Leapmotor B10 maintains minimalist but takes a more mature approach – first drive
The Leapmotor B10 is a newcomer aiming to challenge electric SUVs under the RM120,000 price range in Malaysia.
Officially launched at the end of last year, this second model from Leapmotor Malaysia arrives at just the right time.
Firstly, it presents a more practical alternative compared to its larger sibling, the C10.
Secondly, despite its simple design, it conceals advantages that are hard for its competitors to match.
Thanks to Stellantis Malaysia, during this brief driving experience I was able to discover several positive aspects of the new B10 model.
Exterior
Like the C10, the Leapmotor B10 features a minimalist design that contributes to a low drag coefficient of just 0.265 Cd.
The Wing Star design elements serve as the B10’s main identity, especially with its sleek front and rear lights.
Unfortunately, the B10 still retains door handles that must be manually pushed out.
On the bright side, the tailgate switch has been designed to simplify loading and unloading goods.
All four corners are fitted with 18-inch alloy wheels wrapped in Linglong Sport Master tires, making the driver smile while navigating corners.
There are up to five color options available, including Starry Night Blue, inspired by Van Gogh’s artwork, as well as Dawn Purple and Tundra Grey.
Cabin
The driver is provided with an 8.8-inch LCD screen mounted directly above the steering column.
This means its position adjusts according to the tilt and telescopic settings determined by the driver.
All essential function controls, including side mirror adjustments, remain integrated within the 14.6-inch central screen.
Notably, B10 owners can utilize wireless connections to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Practicality
Compared to the C10, which appears more simple and premium, the B10’s cabin leans more towards utility.
What I appreciate about the B10 includes:
- Air conditioning vents that are easier to adjust
- A floating center console that provides ample space for bags
- Foldable cup holders when not in use
- A deep center console storage
- An 8.5-liter glovebox that can accommodate a 14-inch laptop
With Oeko-Tex Standard 100 upholstery made from bamboo charcoal material, the Leapmotor B10 is also particularly suitable for families with young children.
The cargo space measures 430 liters but can expand up to 1,700 liters when the second-row seats are folded.
With such versatile space, nearly 88% of the B10’s cabin can be fully utilized for various activities that strengthen family bonds.
Driving Experience
As standard, the Leapmotor B10 is equipped with:
- MacPherson strut suspension in the front and multi-link in the rear
- A rear-wheel drive electric motor producing 218 hp and 240 Nm
- A 50:50 weight distribution ratio
Sounds like features found in a sports car, right?
Don’t let your expectations soar too high because while the Leapmotor B10 has been tuned by Stellantis, it is not designed for an exuberant driving experience.
However, the suspension tuning of the B10 aligns more closely with its essence compared to the options available in the C10.
The B10’s suspension settings prioritize comfort, maintaining body roll control and preventing excessive bouncing.
The steering response is also precise, much more predictable and does not require much correction.
Additionally, don’t underestimate the B10 even with its Linglong tires.
This is because the Linglong Sport Master tires have proven their performance in offering quiet driving, maneuvering through twists, and handling wet conditions.
One aspect I greatly appreciate in the B10 is the more responsive brake pedal, making the bite point easier to predict.
Three throttle response settings are available, but most of the time I prefer using the Comfort mode as the default setting.
The Standard setting feels slightly too lively and may cause discomfort for passengers, don’t even get me started on the Sport mode.
Battery and Charging
The variant we tested is the Design variant equipped with a 67.1 kWh battery pack.
With a full charge, the B10 Design can achieve a driving range of 434 km (WLTP data) which is sufficient for urban driving.
For intercity travel however, it’s a different story.
Based on my experience from Damansara to Penang recently, we needed to charge this SUV at least once to ensure sufficient power.
Here’s another advantage of the B10: it supports DC fast charging up to 168 kW.
This allows the battery to charge from 30% to 80% in under half an hour using a high-speed charger.
This means shorter waiting times, provided you’re lucky.
Safety
As standard, the Leapmotor B10 comes with 7 airbags, 12 high-accuracy sensors, and up to 17 ADAS features that enable Level 2 autonomous driving.
These features make the Leapmotor B10 suitable for those learning to drive.
However, for those already confident behind the wheel, these safety assistance features might make you feel more fatigued than usual.
For example, the Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) can be disabled, but under certain conditions it may reactivate automatically.
You might spend a few minutes trying to turn off unwanted functions before driving, but there’s no guarantee they’ll stay deactivated.
Another somewhat frustrating aspect is the use of an NFC card to replace the traditional key fob.
It complicates matters since the NFC sensor is only located on the driver’s side window.
From a safety standpoint, it may prove useful but it might annoy some men unable to open the passenger door for their wives.
Conclusion
With a selling price of RM118,800, the Leapmotor B10 offers a compelling alternative to other segment C electric SUVs such as the Proton e.MAS 7 and BYD Atto 3.
For us, it provides a driving package that can make drivers smile, prioritizes comfort, and crucially, offers faster charging performance compared to competing models.
Not to mention the practicality that can be utilized by the whole family every day.
