Leapmotor B05 hatchback priced at £28,995
The Chinese electric car company Leapmotor is entering the family hatchback market in Britain with the B05, a model roughly the size of a Volkswagen Golf.
It is priced at £28,995 when sales begin this summer.
That price includes the company’s own £1,500 Leap-Grant. Because the model is built in China, it does not qualify for the government’s Plug-in Car Grant, so it is effectively funding the discount itself.
Related: BYD to cover self driving car crashes
For company car drivers, the tax calculation will use the pre-grant price of £31,495. Since it’s an electric vehicle with a Benefit-in-Kind rate of just 4% for the 2026/27 tax year, the bills will remain low regardless.
The company is keeping things simple with the model.
There is only one trim level available. The only decision a buyer has to make is the color — five options are offered: Lightning Yellow, Starry Night Blue, Windy Grey, Metallic Black, and Galaxy Silver. Inside, there’s a choice of two interior colors at no extra cost: Light Grey or Shadow Grey.
A range that beats some established rivals
The B05’s WLTP-rated range of up to 300 miles puts it ahead of electric hatchbacks like the Vauxhall Astra Electric and the Peugeot e-308.
Related: Alfa Romeo Junior EV gets price cut
Breaking the 300-mile barrier is a notable achievement in this segment.
The 67.1kWh battery supports DC fast charging at up to 178kW. The company claims that a charge from 30% to 80% takes just 17 minutes.
Power comes from a 215hp electric motor driving the rear wheels. The 0-62mph sprint takes 6.7 seconds, helped by standard launch control — a feature more often found on performance hot hatches. The car also has a 50:50 weight distribution, which is usually something you’d hear about from sports car makers. Leapmotor says the multi-link rear suspension has been tuned specifically for European roads, and the 19-inch wheels should provide good grip.
Related: Tips for Making a Good Brick Wall Using Tuckpointing
One spec, no options, lots of kit
Every car gets a 14.6-inch touchscreen, a panoramic sunroof, climate control, wireless smartphone charging, heated front seats, a 360-degree surround-view camera, and a 12-speaker stereo. The boot measures 345 litres, which is a bit smaller than a Volkswagen Golf’s. Fold the rear seats down, and that space expands to 1,400 litres.
Sales start in July through the brand’s 79 UK dealerships. First deliveries are scheduled for December. The car comes with a four-year, 60,000-mile warranty, according to UK managing director Damien Dally.
“We’ve made great strides since we launched our brand just over a year ago,” Dally said in a statement, “and the B05 is proof that our exciting journey shows no signs of slowing down.”
