2025 Leapmotor C10 B11 owner review

Have you experienced any reliability issues with your vehicle since you purchased it?

Yes.

The 12V battery failed and required roadside assistance from the RACV. This was provided free of charge as part of the car's warranty inclusions. On the diagnostic review by the dealer, it was found that a cell had collapsed.

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According to the RACV, this is the first time they've come across this in a Leapmotor product, but not unusual in some other brands.

Whilst the dealer had our car, a loan vehicle was provided. Both Leapmotor customer care and the dealer that provided the assistance, Leapmotor Caroline Springs, Victoria, the service was fast and efficient.

Have you had to make any warranty claims?

Yes.

As detailed above, we needed the 12-volt system battery replaced due to a cell failure.

A replacement vehicle wasn't available that day, and as we were on holidays heading to NSW, Leapmotor provided overnight accommodation for us.

Their customer care was way and above anything we've experienced in the past from any other manufacturer.

Has your vehicle been serviced at least once since you took ownership?

Yes.

We took our vehicle in for its first 10,000-kilometre service, but as some items were not available at the time, the service was delayed by a week.

On the day of the service, we dropped the car off at Nunawading Leapmotor at 8am and had the car back by 11am.

There was no charge for the service due to having been put off from the initial booking.

Overall, are you satisfied with your ownership experience so far?

Yes.

The car has been as good as any other car we've owned and, in many ways, better than most, especially when dealing with Leapmotor Australia and their dealerships.

Initially, the ADAS bings and bongs were maddening, but since the recent OTA update, they are either silenced via the app or tuned to a level that allows them to operate but only in an emergency.

Having been a specialist government driving instructor and both building and buying many high-performance cars in my life, my main criteria were for a car that was both responsive to steering, braking and accelerator inputs, comfortable and with plenty of room and an ability to tow, plus either RWD or AWD and priced around that $55,000 on-the-road mark.

In my test drives, most cars met some or all of these criteria, but the LM C10 REEV stood out once I hit the highways and winding twisty roads; the suspension inputs from Alfa Romeo and Maserati show up.

I did look at going pure EV, but covering over 1000 kilometres a week, often in areas not well stocked with charging points, the C10 was the pick.

Other hybrids utilise both ICE and EV for power, but the C10s ICE only serves as a generator, therefore giving me a full EV experience without being in need of external chargers.

After 18,000km in less than six months, I still love the car and recommend anyone looking for a midsize wagon/SUV to look no further than the C10 in either hybrid or EV.

David’s experience with the 2025 Leapmotor C10 B11

We spent about six months testing numerous cars from China, Japan and Thailand to replace our ageing Audi Q7, they all had features we liked, but none seemed to put them all together in one package like the C10 REEV did – especially once you got up to speed, where most seemed to float around, felt very disconnected from the steering wheels.

Those with FWD under heavy acceleration in the wet often lost traction. The C10 feels like a compromise between our previous Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audis in regards to braking, handling and comfort. It's not as stiff as the beemer and Audi, and not as soft as the Merc. Some of the others felt more like cars from 20 years ago, especially a recent Outlander we drove that reminded me more of my 1983 HiLux on the open road, the way it crashed and banged on Victoria's potholed roads.

I was concerned about moving out of the dinosaur age into a car very reliant on computers, but after a very good salesman showed me the ropes, then spending a couple of hours at home going through the systems, I've found the car to be very user-friendly.

I still don't like the use of the NFC card to unlock the doors and start the car, especially if it's raining. The LM app on the phone helps in that regard, but a physical key fob would be better.

Initially, the overbearing ADAS systems – especially the driver distraction monitoring and its regular ghost braking – resulted in me having to do a two-minute dive through the computer to switch things off. But since the OTA update in September, it's a two-second job to hit a sensor on the steering wheel to set the ADAS to my wishes.

Many criticised the lack of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but I've found the in-built maps and using services such as Spotify to be as good.

The latest OTA now allows me to hook up Android Auto and use Google and Waze maps, but I've not bothered.

The car is one of the larger mid-sized SUVs out there, and it shows up on the inside. At 183cm, this was one of only two cars where the seat went back far enough for me to feel comfortable and where, if we go away overnight, we can throw a mattress in the back and sleep comfortably.

The heated and ventilated front seats are a bonus. The fit and finish is excellent with no creaks or groans even when travelling on washboard dirt roads.

The sound system is up there with the Bose system in my previous Audis, with a choice of FM, streaming, and DAB – although AM would have been good in remote areas.

Running costs were a big consideration for us now that we're on the aged pension. The Audi was setting us back about $200 a week in diesel, whilst this is about $70 to $100, depending on how much I can use the pure EV mode.

The car's designated for 91ULP, which was giving me between five and 6.2 litres per 100km, but after trialling 95 and 98ULP, I've gone to 98, which has dropped my litres per 100 to as little as 4.2.

Power use is around the 17kW per 100 average, but if I use it on the highways, this goes up to around 22kW. The 28kW battery – of which the maximum you can use is 90 per cent before the ICE motor kicks in – gives me between 80 and 110km, as most times I only charge to the manufacturer's recommended 90 per cent.

I'm not sure why people avoid buying this car; its looks are very reminiscent of a Porsche Cayenne, especially from the three-quarter view, and it has the smooth looks that will remain modern for years to come. Many new models have so many sharp and chiselled panels that look great today, but history shows will age dramatically.

What would I like to see on the next model? LEDs in the door handles, charging port and tailgate button, a 12V outlet in the boot, a head-up display, the ability to increase font size on both screens, and a longer delay between unlocking the car and it self locking again – often you dont even have the time to go from the driver's side to the charge port or other doors if getting stuff or people out of the car.

If you do take one for a test drive, make sure the latest OTA updates have been installed and go out for an hour – not just a five-minute drive around the block.

MORE: Explore the Leapmotor C10 showroom