Leapmotor C10 or C10 Plus, which one offers better value? – test drive review

Leapmotor C10 entered the Malaysian market about two years ago.

At first, it was a brand unfamiliar to many, but today it is steadily becoming a popular choice among Malaysians seeking a practical mode of transportation.

The model received an update in 2025, featuring faster AC charging capability and the addition of a tire‑pressure monitoring system.

For the 2026 model year, Leapmotor Malaysia has announced the arrival of a new variant — the C10 Plus — with more significant upgrades.

Here is our review after being given the opportunity to test‑drive both C10 variants.

Exterior

From the outside, there aren’t many differences between the two models.

The design is soft and minimalist, without aggressive body lines, but enhanced with stylish 20‑inch wheels.

Flush door handles give the C10 a cleaner appearance, though their operation may not be pleasant for some users.

Interior

With its large dimensions, the C10 can be considered a multi‑purpose vehicle even though it does not come with a three‑row seating configuration.

With a wheelbase of 2,825 mm, the Leapmotor C10 offers a spacious cabin, especially for second‑row passengers.

Headroom also feels generous thanks to the large panoramic glass roof.

If the sunlight becomes too harsh, the glass roof can be covered using the built‑in sunshade.

The use of Oeko‑Tex 100 silicone leather upholstery makes the seats soft and comfortable throughout the journey.

No worries because the material is water‑resistant and non‑toxic, making it safe for young children.

NVH performance is also commendable, with wind and tire noise well‑suppressed.

This green C10 unit comes with a bright Criollo Brown interior finish with premium‑looking.

If you prefer something less prone to visible dirt, the C10 Plus offers a black upholstery option.

Another advantage of the C10 is its large cargo space.

The 435‑litre boot can expand up to 1,410 litres when the second‑row seats are folded flat.

Cockpit Layout

Simplicity is nice but when it becomes too simple, it can be inconvenient.

That’s exactly how we felt when entering the C10’s cockpit.

Being accustomed to dashboards filled with physical buttons, the minimalist layout felt strange at first.

Almost all essential functions are buried inside the infotainment screen:

air‑flow direction
temperature adjustment
headlight settings
side‑mirror adjustments

Fortunately, the menu interface is easy to use and not cluttered like some more expensive cars.

Unfortunately, the Leapmotor C10 still does not support Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

The C10 Plus introduced this year also lacks these features.

Another thing you must learn and remember: before driving, you must scan the card‑shaped key on the centre console.

This must be done each time before pulling the gear selector into Drive.

Driving Experience

The standard Leapmotor C10 uses a single rear‑wheel‑drive electric motor producing 215 hp and 320 Nm.

The C10 Plus receives an upgrade to an 800V electrical architecture, with a more powerful motor delivering 299 hp and 360 Nm.

On paper, the numbers look strong — but in real‑world driving, the C10’s acceleration is not as aggressive as many EVs on the market.

It’s not slow, but its power delivery is clearly tuned for passenger comfort.

Smooth power on the highway allows the SUV to reach overtaking speeds easily.

Dunlop e‑Sport Maxx tires ensure good grip, supported by a comfortable suspension setup that isn’t overly firm.

Steering tuning is decent, though not responsive enough in situations that demand sharper control.

One concern from our earlier test drive returned: the “empty” brake feel.

At high speeds, the braking system works fine.

But at low speeds in urban areas, the pedal feels like it has no bite point making it hard for the driver to judge braking force.

Even with its stronger performance, the C10 Plus still inherits the same brake characteristics.

Driving Range

The C10 is equipped with a 69.9 kWh battery offering 424 km WLTP range.

With DC fast charging up to 84 kW, the battery can be charged from 30–80% in just 30 minutes.

The C10 Plus comes with a larger 81.9 kWh battery, offering 510 km WLTP range.

It also supports DC fast charging up to 180 kW, reducing charging time to 22 minutes.

Safety

The Leapmotor C10 features Level 2 ADAS, including adaptive cruise control, lane‑centering, forward‑collision warning, and more.

These systems aim to ensure safer driving on the road.

Based on our experience, the SUV is actually enjoyable to drive.

However, in certain situations, interventions from systems like Emergency Lane Keeping Assist (ELKA) and Lane Centering Control (LCC) can make the drive suddenly feel less confident.

These systems act a bit aggressively when correcting steering input, making driving more tiring than usual.

Worse still, some functions that were previously turned off will automatically reactivate every time the car is restarted.

We would prefer if the system remembered the driver’s settings from the start, without needing to adjust them every time.

Fixed Weaknesses

One of the most disliked aspects was the inconvenient method of unlocking the car.

Before entering, the driver must scan the NFC key on the right‑side mirror housing.

This becomes troublesome when you want to place items on the left rear seat — you still need to scan the card on the same side every time.

With the mobile app, owners can now use their smartphone to unlock the car from any direction.

In the latest update, both new and existing Leapmotor owners can obtain a physical key fob, eliminating reliance on the NFC card.

However, the mandatory routine before driving remains: you still need to scan the card on the centre console before pulling the gear selector. Hmm…

Conclusion

After test‑driving both the Leapmotor C10 and C10 Plus, it’s clear that this electric SUV is designed to be practical, comfortable, and family‑friendly.

It offers a spacious cabin, good NVH performance, quality interior materials, and a comfortable suspension setup.

That is if you don’t mind quirks like the unsatisfying brake feel, slightly aggressive ADAS behaviour, and the lack of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

With prices starting from RM125,000 for the locally assembled (CKD) version, the Leapmotor C10 is a worthwhile EV to consider.