2026 Leapmotor C10 AWD Review

It might look unassuming, but Leapmotor’s most powerful SUV proves you don’t need a sports badge to go very fast. 

Leapmotor’s first New Zealand arrival, the C10 SUV, was understated. It was sensible, softly styled, and easy to live with. Then came the range-extending hybrid. And now, quietly and without much fuss, Leapmotor has added something entirely different to the lineup. But the C10 AWD, its new model, looks entirely the same. Like, completely.  

On paper, it’s a performance flagship, with power figures that would have seemed absurd in this segment not long ago. In reality, it’s something more interesting than that. The C10 AWD doesn’t wear a sports badge, doesn’t shout about what it can do, and doesn’t look materially different from the standard car. Instead, it channels a very familiar idea from motoring history. 

Think back to the days when you could spec a perfectly ordinary Falcon or Commodore wagon with a thumping V8, without committing to a full-blown XR or SS. Same body, same practicality, but a very different attitude under the bonnet. The C10 AWD has that same sleeper energy. 

Under the skin 

Where the standard rear-drive C10 makes do with a single 160kW motor, the AWD adds a second unit to the front axle, lifting total output to a claimed 440kW and 720Nm. Those are serious numbers by any measure. Leapmotor quotes a 0–100km/h time of 4.0 seconds, compared with 7.5 seconds for the rear-drive model. In real terms, it’s properly quick, even if it falls a few tenths behind Tesla’s Model Y or the BYD Sealion 7 in Performance forms.  

The C10 AWD debuts Leapmotor’s new 800-volt electrical architecture, paired with a larger 81.9kWh lithium iron phosphate battery. The higher voltage system allows the car to sustain heavy power loads more efficiently, while also unlocking much faster charging. 

On a suitable DC fast charger, Leapmotor claims peak charging speeds of up to 180kW, with a 30–80 percent top-up taking as little as 22 minutes. While half the speed of new entries from Zeekr and Xpeng, for a family SUV at this price point, that’s a meaningful speed.  

On the road 

Despite the numbers, the C10 AWD hasn’t forgotten what it is. This is still a family SUV first, and Leapmotor has resisted the temptation to chase sharp handling or aggressive chassis tuning. 

Suspension is conventional but well judged, with MacPherson struts up front and a multi-link rear setup. Development input from within the Stellantis group shows through in the way the C10 rides. It’s calm, compliant, and largely unfazed by coarse-chip surfaces or broken backroads. 

On New Zealand roads, the AWD version feels more cohesive than the rear-drive car. Under hard acceleration, traction is cleaner and more predictable, particularly in the wet. Power delivery is strong but controlled, without the sense of the front end being overwhelmed or the stability systems stepping in abruptly. 

That said, this is still a heavy vehicle, tipping the scales at over 2200kg. Push on through a sequence of corners and you’re always aware of the mass. The steering remains light and filtered, prioritising ease over engagement. This is not a driver’s SUV in the traditional sense, and it doesn’t pretend to be. 

There are also some software-related frustrations that temper the experience. Recent over-the-air updates have successfully reduced many of the intrusive alerts that have plagued early deliveries, but they’ve also introduced new quirks. Adaptive cruise control can feel abrupt at motorway speeds, particularly in sportier drive modes where regeneration is more aggressive. The result is an on-off throttle sensation that lacks the polish of more mature European systems. It’s not a deal-breaker, but it does highlight where Leapmotor is still catching up. The hardware feels finished. The software still needs a little more seasoning. 

On the positive side, you do get a very good app, including Tesla-like locking and unlocking without pulling your phone out of your pocket.  

Interior and usability 

Inside, the C10 AWD mirrors the rest of the range, and that consistency works in its favour. The design is minimalist without feeling bare, centred around a 14.6-inch touchscreen and a 10.25-inch digital instrument display. Material quality is solid for the price point, with a reassuring sense of fit and finish. Nothing feels flimsy or underdone, and the overall impression is of a car designed to be lived with rather than shown off. 

Space is one of the C10’s strongest cards. The long 2825mm wheelbase translates into generous rear legroom, easily accommodating adult passengers. Boot capacity is rated at 435 litres, expanding to 1410 with the rear seats folded. There’s no deep underfloor storage, likely due to the rear motor and high-voltage hardware, but overall practicality remains competitive. 

The main point of contention will be the infotainment system. Leapmotor persists with its own operating system rather than offering Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. The interface is quick and visually clean, and it includes native navigation and Spotify, but it lacks the familiarity and flexibility many buyers now expect. Compounding that is Leapmotor’s insistence on burying many basic functions within touchscreen menus. Mirror adjustment, glovebox release and other simple tasks all require screen interaction. Some buyers will appreciate the clean layout. Others will find it unnecessarily fiddly. 

Efficiency and range 

The C10 isn’t the most efficient in the segment – far from it. Leapmotor claims a WLTP range of 437km and an average energy consumption figure of 20.9kWh/100 km. 

Real-world results will inevitably vary depending on how often the full 440kW is deployed, but the combination of a large battery and fast charging capability means range anxiety is less of an issue than the numbers alone might suggest.  

Verdict 

At $64,990 plus on-road costs, the Leapmotor C10 AWD represents a compelling proposition. It delivers power, charging capability and battery technology that would have been unthinkable at this price point just a few years ago. 

It’s not without flaws. Software refinement still lags behind the hardware, and the infotainment experience won’t suit everyone. Nor does the C10 pretend to be a sharp-edged performance SUV. 

What it does offer is something slightly old-school in spirit. Like those unassuming Falcon and Commodore wagons of years gone by, it hides serious performance beneath a sensible exterior. You get the pace without the posturing, the practicality without the badge tax.  

Leapmotor C10 AWD 

$64,990  /  20.9kWh/100km  /  0g/km
0-100 km/h 4.0s
Motor output  440kW
Max torque  720Nm
Battery  81.9kWh
Range  437km
Drivetrain  Single-speed auto / AWD
Front suspension  Mac strut / swaybar
Rear suspension  Multilink / swaybar
Turning circle  11.2m (2.3 turns)
Front brakes  Ventilated discs
Rear brakes  Discs
Stability systems  ABS, ESP
Safety  AEB, ACC, BSM, LDW, RCTA, ALK, AHB
Tyre size  f/r-245/45R20
Wheelbase  2825mm
L/W/H  4739 / 1900 / 1680mm
Track f-1625mm  r-1620mm
Luggage capacity 435-1410L  
Tow rating  750kg (1500kg Braked)
Service intervals 2yrs/20,000km
Warranty  4yrs / 100,000 km
ANCAP rating  ★★★★★ (2024)
Weight (claimed)  2264kg