SUNNY was all that we remembered during our Leapmotor B10 trip to and around Penang island - conveniently forgetting or ignoring that rain was a major part throughout the excursion.
Projecting this breezy “take-it-easy” vibe throughout the journey as you soak in the sights and sounds of the coastal state.
Its a sensation that came to the fore during our media drive and stuck, making it a lasting impression that constantly reared itself in the following times we got our chance with the electric sports utility vehicle (eSUV).
Yes it did rain, but we seem to recall mostly only the sunny bits.
You could say it is one way to describe Leapmotor’s more affordable model having an all-round “easygoing” vibe.
There’s the soft and simple silhouette curve design that its pleasant to the eyes. Then there’s the accommodating cabin that is spacious and filled with features.
With a 2,735mm wheelbase the B10 is 4,515mm long, 1,885mm wide and 1,655mm tall.
Its a compact C-segment model with a generous passenger room.
Storage is decent, with 25 litres up at the frunk and 430 litres at the rear which is expandable to 1,700 litres with the back seats down.
Taking centre stage in the clean-design cabin is a 14.6-inch 2.5K floating centre infotainment touchscreen - now with Apple Carplay and Android Auto connectivity available via over-the-air update as of time of writing.
The infotainment unit packs your usual online navigation, remote vehicle control functions, vehicle status information, scheduled charging, vehicle location, 4G network, and in-vehicle Wi-fi.
Comfort and convenience features come in the form of a power power-adjustable rear view mirror, panoramic sunroof with powered curtain, Bluetooth key, one NFC card, mobile app virtual key, and a single physical key.
There’s also driver-side keyless entry system via Bluetooth, keyless start system, remote start system, leatherette-wrapped multi-function steering wheel, six-way manual driver’s seat, four-way manually adjustable front passenger seat, and a PM2.5 air filtration system.
Standard safety equipment include eight airbags, an automatic door unlocking after collision system, driver seat leave reminder, driver drowsiness attention warning camera system, front view monocular camera, a surround view camera system, a 360-degree camera with dynamic guidelines, a reverse camera system with dynamic guidelines, and parking sensors.
Out of everything found in the interior the unique-yet-equally-odd one out are the hanger holes found on the passenger side of the dashboard.
Leapmotor stated that those holes are meant for custom-fit accessories, like a mini table, that you can buy from the automaker.
Quite the ingenuity and perfect for those looking for more customisation but otherwise their use is limited since the size of the holes are quite specific for any other fitting.
Ferrying you to your destination are 18-inch alloy wheels and the brand’s new proprietary LEAP3.5 architecture that uses the latest Cell-to-Chassis (CTC) 2.0+ platform.
The present level-two advanced driver assistance systems (L2 ADAS) include adaptive cruise control, lane centreing assist, intelligent speed assist, emergency lane keeping assist, front and rear collision warning, automatic emergency braking system, blind spot detection, lane departure warning, hands-off detection, rear cross traffic alert and braking, advanced driver distraction warning, and traffic jam assist.
As for the drive itself the B10 uses all-round disc brakes with its front suspension being MacPherson while the rear is of a multi-link setup. Paired with a ride height of 170mm and you’ll be gliding over most road bumps without much hassle.
Performance overall plays into a calmness so-to-speak that is reflected throughout the model’s entirety. Great for that Sunday stroll especially in urban spaces.
And you’ll more than likely want to keep it that way because things can get wild when the B10 is out of its comfort zone.
Skip mixing it up between high speeds and winding roads unless you’re looking for a wilder time with its body roll bounce - granted this may be the tyre pressure at play and doesn’t take away making the B10 a perfect day-to-day urban companion.
Especially should you go with the RM118,800 Design variant which you’re getting a lot more than the Life variant with that additional RM11,000.
These additions are also a necessary edge to maximize what the B10 has to offer in the current competitive climate.
Exclusive to the Design variant are the following: automatic wipers, a 12-speaker sound system, through-tail lamp for brake and position lights, automatic folding mirrors that can be activated when the car is locked, dual-tone leatherette steering wheel, eco leather seat upholstery, six-way powered driver’s seat, four-way powered front passenger seat, heating and ventilation function for the front seats, rear cabin air vent, automatic climate controls, ambient lighting system, and rear window privacy glass.
Both variants’ electric motor powers the rear wheels while providing 160kW (218hp) and 240Nm of torque. It has an eight-second 0 to 100kph acceleration with a top speed of 170kph.
The advantage is in its larger 67.1kWh Lithium-iron Phosphate battery that gives it 434km of range by WLTP standards (361km on the Life) and up to 168kW fast DC charging. Vehicle-2-Load (V2L) function delivers up to 3.3kW of
output.
However, the AC charging rate still remains the same at 11kW and will take 5.6 hours to bring the battery’s state-of-charge from 30% to 80% - unlike the Life variant’s smaller battery which takes 4.2 hours to achieve a similar state.
The range-topping Design also gets all five colour options starting with Starry Night Blue and Dawn Purple which get a Shadow Grey Eco leather interior.
Going with Metallic Black Light White and Tundra Grey means the cabin gets wrapped in Dark Grey Eco Leather.
Lastly are the two colours that’s also available to the Life variant which is Metallic Black and Light White - both with a Dark Grey Fabric interior.
Skimming on the extras will only drain the life out of the B10 and you don’t want that.
As it was designed for the perfect city run you may as well chill out and experience both the model and your journey ahead to its fullest.
