Leapmotor B10

First Impressions

When I first approached the Leapmotor B10, what struck me was how sensible the design looks. It's clearly a scaled-down version of the C10 that launched earlier in Thailand, but that's not a criticism—it shows design consistency. The front end doesn't offend; it's clean and functional with LED daytime running lights stretching across the width. The proportions feel right for a compact SUV: not bloated, not over-styled. Inside, there's an immediate sense of spaciousness that belies the B10's footprint, and the build quality is noticeably better than typical Chinese EV budget offerings. Soft-touch plastics cover most surfaces, panel gaps are tight, and the overall assembly feels deliberate rather than rushed.

Design and Interior Layout

This top-spec Design trim comes in a light gray interior with decent material variety. There's soft-touch plastic on the dash, harder surfaces on the door panels, and fabric seating with perforated accents. The steering wheel is a bit small and plain, but it's wrapped properly and adjusts electrically in four directions—including height, which keeps it from blocking the digital display. What impresses is the thoughtfulness of placement: a 15.4-inch central touchscreen dominates the dash, with a smaller 5-inch instrument cluster to its left. Manual climate controls sit low and easy to reach, styled as simple physical knobs rather than capacitive touch. The air vents themselves are manual—a welcome relief in a car this price, because you don't need to dig through menus to adjust temperature or fan speed.

Space and Practicality

The real magic happens in the rear. Despite the B10 being smaller on paper than rivals like the Geely EX5 and Deepal S05, the interior architecture makes brilliant use of space. The rear legroom is genuinely surprising—tall passengers can stretch their feet under the front seats, and the ceiling feels tall. There's a powered sunshade, rear air vents, USB-A and USB-C ports, a large door pocket for bottles, and even a foldable table-tray built into the front seat backs. The cargo area is well-organized with a rubberized mat, tie-down hooks, a speaker mounted in the lid, and storage for charging cables. Every compartment feels purposeful, and there's an accessory mounting system for aftermarket phone holders and organizers.

The front passenger area is equally practical: dual cup holders with a motorized sliding cover, a wireless charging pad wide enough for large phones, a lower storage bin, and thoughtful placement of USB ports. Geely and Deepal offer similar practical touches, but the B10 packages them with better ergonomic flow.

Technology and Convenience Features

The infotainment system runs on what appears to be a third-party mapping interface (Amap), which works smoothly and offers granular charging station filters by connector type and power level—genuinely useful for EV shopping. Voice control works reliably, responding to Mandarin-accented Thai commands without fuss. Apple CarPlay is wired for now (wireless coming in December units), but the native navigation is solid enough that it doesn't feel like a handicap. The ADAS suite is comprehensive: adaptive cruise control works all the way to a complete stop, lane-keeping assist is accurate and non-intrusive, and the 360-degree camera display is clear and responsive, including a top-down view during low-speed maneuvers. Cross-traffic alert and rear collision warning both come with automatic braking. One standout feature is the pet/camping mode, which maintains climate control for up to 60 minutes when you're away from the car—genuinely useful for family road trips.

The steering wheel offers shortcut buttons you can customize, and the user interface is logically organized without overwhelming button counts or buried menus.

Driving Experience

Behind the wheel, the B10 immediately feels composed. The 160 hp rear-mounted motor provides adequate acceleration without drama—no sudden lurching, just smooth power delivery. The suspension is tuned soft, which makes city driving supple and comfortable; potholes disappear, and small bumps never jolt passengers. At normal highway speeds around 100-110 km/h, it remains planted and quiet, with minimal wind or road noise. However, push past 120 km/h and the chassis reveals its compromise: there's noticeable body roll through fast corners, and the suspension can feel a touch floaty when you're working the steering wheel hard. It's not unstable, but it reminds you this car is optimized for urban commuting, not spirited driving.

The regenerative braking is well-calibrated and can be set to three levels—I kept it at maximum without inducing an uncomfortable stopping feel. The braking itself is linear and predictable. The steering is light in Comfort mode and firms up nicely in Sport, though the wheel itself lacks the premium heft of a larger sedan. For daily driving through Bangkok traffic, it's genuinely soothing: no harshness, no sudden inputs, just easy, predictable behavior.

Rear Passenger Experience

Sitting in the back, the impression is overwhelmingly positive on space. Legroom is exceptional, easily matching or exceeding the EX5 and S05 despite the smaller overall footprint. The seats are firm but comfortable, though they lack reclining or cushion adjustment—you get one fixed position. The downside is that the soft suspension tuning becomes more apparent: mild body movement when cornering makes the ride feel slightly less composed than from the driver's seat. At city speeds, this is irrelevant; on longer highway runs, some passengers might notice mild weariness over several hours. The panoramic sunroof with electric blind is a highlight for rear passengers in daylight, though without tinted film the glass does transmit considerable heat and light.

The ventilation, large windows, and spacious proportions make the back a pleasant place to spend time—far ahead of the cramped rear quarters you'll find in many competitors.

Build Quality and Attention to Detail

What genuinely impresses is the execution. Panel fitment is tight, soft-touch materials are used generously but not wastefully, and stitching appears precise. The B10 clearly went through design refinement before launch. Geely and Deepal both deliver vehicles of similar build quality at comparable price points, but the B10 holds its own without apology. Materials feel appropriate rather than obviously cheap. There's attention to small things: the sunroof blind has a motorized backing, the foldable cup holder in the armrest is a nice touch, and even the door handles are recessed flush with the body. For a brand making its serious market entry now, this represents confident engineering.

Final Verdict

The Leapmotor B10 is a genuine contender in Thailand's compact electric SUV segment. It doesn't out-muscle the Deepal S05 or out-feature the Geely EX5, but it undercuts their likely pricing while offering a smoother, more serene driving experience built around city use. The cabin space is exceptional for the class, the tech stack is practical and current, and build quality punches above its price category. The suspension tuning won't impress highway heroes, and the lack of a rear wiper is a baffling omission in Thailand's rainy season, but these are edge cases.

If you prioritize comfort, space, and value in your daily commuter, the B10 deserves a test drive. Whether it succeeds ultimately depends on Leapmotor's ability to establish brand trust and build a service network—the product itself is ready.