Leapmotor gets serious! Huge upgrades for 2026 Leapmotor C10 electric SUV make it a serious rival for Tesla Model Y and BYD Sealion 7
Less than five months since its launch in Australia a heavily updated 2026 Leapmotor C10 has been unveiled.
Boasting more power, fresh electrics and enhanced technology, the updated C10 has already been confirmed as under consideration by Stellantis Australia.
From what we know so far, the refreshed mid-size SUV appears to address all the failings of the current version, including the adoption of more powerful 800-volt electrical system for ultra-fast charging.
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More good news is the weedy 170kW e-motor offered in China has been swapped out for a punchier 220kW unit.
It’s not been confirmed if the global-spec C10s, like the ones imported to Australia, will also get the more muscular 220kW e-motor, or if our cars will continue to use the 160kW/320Nm rear-mounted motor.
With the bigger unit the C10 is now capable of a 0-100km/h in 5.9 seconds – 1.6 seconds quicker than the current C10.
Powering the e-motor is a fractionally larger 74.9kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack that replaces the existing 69.9kWh power pack.
The more energy dense battery should also see a healthy boost in the current car’s 420km range (WLTP).
In China, Leapmotor has confirmed the C10 REEV range-extender plug-in hybrid will carry over unchanged, unsurprising since it’s only recently been introduced.
It keeps its 158kW e-motor that is combined with both a 28.4kWh battery and a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that acts as generator.
Other improvements continue under the basically unchanged skin, with both C10s adopting a more powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295P processor for a faster, more responsive infotainment.
Purple ambient lighting, electric pop-out door handles and a faster-charging 50-watt wireless phone charger are the other welcome additions.
Separately, Leapmotor has confirmed an over the air update to add Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to export C10s around August.
With just 194 C10s finding homes in Australia in 2025, the improved performance, faster charging, increased range and enhanced in-car tech should help Leapmotor – which is exporting beyond China in a financial partnership with Stellantis – prove more competitive in the electric mid-size SUV segment.
There’s currently no word if the local outfit might increase pricing for the facelifted model.
Currently in Australia the 2025 Leapmotor C10 REEV is priced from $43,888 plus on-road costs (ORCs) for the range-extender hybrid and from $45,888 plus ORCs for the EV version.
Yawn, still playing catchup!
We have placed an order and paid in full for a C10 REEV but now the money is paid we can’t get even a date for delivery and are about to invoke our right to cancel the order as per section 7.1 of the contact of sale. What was an exciting time for us has become a nightmare and just confirms what everyone told us, have nothing to do with the Stella’s group.
Hi David, check your email.
Bruce, thank you so much for stepping and helping us; as a result of your help the car arrived 2 days later and it’s brilliant. The driving difference between ours, a 2025MY and the test drive 2024MY is a stand out. The brakes have a smooth and progressive feel reminiscent of our previous Audi Q7, the suspension and steering feel/input is excellent, provided you close down the line keeping assistance which is nothing short of life threatening dangerous and is very tiring on your arms as you try to hold it in the centre of the lane or when you fight the cars steering as it tries to force the car away from the lane markings. The distraction camera warning system has been toned down to the extent it really needs you to deliberately look away from the road far longer than is safe under any circumstances. All the other safety systems I leave on as their warnings are so mild as to be acceptable. The main issues I have apart from the lane keeping is the NFC card is abysmal in use. At night it’s difficult to hit the correct spot on the mirror casing, not much fun in a rainstorm either. Then to find the recessed door handles in the dark or rain is an issue as despite the car lighting up inside when you unlock it, there’s no lights for the door handles, boot release button or in the recharge port. And who thought it would be a good idea that to open the charge port you have to unlock the car, then swipe into the centre screen to then hit the unlock button then get to the charge door before it automatically locks again. I get it that fuel doors should be lockable to prevent theft but how do you steal electricity, at the very least put a NFC point next to the door; also why no lights inside the charge port? And whilst in the port why must I unlock the car, swipe the screen and hit the unlock rather than have a button or such in the charge port to unlock the charge cable. The other issue is the tailgate button, a black button in a black surround in the middle of the night is not easy to see and once again why should l have to unlock the car to unlock the tailgate? Try doing all that with your arms full of shopping, kids or such. Most of my gripes can be overcome by OTA updates but why would anyone think the system in use is a good idea? Did they even do any pre manufacturing testing? Would I still buy one or look at other makes? Yes I’d buy one again a I place more importance on drive characteristics and the C10 easily surpasses any of the other circa $50k SUVs from China.
Would be a nice surprise if the more powerful motor came to Australia, not to mention the 800v architecture. If they could keep it at the same price surely that would be a winner. Rear wheel drive as well…