Test of the Leapmotor C10: electric driving without charging
On the road with the spacious family SUV from Leapmotor - what we noticed.
The idea of electric vehicles without range concerns has recently experienced a renaissance: why not install a small petrol engine in the electric car instead of a huge battery, which generates electricity when needed? As in the C10 REEV from Leapmotor: the extremely spacious, 4.74 meter long family SUV in Skoda Kodiaq format is only available with a battery (425 kilometers standard range) or as a range extender electric vehicle (REEV): It always drives electrically with 158 kW/218 hp. Not a rocket, but fast and quiet.
The battery charged at home officially lasts 145 kilometers, practically almost as far. The four-cylinder engine then generates enough power for another 800 kilometers. This works well in the test. Because the petrol engine is perfectly insulated and does not always run, a smooth e-feeling dominates. Test consumption: 5.6 liters plus 13.7 kWh/100 km. The chassis sometimes feels wooden in town, but comfort, cornering and steering are a good everyday mix. Inside, everything is neat and very well finished, the equipment is lavish.
We get used to the almost purely digital operation. The only annoying thing is the overzealous assistance systems. They can be switched off but, thanks to the law, are switched on again after a restart. Then the lane departure warning intervenes far too aggressively, even warning the car of bends or tunnels, and the navigation system gets confused and says "drive through the first exit". Tesla-style fine-tuning is to follow via over-the-air updates. Bad? Forgivable in view of the bargain price: The basic C10 costs 35,900, the REEV also from 35,900, and the top version 37,900 francs. With a five-year warranty. That should go down well.
Expert opinion on the Leapmotor C10 REEV
The C10 is a spacious electric family SUV without range worries at a budget price.
Advantages
+Very good workmanship
+ convincing drive
+ very favorable price
Disadvantages
- Hyperactive assistance systems
- Chassis could do with some fine-tuning
