor C10 cost?

‍The C10 kicks off at $45,888 for the Style variant, while the more feature-rich Design spec is priced at $49,888. 

Both exclude on-road costs, though Stellantis is offering a current driveaway deal nationwide of $47,500 for the Style and $51,500 for the Design.

2025 Leapmotor C10 Pricing:

• C10 Style – $45,888
• C10 Design – $49,888 

Note: Prices exclude on-road costs.

Clean, Cohesive, and Quietly Handsome:

‍The Leapmotor C10’s exterior is one of its strongest assets, presenting a cohesive and contemporary design that stands out among affordable EVs. The front fascia features a smooth, closed grille typical of electric vehicles, flanked by slim, sharply angled LED headlights that offer both high visibility and aesthetic appeal. Integrated daytime running lights add a modern signature, while functional aero elements, such as active front slats and subtle air channels, improve efficiency and cooling performance.

The side profile continues the premium feel with flush-fitting door handles that retract automatically, contributing not only to style but also to aerodynamic performance. The 20-inch alloy wheels on the Design grade (18-inch on the Style) fill the arches nicely, and the Dunlop tyres provide decent grip in most driving conditions. 

Tinted privacy glass and subtle roof rails round out the upper body details without cluttering the design. Notably, access to the vehicle is handled via an NFC key card system rather than a conventional key fob. While this may seem like a futuristic touch, it often proves more frustrating than convenient. The card must be tapped against a specific section of the drivers side wing mirror to unlock or start the car, and the system frequently fails to register on the first try, adding a layer of friction to everyday use.

You can use your phone as a key, but unfortunately, this wasn't available for us to test.

Around the rear, the C10 showcases a full-width LED light bar that adds visual width and a futuristic edge, paired with clean badging and minimal creasing in the tailgate for a refined finish. 

The electric tailgate on the Design model adds usability without disrupting the vehicle’s overall aesthetic. It’s a design that feels deliberately underplayed—confident without being loud—and helps the C10 visually punch above its weight, especially when finished in deep tones like the Jade Green shown here.

Stylish but Frustrating

‍Stepping into the front cabin of the Leapmotor C10 reveals an interior that’s been designed with visual minimalism in mind—but in execution, it becomes a source of frustration. The dashboard layout is dominated by a large 14.6-inch 2k infotainment display, which is fast and responsive, but nearly all essential functions are routed through it, including the climate control. Adjusting temperature or fan speed requires multiple taps and swipes, making what should be quick tasks into distractions. There are zero physical buttons, which may appeal aesthetically but proves inconvenient in real-world use.

The lack of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is a significant drawback. Unlike some rivals who promise future over-the-air updates, Leapmotor has confirmed that existing C10 units will never receive these due to hardware limitations. Instead, owners are left to rely on the built-in navigation system, which lacks the speed, accuracy, and interface familiarity of Google Maps or Waze.

Material quality is mixed. The dashboard and door cards feature soft-touch elements that lend a premium touch, but these are offset by harder plastics lower down. The seats in the Design trim are covered in synthetic leather - a 'more premium' synthetic leather than found in the lower Style trim - but their flat design offers little lateral support, and taller or broader occupants may find themselves sliding during spirited driving. The orange upholstery in our test vehicle is polarising—some may find it unique, others may find it garish. A dark purple 'midnight aurora' option is available, too.

Storage is a high point: large door bins, a deep centre console, a spacious glovebox, and a wireless phone charger are all included. Unfortunately, the wireless charger frequently failed to register our test phone, and the NFC key card system—required to start the car—is inconsistent, often taking multiple attempts to activate. It also takes the spot of the wireless charger, which can be rather inconvenient.

Sound insulation also disappoints. Wind and tyre noise are more pronounced than expected at highway speeds, detracting from overall comfort. The 12-speaker stereo provides adequate audio performance but doesn’t stand out in the segment.

While the interior shows signs of thoughtful design, too many compromises in functionality and execution ultimately undermine the experience.

Spacious and Comfortable (mostly)

Rear seat space is excellent. At 5'11", there's ample legroom and toe-room, and headroom is solid. Soft-touch materials continue here, providing a consistent cabin feel.

While there technically are rear cupholders, they are positioned just behind the centre armrest rather than integrated into it—making them awkwardly placed and difficult to access, particularly for smaller occupants or children. 

This small ergonomic oversight, combined with otherwise basic rear amenities, brings down what could have been an excellent rear cabin experience.

Big Boot, Hidden Hassles

The C10 boasts an impressive 481 litres of boot space with the rear seats upright, making it one of the more practical options in its class. Drop the rear seats, and that figure expands to a cavernous 1410 litres—well suited for larger items, family travel, or weekend adventures. The boot floor is flat, which makes loading and unloading easier, and there’s a false floor that hides a trickle charger and small storage compartments for tools or loose items.

The Design grade also features a power-operated tailgate, which adds convenience when your hands are full. Tether points and a reasonably low loading lip further improve usability. The boot is well-lit and finished to a decent standard, with a subwoofer housed neatly to one side. However, there’s no underfloor spare wheel, which some buyers may miss.

There is also a hollowed-out area under the bonnet, resembling a frunk, though it doesn't come with any liner or organiser as standard. Leapmotor claims this space can be equipped with an optional tub accessory, but in its standard form, it’s not particularly usable—just an open cavity sitting next to HVAC hardware. While the boot itself is a highlight, the under-bonnet storage feels like a missed opportunity.

RWD, Decent Outputs

‍The Leapmotor C10 is powered by a single rear-mounted electric motor producing 160kW of power and 320Nm of torque. 

Drive is sent exclusively to the rear wheels, which helps provide a natural sense of balance and decent weight distribution typical of EVs. 

On paper, these figures position it closely with rivals like the BYD Atto 3 Extended Range and Geely EX5, though the real-world performance is heavily impacted by software implementation and drive mode behaviour.

Low-Speed Charging and Average Range

‍The Leapmotor C10 is equipped with a 69.9kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, which is praised for thermal stability and longevity but offers less energy density compared to nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) alternatives. The WLTP-certified range is 420km, yet real-world driving sees that drop to approximately 360km, based on observed energy consumption of 19.2kWh/100km across mixed urban and highway use.

More significantly, the C10’s charging capabilities are outdated by 2025 standards. The vehicle supports DC fast charging at a maximum of 84kW, translating to a 30 to 80 percent charge in roughly 30 minutes under ideal conditions. Also limiting is the AC charging rate, which is capped at just 6.6kW. This means a full recharge from a standard wall box can take more than 10 hours, and there’s no three-phase charging support.

These limitations significantly reduce the C10’s appeal for drivers who rely heavily on public infrastructure or who need to recharge quickly during longer trips. While acceptable for buyers who charge overnight at home, they are well below par for the segment. Combined with its modest efficiency, the C10’s charging performance remains a key drawback in its usability as a daily EV.

Surprisingly Composed, But Let Down by Tech

On the road, the Leapmotor C10 initially shows promise with a reasonably well-tuned suspension setup and nicely weighted steering. Ride comfort is generally soft, and it glides well over minor imperfections, particularly at urban speeds. The rear-mounted motor layout also lends it a sense of balance that makes the vehicle feel more agile than its size might suggest.

However, any goodwill built from chassis competence is quickly undone by a frustrating layer of software interference. The default drive mode is always Eco—even after a restart—and this limits throttle response so severely that the car feels unresponsive when trying to merge onto a freeway or overtake. Changing to Sport mode helps, but there's no way to set it as the default, meaning you’re forced to manually switch modes every single time.

In our performance testing, the Leapmotor C10 delivered a 0–100km/h sprint time of 10.69 seconds in its default Eco mode—significantly slower than the manufacturer's claimed 7.5 seconds.

This is largely because Eco mode disables throttle kickdown, meaning even full pedal input doesn’t unlock the motor’s full potential. Switching to Sport mode yielded a much more acceptable 7.76-second result, though it still falls short of the promised figures and that was with a 2% negative slope to theoretically help the C10.

The lack of consistency between claimed and actual performance, combined with the inability to save drive mode preferences, undermines confidence in the drivetrain’s responsiveness. For daily driving, especially when merging or overtaking, the sluggish response in default settings feels like a genuine drawback to usability and safety.

Equally frustrating is the relentless barrage of alerts and chimes. The overspeed warning, lane departure beeping, and driver attention monitor are not only overly sensitive, but difficult to disable permanently. In many cases, the settings reset after a restart, requiring repeated deactivation from deep within the infotainment menu. Even after turning them off, some warnings, like the driver monitoring system, continue to trigger randomly.

These software irritations degrade the driving experience to such a degree that even the car’s decent body control and steering feedback are hard to appreciate. In a segment where many EVs are refining user experience, the Leapmotor C10 still feels like it's in beta testing.

The overall experience on the road is a reminder that well-tuned mechanicals are only half the equation—the software must be equally polished to deliver a pleasant drive.

Five-Star Safety, Distracting Execution

The Leapmotor C10 has officially received a five-star ANCAP safety rating, based on 2024 testing protocols. It scored 89% for Adult Occupant Protection, 87% for Child Occupant Protection, and 77% in both Vulnerable Road User Protection and Safety Assist. 

Standard equipment includes dual frontal, side chest, side head-protecting, and centre airbags, alongside a suite of 17 advanced driver assistance systems including autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane-keeping technologies, and speed sign recognition.

However, despite these strong crash test credentials, the day-to-day usability of these safety systems is far less reassuring. Driver assistance alerts are excessive, loud, and overly sensitive. Features like the overspeed chime, driver attention monitor, and lane departure warnings activate frequently—even in mundane driving scenarios—and are difficult to disable permanently. 

In many cases, they reset after every ignition cycle, requiring repeated manual deactivation through the infotainment system. These constant interruptions can themselves become a source of distraction, which ironically undermines the vehicle's otherwise solid safety foundation.

Decent Warranty, Decent Servicing Costs, and Free Charging Bonus:‍

Leapmotor backs the C10 with a decent 7-year/160,000km vehicle warranty and an 8-year/160,000km high-voltage battery warranty, aligning reasonably with key EV competitors in Australia. However, this still falls short compared to Geely's more generous 7-year unlimited kilometre warranty, or XPENG's current warranty offer extending up to 10 years. 

In addition, customers who take delivery by March 31, 2025, will receive one year of complimentary fast charging via the Chargefox network, easing early ownership costs for those reliant on public infrastructure.

The C10 also benefits from a capped-price servicing program costing $2,000 over five years—equating to approximately $400 per year. Scheduled service intervals occur every 12 months or 20,000km, whichever comes first.

This predictable servicing cost helps the C10 appeal to value-conscious buyers, especially when compared to traditional petrol SUVs that typically incur more frequent and expensive maintenance requirements.

What do you get with the Leapmotor C10?

C10 Style includes:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Automatic LED headlights
• Rain-sensing wipers
• 10.25-inch digital driver display
• 14.6-inch central infotainment touchscreen
• Satellite navigation
• WiFi and 4G connectivity
• Over-the-air software updates
• Built-in access to apps like Spotify, TikTok, and Zoom
• Dual-zone climate control with efficient heat pump
• Panoramic fixed glass roof with electric sunshade
• Eco, Chill, Sport, and Custom drive modes
• One-pedal driving functionality
• Wireless smartphone charging pad
• 12-speaker, 840W surround sound system
• Power-adjustable front seats (six-way driver, four-way passenger)
• 'TechnoLeather' seat upholstery
• Mode 2 and Mode 3 charging cables
• NFC key card system
• 360-degree camera system
• 17 active driver assistance features including AEB, lane centring, and speed sign recognition

C10 Design adds:

• 20-inch alloy wheels
• LED rear light bar with animated signature
• Rear privacy glass
• Heated and ventilated front seats
• Heated steering wheel
• Silicone leather seat trim certified to Oeko-Tex standards
• Multi-colour ambient interior lighting
• Power-operated tailgate
• Interior air quality monitoring system

Final thoughts on the Leapmotor C10

‍The Leapmotor C10 undeniably delivers strong value on paper—offering a spacious interior, attractive design, and a generous equipment list for a price that undercuts many competitors. However, in practice, it suffers from a range of critical compromises that make it impossible to recommend. 

The absence of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, coupled with underwhelming real-world range and extremely slow charging capabilities, puts it behind the curve in an increasingly competitive segment. Not to mention the software calibration and tuning, which make daily driving burdensome.

Take the Geely EX5, for example—a similarly priced mid-size EV from China. It starts from $43,490 before on-roads and delivers up to 430km of range with faster 100kW DC charging and added flexibility like vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality.

The EX5 also includes standard wireless charging, heated seats, and a larger infotainment display. While it, too, lacks Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, its software experience is more streamlined, and the vehicle has been tuned for local conditions.

Back in the C10, the overwhelming number of driver alerts and warnings—many of which reset with every drive and require deep menu navigation to disable—create a driving experience that is not just irritating, but dangerously distracting. 

While the Leapmotor C10 shows promise in design and space, it's ultimately let down by an unfinished software experience and inconsistent performance. For buyers seeking a polished, stress-free EV, rivals like the Geely EX5 offer more polish and practicality with fewer frustrations, often at a lower price.