After Stellantis established its presence in Malaysia, the company quickly ventured into introducing a new Chinese EV brand to the market. This move ensures they are ready to take on other EV brands currently available in the country. The first model Stellantis has brought in is the Leapmotor C10, a D-segment SUV priced lower than many C-segment rivals. To be fair, the C10 is positioned to compete with the BYD Sealion and Tesla Model Y, but it significantly undercuts both in terms of price. Not long ago, I had the chance to test the C10, and I’m here to share my experience. The big question is: is the price attractive enough to win over new buyers? Let’s find out.
In terms of exterior design, the C10 adopts a safe and neutral approach. It’s neither flashy nor dull, blending easily into the crowd. This makes it ideal for those who prefer not to be the center of attention. The front end sports a clean, conventional design dominated by a large bumper with no grille in sight. To fill the space between the headlights, Leapmotor added a connecting bar — though in other markets, this piece doubles as a light bar, it’s not available in the Malaysian specification.
At the rear, the C10 features a light bar that adds the futuristic touch Chinese automakers are fond of. The design somewhat resembles the Porsche Cayenne, albeit more squared-off. That’s not a bad thing — it looks elegant and easy on the eyes. Apart from the light bar, there’s little else that stands out, as the tailgate lacks distinctive detailing. The “LEAPMOTOR” wordmark takes center stage, flanked by a C10 badge on the side. Completing the exterior are 20-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 245/45 R20 tires. The design suits the SUV’s proportions nicely, leaving little to criticize. 
To emphasize its tech-forward nature, Leapmotor supplied only an NFC card to unlock and start the vehicle — traditional keys are optional. While this is a cool feature, I wouldn’t rely on it completely, as it adds a bit of inconvenience. For instance, when opening the boot of most modern cars, you can usually access it as long as the key is nearby. With the NFC card, however, you’ll need to unlock the car from the side before opening the boot. It’s a bit counterintuitive, but I understand Leapmotor’s intent to showcase its technology.
Stepping inside, the C10’s interior immediately reminds me of many recent Chinese EVs. Two large screens dominate the dashboard, with minimal physical buttons. Thankfully, the color scheme works well — a dark purple trim adds a touch of flair, though it appears nearly black in most lighting. The dashboard is covered in soft-touch materials, giving the cabin a premium feel. The instrument cluster measures 10.2 inches, while the infotainment screen spans 14.6 inches.
Like other Chinese EVs, the digital instrument cluster uses simple graphics. It displays only essential driving information, which feels underutilized given its size. I wish Leapmotor had added more customization options or at least included trip information directly in the cluster rather than only through the infotainment screen.
As expected, most settings and controls are housed within the infotainment system. While the screen is crisp and responsive, too many features are buried in menus with no shortcut buttons. Following the BYD Seal’s example, even the AC vent direction controls are located within the touchscreen — not exactly user-friendly while driving. Furthermore, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support are missing, which dampens the appeal. On the plus side, the C10 does include a 360-degree camera for parking assistance, and the 12-speaker unbranded sound system delivers decent audio quality for its price. 
Behind the wheel, the driving position feels natural. You sit slightly higher, as expected in an SUV, which also makes entry and exit easier. The front seats are soft and comfortable for long journeys, though their side bolsters lack firmness — comfort clearly takes priority over sporty driving. The rear seats are just as comfortable, offering generous headroom and legroom with a relaxed recline angle. I appreciate the full-sized bench design that provides solid thigh support. Rear passengers also benefit from two AC vents, one USB-C port, and one USB-A port for device charging. 
The C10 offers a 435-litre boot, ample for everyday needs. Folding the rear seats flat further expands the space for bulkier items. Powering the SUV is a single rear-mounted electric motor — the only configuration available in Malaysia — making it rear-wheel-drive. The motor produces 218 PS and 320 Nm of torque, drawing power from a 69.9 kWh battery with an estimated WLTP range of 424 km. The C10 accelerates from 0–100 km/h in 7.5 seconds and reaches a top speed of 170 km/h.
On the road, the C10 behaves much like a typical single-motor EV. It delivers smooth, instant torque without the neck-snapping acceleration of higher-end models. The experience feels comfortable and refined. Leapmotor claims a maximum range of 430 km, though I achieved around 350 km in real-world driving. It’s not exceptional, but it’s sufficient for daily use. The consumption readout averaged 15.9 kWh/100 km, though actual range suggests it’s slightly optimistic. Charging speeds remain modest — DC fast charging peaks at 84 kW, while AC charging has been upgraded from 6.6 kW to 11 kW, which is a welcome improvement.
As for ride and handling, the C10 performs as expected from a comfort-oriented Chinese SUV. The suspension is soft, resulting in noticeable body roll in corners, though it remains controlled. Steering is reasonably direct but feels overly assisted, even in Sport mode, reducing steering feedback.
To enhance the EV feel, the C10 features strong regenerative braking. Initially, the brake pedal feels over-assisted, which can make for a jerky experience until you get used to it. Once you adapt, braking becomes smoother and predictable. The physical brakes perform adequately for daily driving, as the regenerative system handles most of the deceleration.
The C10 comes equipped with a comprehensive suite of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). However, like many Chinese EVs, the system resets every time you restart the car, reactivating all features by default — something I wish manufacturers would change. Standard ADAS features include:
- Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
- Lane Centering Control (LCC)
- Traffic Jam Assist (TJA)
- Front Collision Warning (FCW)
- Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)
- Blind Spot Detection (BSD)
- Door Opening Warning (DOW)
- Emergency Lane Keeping (ELK)
- Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
- Lane Keep Assist (LKA)
- Rear Collision Warning (RCW)
- Rear Cross-Traffic Alert and Braking (RCTA + RCTB)
- Intelligent Speed Assist (ISA)
- Driver Drowsiness Alert Warning (DDAW)
- Advanced Driver Distraction Warning (ADDW)
With its price now reduced to RM125,000, the C10 presents even more value for money. It’s a full-size SUV priced in the same range as compact competitors like the BYD Atto 3 and Proton e.MAS 7. If space and comfort are your top priorities, the Leapmotor C10 offers exceptional practicality — and at this price point, it’s hard to find anything else quite like it.
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