Leapmotor C10

FIRST UK DRIVE We find out if bargain-priced electric SUV does enough to stand out from the pack

- Richard Ingram

LEAPMOTOR brand director Damien Dally has confirmed that the firm's UK line-up will be bookended by the dinky T03 (Issue 1,870) and this: the Tesla Model Y-sized C10 electric SUV.

However, the C10 is worlds apart from the T03, to the point where it's best to focus on it as a standalone product.

Visually, there are whiffs of Hyundai at the front and if you squint, perhaps some Porsche Cayenne at the rear. Proportionally, it looks quite European, and the colour palette isn't as wacky as some of the stuff currently en-route from China. The 20-inch gunmetal wheels look smart, too.

It's equally pleasing inside, at least on first glance The layout is fairly minimalist, with a big 14.6-inch touchscreen taking centre stage, complemented by a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster. It's all ver responsive, but it's a shame Leapmotor has no plans to offer Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.