Driving the new electric Leapmotor C10 – a mid-sized five seat SUV with single electric motor fed by a 69.9kWhour battery driving the rear wheels – I’m driving the Leapmotor C10 Design $51,500 drive-away which includes a 12-month Charge Fox subscription. Incredible value in a very highly equipped SUV that undercuts most of the opposition. The suspension tune by Maserati polished and pleasing in a family friendly electric SUV that’s well built with simple appealing styling. Behind the wheel you quickly get the impression the Leapmotor C10 was for the most part designed by a computer tech head rather than an automotive designer – in other words, it’s like driving a computer with large centrally mounted 14.6- inch touchscreen, and a 10.25-inch display screen in front of the driver. No directional air vents, just a long slot with cooling and heating weak and very slow to react. The worst feature, no buttons of any kind, a touch screen that needs more than a touch and a range of safety systems with annoying chimes that are simply intolerable. Why Chinese manufacturers think we need a constant reminder or prompt in every aspect of driving staggers me and it’s a buyer turn off to what could be a nice newcomer. I’m David Berthon

IMAGE / Leapmotor Australia

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