The significance of this test may be greater than it initially appears. This is the first Chinese car to feature on Roadhunter, and the first one I’ve properly driven – excluding a rather underwhelming experience with a “Bulgarian” Great Wall many years ago.
Whether we like it or not, the Chinese automotive industry is now a serious global player. Their domestic market alone includes more than 100 car brands. Just a year ago, we saw several of them at the Sofia Motor Show. Today, we’re seeing them daily on our streets.
In this context, Leapmotor is a particularly interesting case. A few years ago, the company secured a major investment from Stellantis, and today the two operate under a joint venture called Leapmotor International, with Stellantis holding the majority stake. The objective is clear: international expansion.
That’s precisely why Leapmotor is one of the more intriguing new arrivals in our market – especially when represented by an established importer like Sofia France Auto.
This time, we’re testing the Leapmotor C10.
Design
At first glance, the C10’s design is understated, clean and heading slightly towards the safe side – just another SUV in traffic, without a strong brand identity.
Where the car truly scores points is with the standard green paint. It’s genuinely excellent and completely changes the perception of the vehicle. In my view, this colour gives it presence and even pushes it slightly towards a premium feel. Suddenly, the design no longer seems anonymous, but rather discreet and deliberate.
The car measures 4.74 metres in length, with typical SUV proportions, yet there’s something unusual about it. The front end appears slightly lower, while the glasshouse feels taller. It reminds me of older minivans – not necessarily the most exciting proportions, but once inside, they were comfortable places for long journeys.
There’s also a distinctly “Chinese” detail worth mentioning: the hidden door handles – a trend that largely originated there. Visually, they look sleek and work very well in a showroom environment. In real life, however, they’re less practical, and I do wonder how they’ll behave in winter conditions when covered in ice.
Interior
The interior is extremely minimalist, but I’m pleased to report that, in addition to the central screen, there is also a driver display. That means you can monitor your speed properly without constantly looking towards the centre of the dashboard. The driver screen is well-sized, displays essential information and offers modest personalisation options – which, for me, is entirely sufficient.
The central screen is large and clearly influenced by Tesla’s approach. It has good resolution, fast response times and a clean interface. It includes traffic information and its own app store, although currently quite limited – no Waze, for example, but there is TikTok. That alone says something about the philosophy behind the system.
The window controls are unusual – they operate in reverse. Push forward to open, pull back to close. Another peculiarity is the climate control system, or rather the well-hidden air vents. The downside is that airflow direction is adjusted through the screen. That’s not ideal.
Build quality feels solid, and the materials are pleasant. I particularly like the soft black trim that resembles neoprene. The seats use silicone-based eco leather, which feels slightly more rubber-like than I would prefer. The interior colour in the test car – a bold orange – is no longer available and has been replaced with a more conventional brown.
In terms of space, the situation is very good. The rear seats are especially impressive, offering a flat floor and generous room. The boot is somewhat modest at 435 litres, but there’s also a small front trunk suitable for charging cables, washer fluid or other accessories.
On the Road
My first encounter with the Leapmotor C10 began in an unusual way. The PR representative insisted on joining me to explain some of the car’s peculiarities. I thought to myself, “I’ve driven hundreds of cars – what could possibly be so special?”
Thankfully, I didn’t refuse. Had I done so, I would likely have been calling for help after ten minutes of walking around the car, because even getting inside is unconventional. Unlocking requires touching the card to… the mirror. You get used to it quickly, but I can’t help wondering how the NFC system will function in winter when the mirror is covered in ice.
Since I didn’t go through the full “instruction session,” it took me another day to figure out how to adjust the mirrors. Yes, the car has quite a few ergonomic quirks – or flaws, depending on how you see it – but this tends to happen with ultra-minimalist vehicles. Now, back to the driving itself.
Power delivery is smooth, but there’s a slight sense of sluggishness, particularly in Eco mode. Even with full throttle, the car reacts calmly. Sport mode improves responsiveness slightly, but I still wouldn’t call it dynamic. That said, this isn’t a car designed for spirited driving.
The steering is light, making city driving easy and pleasant. The brakes, however, lack progression and require some adjustment. The accelerator pedal also behaves somewhat oddly – during very slow manoeuvres, I noticed slight speed pulsations. A similar sensation occurs when using the driver assistance system, as if speed control calibration isn’t entirely refined.
An interesting detail: the driver assistance system is activated via the gear selector – something I only discovered after consulting the manual.
As for range, I covered around 300 km, mostly in city driving, with one motorway trip to Vakarel. The motorway quickly drained the battery. In purely urban conditions, however, achieving over 400 km seems entirely realistic.
The suspension is on the firm side, but nothing remarkable – which, in this case, is positive. The car feels predictable and balanced, simply doing its job without extremes.
Conclusion
The Leapmotor C10 is genuinely interesting, and for me it was fascinating to drive a Chinese car again after more than 12 years. The leap the industry has made is enormous – and noticeable within the first few kilometres.
The car has its peculiarities, particularly in ergonomics and system controls. There’s also some sluggishness in the version I tested. However, that doesn’t undermine its core purpose: calm, predictable and comfortable urban mobility.
What makes the C10 difficult to ignore is its pricing. It starts at around €38,000 (converted from 75,000 BGN) for the fully electric 160 hp version – highly competitive for a car of this size and interior space. Even more interesting is that the top version is only around €6,000 more expensive, offering all-wheel drive and a remarkable 598 hp. I suspect the sluggishness I mentioned earlier would be non-existent there.
In the middle of the range sit the hybrid versions, where the petrol engine acts as a generator, charging the battery and providing additional flexibility and range. That may well be the most logical solution for those who prefer not to constantly think about charging.
With all its quirks, generous space and strong price advantage, the Leapmotor C10 strikes me as an excellent urban vehicle – especially if you need room. It could even make sense as a taxi. It’s not a car for enthusiasts, but it’s a very compelling proposition for buyers looking for maximum car per euro.
— Eng. Tsvetan Iliev
