Leapmotor C10 REEV: The future-proof family SUV you didn't see coming

7NEWS

10 hours ago

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In a market where electrification is moving at full tilt but long-distance range anxiety still lingers, the Leapmotor C10 REEV Ultra Hybrid brings a clever middle ground, offering electric vehicle (EV) purity for city drives, and petrol-powered reassurance for road trips.
But there's far more to this stylish mid-size SUV than just its clever drivetrain.
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EV-first driving, zero range anxiety
Let's start with the heart of the C10 REEV: its range-extender electric powertrain. Unlike a conventional hybrid, the petrol engine in the C10 never drives the wheels.
Instead, a 1.5-litre petrol engine/generator keeps the 28.4kWh battery topped up when needed. So, you always drive using the rear-mounted 160kW electric motor, which means silent, smooth and responsive acceleration – every time.
Unleashing combined outputs of 158kW of power and 320Nm of torque to the rear wheels exclusively, the C10 is fun to drive and offers one-pedal driving as well, thanks to its range-extending EV technology.
With up to 170km of EV-only range and a total range that can stretch beyond 1000km, this is a car that handles school runs, work commutes, and long weekends away without compromise – or charging anxiety.
For families who aren't quite ready to go full-EV, this tech-forward hybrid approach is brilliant.
Cutting-edge cabin with a genuine luxury bent
Inside, the minimalistic dash, layered textures, and ambient lighting give the cabin a vibe more commonly found in SUVs with significantly higher price tags.
There's a luxury ambience in the cabin. The C10 Style and Design variants both feature a 14.6-inch multimedia touchscreen with a slick user interface, and a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster.
The infotainment system is lightning-fast, built on Qualcomm's Snapdragon platform, and supports over-the-air updates – a feature typically reserved for brands like Tesla or Mercedes-Benz.
The 12-speaker 840W sound system is a cut above the rest and adds serious depth to the cabin with a truly immersive listening experience. And both trim grades get wireless phone charging and dual-zone climate control.
The top-spec C10 Design goes one better, offering heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel (mandatory in Australia's southern cities), ambient lighting and a power tailgate – all while staying under $50K drive-away. It's undeniably impressive.
Here's a full spec list across both trim grades. Either way, the inventory of standard features generous to say the least and many are top-line.
2025 Leapmotor C10 Style equipment highlights:
Eco, Comfort, Sport and Custom drive modes
One-pedal drive mode
Mode 2 and Mode 3 charging cables
Panoramic fixed glass roof with electric sunshade
18-inch alloy wheels
Automatic LED headlights
Rain-sensing wipers
10.25-inch digital instrument cluster
14.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system
Wi-Fi and 4G connectivity
Over-the-air updates
Satellite navigation
Embedded apps like Spotify
12-speaker 840W sound system
Wireless phone charger
Dual-zone climate control
Heat pump
TechnoLeather upholstery
Six-way power driver's seat
Four-way power passenger seat
The Leapmotor C10 Design adds:
20-inch alloy wheels
Rear privacy glass
LED rear light bar
Silicone leather seat trim with Oeko-Tex
Heated and ventilated front seats
Heated steering wheel
Power tailgate
Multi-colour ambient lighting
Air quality monitor
This is a mid-size SUV designed to offer maximum living space. With a boot offering 546 litres of capacity with the rear seats up and 1375L with them folded, plus a flat-folding front passenger seat, you can load the C10 with luggage, bikes, IKEA furniture or even roll out a mattress – yes, it fits a 1.8×1.2m double bed flat. Genius.
The seats themselves are upholstered in soft synthetic leather and supportive (especially in the Design variant with an even softer silicon blend), and the rear row of seats is properly roomy for adults – something many of its rivals can't claim.
Fast charging and smart platform
Despite being a plug-in hybrid, the C10 REEV doesn't skimp on charging: it offers DC fast-charging at up to 65kW and AC charging at home up to 6.6kW.
It's built on Leapmotor's advanced LEAP 3.0 cell-to-chassis architecture, which integrates the battery directly into the structure for greater rigidity, safety and efficiency, and that's 100 per cent validated behind the wheel.
This platform also supports Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) charging capability, meaning you can power electrical devices like laptops, camping gear or even power tools straight from the vehicle – another EV-style innovation baked into the C10's tech play.
Designed to turn heads
While some Chinese EV brands struggle to find a design identity, the Leapmotor C10 is anything but generic.
With clean proportions, a sleek silhouette, hidden door handles and a premium feel throughout, it looks far more Euro-chic than cut-price commuter.
In fact, from the rear three-quarter angle it emits Porsche Cayenne vibes. No bad thing.
The Design variant rides on sharp-looking 20-inch wheels, while both variants get a panoramic sunroof and tidy LED lighting.
All C10 owners also get three years of complimentary connected services access. This includes the use of the Leapmotor smartphone app, which is surely one of its smartest features and enables owners to be able to remotely control a range of features from their smartphones, including:
Schedule battery charging
Battery pre-heating
Remote climate control
Remote vehicle status
Remote control convenience features
Remote central locking
Bluetooth key support
Real-time car location
It's one of features of the C10 you very quickly won't be able to live without on a daily basis.
Five-star safety
Armed with seven airbags and a full suite of Advanced Driver Assist Systems, the Leapmotor C10 has a full five-star ANCAP safety rating based on 2024 Euro NCAP protocols.
Stellantis backing for solid peace of mind
Leapmotor isn't flying solo here. It's backed by Stellantis, the global auto giant which owns brands including Ram, Maserati, Alfa Romeo, Peugeot, Jeep and more.
That means global servicing networks, better quality assurance and long-term viability – not to mention confidence in parts, support and updates well into the future. This is a world-class product with plenty of muscle behind it.
Value for money champion
Pricing for the Leapmotor C10 REEV starts from under $46,000, as follows:
C10 REEV Style – $45,990 drive-away
C10 REEV Design – $49,990 drive-away
Both grades are backed by a six-year, 150,000km warranty and an eight-year, 160,000km warranty for the drive battery, plus eight years of roadside assistance and an eight-year capped price service program.
That's outstanding value for the level of tech, space, refinement and range on offer here.
Final word
The Leapmotor C10 REEV Ultra Hybrid doesn't just sneak into the EV conversation – it kicks the door down.
It offers EV-level tech and comfort, hybrid-level practicality, and segment-leading value, all wrapped in a stylish, cleverly packaged SUV.
For Aussie families not yet ready to go fully electric – or those who just want the flexibility to do both – this might be one of the smartest buys of 2025.