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01 July 2025
A premium SUV without the premium price tag.
Having launched its first car in 2019, Leapmotor is a relatively new player in the automotive market. However, the Chinese manufacturer is quickly gaining traction and has become the third-fastest growing brand in China while expanding to sell cars in over 16 countries, including New Zealand. Until now, the flagship model has only been available as a fully electric SUV, but the company is enhancing its appeal by introducing a new petrol-electric hybrid variant.
Starting at $49,990, the C10 Ultra Hybrid is $5,000 less than the electric version, offering a compelling option for buyers seeking the luxury and style of a premium SUV for around the $50,000 mark. With a highly efficient hybrid powertrain and the ability to run on 91-octane fuel, the new version will continue to offer those savings at the pump.
Under the hood (and the floor), the C10 Ultra Hybrid pairs a 58kW electric motor with a 28.4kWh battery, delivering a 145km range (WLTP*). When the battery runs low, a 1.5-litre petrol engine kicks in and starts charging the battery, extending the total range to a combined 975km (WLTP). This creates the impression of a fully electric vehicle, as the petrol engine never drives the wheels or the motor; it solely serves to charge the battery when it's low.
During our road test, the electric consumption was approximately 14.3kWh/100 km, which is a reasonable number considering the car's size, and the fuel consumption from the engine was around 6.4L/100 km. You can use DC fast charging to power the car, minimising visits to the fuel station, or you can opt to prioritise the engine charging through various energy modes on the touchscreen.
Acceleration is smooth, and the steering is light and floaty, making it ideal for urban driving and long motorway trips. It leaves much to be desired when turning off the motorway onto country roads, where a more responsive feedback would be preferable. There’s very little in the way of transformation driving between urban and open roads, and the experience remains mostly modest; the throttle response and steering remain largely relaxed the entire time.
The C10's party piece is the massive full app-integrated 14.6” touchscreen, with built-in Wi-Fi and OTA (over-the-air) updates. As we would expect, safety features prevent video playback and browsing social media when driving, but you can scroll through Facebook, YouTube and TikTok when the car isn’t running - it was a novelty to watch TikTok’s while eating lunch parked up at a service station.
Other nifty features include wireless phone charging, a panoramic sunroof, and a 12-speaker Hi-Fi surround system that gives the car a premium feel.
The C10’s interior aesthetics lean heavily towards a minimalistic design, borrowing cues from Tesla's simplistic cabin, free from buttons. Despite the lack of distinctive elements, the cabin is comfortable, and the materials used appear to be of high quality. The silicone leather front seats are both heated and cooled, offering electric adjustments that further lend to the premium feel.
The car not only feels like a premium SUV but looks the part, too. The exterior shape and lines could be straight from the classic SUV playbook of giant players like the Porsche Cayenne and Mercedes GLS. With sleek lines, concealed door handles, and a full-width rear LED light bar, the C10 looks every bit the part of a modern, upmarket SUV. The 20-inch smoky-grey alloy wheels and narrow LED headlamps add a hint of aggression, even if that doesn't fully translate into the driving experience.
A LEAPMOTOR smartphone app lets you lock/unlock the car, open the powered tailgate, and control other useful functions remotely. However, opening the tailgate without it can be a hassle, as there is no button on the outside, meaning you must unlock the door and swipe on the touchscreen after the system starts up. A simple physical button would be a welcome addition to avoid this rigmarole.
The C10 boasts a 5-star ANCAP safety rating backed by seven air bags and the LEAP Pilot suite and features 17 driver assistance systems. Some features can be a tad frustrating, with the lane-keeping assist at times nudging the car back toward the centre even when you're well within the lane.
Leapmotor offers a comprehensive warranty package of 4 years/100,000 km for the vehicle and 8 years/160,000 km for the battery, providing added peace of mind.
The Leapmotor C10 Ultra Hybrid delivers where it counts. It offers the comfort, style, and tech of a much pricier SUV, combined with extended range and excellent fuel efficiency. While it’s not a driver's car and lacks the dynamic finesse of premium European rivals, it's still smooth, quiet, and efficient to drive with just enough luxury to stand out.
The C10 feels right at home on wide motorways and city streets, which, for many buyers, is exactly the kind of drive they’re looking for.
* The Worldwide Harmonised Light-Duty Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) is a controlled test measuring fuel consumption, emissions, and range of electric vehicles.
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