Driving the new electric Leapmotor C10 – a mid-sized five seat SUV with single
electric motor fed by a 69.9kWhour battery driving the rear wheels – I’m driving
the Leapmotor C10 Design $51,500 drive-away which includes a 12-month Charge
Fox subscription. Incredible value in a very highly equipped SUV that undercuts
most of the opposition. The suspension tune by Maserati polished and pleasing
in a family friendly electric SUV that’s well built with simple appealing styling.
Behind the wheel you quickly get the impression the Leapmotor C10 was for the
most part designed by a computer tech head rather than an automotive designer
– in other words, it’s like driving a computer with large centrally mounted 14.6-
inch touchscreen, and a 10.25-inch display screen in front of the driver. No
directional air vents, just a long slot with cooling and heating weak and very slow
to react. The worst feature, no buttons of any kind, a touch screen that needs
more than a touch and a range of safety systems with annoying chimes that are
simply intolerable. Why Chinese manufacturers think we need a constant
reminder or prompt in every aspect of driving staggers me and it’s a buyer turn
off to what could be a nice newcomer. I’m David Berthon

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Driving one of the new Chinese electric cars today – the Leapmotor C10, a
company that started business in 2015, backed by the Stellantis company, the
merger of Fiat Chrysler and the French PSA Group. The Leapmotor C10 a mid-
sized SUV in two grades, the Style at $47,500, and the Design at $51,500, both
driveaway. These prices sharp and below similar sized offerings from other new
Chinese brands, as well as the Kia EV 5 and the Tesla model Y. And the price also
includes a 12-month subscription to the Charge Fox network. The specification
impressive – dual zone climate control, LED headlights, power front seats, a
panoramic sunroof, wireless phone charger, 12 speaker sound, a power tailgate,
a 14.6-inch touch screen, but no Apple CarPlay and Android Auto - all in a roomy
five seat somewhat handsome body with great safety credentials. With one long
slot for an air vent and no directional controls the air-conditioning and heating
response is poor at best. On face value though, a sharply priced very comfortable
family friendly mid-size SUV with a single electric motor with a 69.9kWh battery
driving the rear wheels. But how does it drive – a disappointment unfortunately
with which I’ll explain next segment. I’m David Berthon

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Talking further on the intrusive active safety elements of many of the new
breed of Chinese SUVs – the Leapmotor C10 I’ve just driven a case in point
which has 17 so called active driver assist features and I understand that
the local company has already adjusted the software for these active safety
elements three times – heaven knows what it was like first up for its still so
intrusive it’s a buyer turnoff to what is otherwise an excellent first effort for
Leapmotor. Interestingly, this week I was supposed to be driving the
Deepal CO7, another Chinese EV SUV newcomer. However, I was told all
test vehicles have been recalled to make software changes to their active
safety elements – the reason, I’m not the only motoring journalist who has
found many of these poorly calibrated active safety elements an absolute
buyer turnoff. I’m David Berthon

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