– Aggressive pricing (€27,900) undercuts rivals like VW ID.3 with generous standard equipment
– Strong performance specs: 215 hp, 0-100 kph in 6.7 seconds, up to 300 miles range, fast charging
– European-tuned chassis with 50:50 weight distribution for local driving preferences
– Major software weaknesses: confusing touchscreen, overly nervous driver-assistance systems
– Practical trade-offs: small trunk (10.4 cu ft), no frunk, but OTA updates promised
Leapmotor and Stellantis are launching a major push into Europe’s compact segment.
The Chinese automaker is launching the new all-electric Leapmotor B05 hatchback at prices starting at €27,900 in Europe. Its main rival is the VW ID.3 in the traditional compact segment. For this aggressive price, the Chinese EV offers a notable amount of standard equipment. The B05 comes with a heat pump, a 12-speaker sound system, and Vehicle-to-Load (V2L), among other features.
Technical specs of the Leapmotor B05 also look promising
Leapmotor lists output for its rear-wheel-drive B05 at 160 kW (215 hp). That allows the 14.5-foot-long “Chinese electric Golf” to accelerate from 0 to 100 kph in just 6.7 seconds. The Leapmotor B05’s chassis has been specifically tuned for the preferences of European car buyers and offers balanced 50:50 weight distribution. B05 buyers can choose between two battery sizes: 56.2 kWh for up to 249 miles of WLTP range and a larger 67.1 kWh battery. With the latter, the Leapmotor B05 is expected to manage up to 300 miles and charge from 30 to 80% in around 17 minutes.
Despite the strong first impression, the first international media test drives in Germany’s Rheingau region revealed notable weaknesses in the details.
While the rear-wheel drive setup’s acceleration and the ride comfort are convincing, the Chinese software causes frustration. Operation via the 14.6-inch touchscreen is confusing, and the driver-assistance systems react extremely nervously. The lane-keeping assist in particular stands out for its rigid interventions and reactivates itself after a short time, which significantly affects everyday comfort. The trunk also shrinks to a meager 10.4 cubic feet, and Leapmotor has completely omitted a practical frunk under the front hood. However, Leapmotor has already promised quick fixes via over-the-air updates.