Test Drive – Leapmotor B10 2026 : One Year Later, the Progress Is Clear

Jean-Pierre Ndu
juillet 13, 2026

We first drove the Leapmotor B10 in its original 2025 form. It was spacious, well equipped and comfortable, but it also showed a few signs of being a newcomer.

One year later, we are back behind the wheel of the 2026 version. Visually, the changes are subtle, but the overall experience has clearly improved. The B10 now feels more mature, more intuitive and better suited to European driving habits.

Design : A Familiar Formula

From the outside, Leapmotor has not reinvented the B10. At 4.52 metres long, it keeps its clean silhouette, smooth surfaces and modern LED light signature.

That was already one of the strengths of the 2025 model. The B10 does not try too hard to look futuristic, and in 2026 that approach still works well.

It remains compact enough for everyday city driving while offering enough space for family life or a weekend away.

Interior: Where 2026 Makes a Real Difference

This is where the progress becomes much easier to notice.

The large 14.6-inch central touchscreen remains at the heart of the cabin, along with the same minimalist layout. Physical controls are still limited, with most functions accessed through the display.

In the 2025 car, this could occasionally become frustrating. Some simple settings required too many steps through the menus, while the original absence of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto felt surprising in such a connected car.

For 2026, that has finally changed.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are now available both wired and wirelessly, while the system itself starts faster and offers improved voice controls and new display options.

Individually, these may sound like relatively small changes. After living with the car for several days, however, they make a noticeable difference.

Ergonomics: Leapmotor Has Listened

Driver assistance systems were one of our main criticisms of the original B10.

There were plenty of alerts, lane-keeping interventions could feel too aggressive, and adjusting the systems often meant diving back into the touchscreen menus.

The 2026 B10 does not remove these systems, but it makes them easier to live with.

The steering-wheel buttons can now be configured with personalised shortcuts, including direct access to driver assistance settings and driving modes. Adaptive cruise control and lane centring have also been refined, with more natural responses when approaching bends.

Having driven the 2025 version, this is exactly the kind of improvement we notice immediately.

Space: Still One of Its Strongest Points

The B10 did not really need major changes here.

Its generous wheelbase provides plenty of room for rear passengers, with good legroom and headroom even for adults.

Boot capacity sits at around 430 litres, while a small front trunk remains useful for storing charging cables.

For everyday life, shopping trips or packing for a few days away, the B10 remains easy to live with.

The large panoramic roof and generous storage spaces also help make the cabin feel particularly open.

Powertrain: Still 218 hp, but Easier to Use

The electric version keeps its rear-mounted 218 hp motor, making the B10 rear-wheel drive.

In a world where EV power figures keep climbing, 218 hp may not sound especially dramatic. In reality, it is more than enough for everyday driving.

Instant torque makes it easy to move through traffic, while overtaking performance is perfectly adequate.

The bigger change for 2026 is how that energy can be managed.

The B10 now offers a proper One Pedal Driving mode. After a few kilometres, you naturally start anticipating traffic and slowing down simply by easing off the accelerator.

In town or in heavy traffic, it makes the 2026 car noticeably more relaxing to drive than the version we first experienced in 2025.

Driving: More Mature Than Before

On the road, the B10 remains focused more on comfort than outright driving enjoyment.

The steering is still light and the chassis prefers smooth inputs to aggressive changes of direction. Push harder on a winding road and there is still some noticeable body movement.

But that is not really how the B10 encourages you to drive.

In everyday use, the softer setup works in its favour. The suspension deals with road imperfections reasonably well, while the quiet electric powertrain creates a relaxed atmosphere.

The revised driver assistance systems are also easier to appreciate on the motorway. Where the original version could sometimes intervene too abruptly, the 2026 model feels better integrated into the driving experience.

It is still not a car designed to entertain its driver. Instead, it focuses on making everyday life easier, and it now does that better than before.

Range: Enough to Leave the City Behind

With the 67.1 kWh battery, official range stands at around 434 km WLTP.

In town and on secondary roads, that gives you enough flexibility to go several days without constantly thinking about charging.

Motorway driving naturally increases consumption, so longer journeys still require a little more planning.

DC fast charging can exceed 150 kW in good conditions, allowing you to recover a useful amount of energy during a normal break.

The B10 therefore remains best suited to mixed use: very comfortable and practical every day, capable of travelling further when needed, but not necessarily designed for crossing Europe every week.

Conclusion: The B10 We Would Have Liked From the Start

Driving the Leapmotor B10 again after experiencing the 2025 model makes it clear how much a few well-targeted improvements can change a car.

The design has not been transformed, the power output remains the same and the cabin still looks familiar.

But the experience is better.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are finally available. One Pedal Driving makes everyday use more natural. The interface starts faster, shortcuts reduce the need to dive into menus, and the driver assistance systems feel better calibrated.

The original B10 left us with the impression of an interesting car still showing a few signs of youth.

In 2026, many of those rough edges have been smoothed out.

And that is probably what stands out most from this second encounter: Leapmotor has not simply added more equipment. It has started refining the experience itself.

The B10 is still not the most dynamic electric SUV on the market, nor the strongest choice for frequent long motorway journeys.

But it is now easier to use, better connected and, above all, noticeably more mature.

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