Leapmotor B10

LEAPMOTOR is another new Chinese brand targeting the UK market – but it stands out because it’s partly owned by Stellantis. That means it’s a member of the same family as Vauxhall, Peugeot, Citroen, Fiat and Jeep among others.

- Alastair Crooks [e-mail]

However, instead of utilising technology from its parent company, Leapmotor is doing things differently. The B10 – like Leapmotor’s other models – has its own EV architecture, and the result is that inside it feels and looks unlike other Stellantis cars such as the Vauxhall Mokka Electric, Peugeot E-2008 and Jeep Avenger Electric.

The B10 sits on Leapmotor’s ‘Leap 3.5’ platform - an evolution of the C10’s ‘Leap 3.0’ architecture. While the larger C10 SUV has the option of pure-electric power and a range-extender hybrid, the B10 is currently sold as an EV only. A range-extending hybrid will join the lineup in due course, but for now there's just one 67.1kWh battery and a 215bhp electric motor. There are no trim levels, either – everything comes as standard on the B10.

The B10’s 270-mile range is exactly the same as the Kia EV3 Air’s, much more than the Ford Puma Gen-E’s (234 miles) and even greater than that of the Mokka Electric and E-2008, which offer 248 and 250 miles respectively. The MGS5 EV Long Range can do 298 miles on a charge, however.