Leapmotor B05, first impressions. This is a great car; the VW ID.3 Neo seems convincing only because of tradition.

Thanks to Leapmotor International, I’m currently driving the Leapmotor B05 model. I’m extremely impressed by it. If this car were called, I don’t know, an Opel Astra, it would generate huge interest and outperform the VW ID. Polo, not to mention the VW ID.3. The prices of the Leapmotor B05 with a larger battery of ~69 (67.1) kWh start at 116,400 or 122,700 zloty during promotions, with nearly maximum equipment. For that amount, we can get a mid-spec VW ID. Polo with a battery of ~39 (37) kWh, not to mention the ID.3 Neo (starting at 152,990 zloty)!

I’ve only driven a few dozen kilometers around the city in this car, so to be honest from a Polish perspective, I’ll start with the drawbacks: it’s a hatchback, meaning it offers relatively modest interior space—typical for a vehicle of 4.43 meters in length and 2.74 meters in wheelbase. It’s not extremely cramped, but as an older man who prefers more spacious cars, I’m used to larger vehicles. I’m increasingly convinced that since we’re moving toward much more efficient electric powertrains, we should stop complaining about SUVs. They use only slightly more energy but provide a significantly higher level of comfort.

The software is also a flaw I noticed with the Leapmotor B05. It no longer crashes with messages in Chinese, as earlier C10 versions could do, but my phone still hasn’t been able to connect to the car via Apple CarPlay (probably due to the new iOS 27?), although calls work fine. The ADAS alerts—a common issue with all Chinese and South Korean cars—are configured differently for each vehicle, with various tones and beeps that don’t provide clear information about the problem. Moreover, the messages appear in tiny font on the dash and can disappear quickly. Germans do this better.

In general, the Chinese should consider adding a magnifier to every smaller car or rethink whether ALL information really needs to be displayed on the screen:

Leapmotor B05, advantages

Since we’ve already mentioned the drawbacks, let’s move on to the advantages: it’s a hatchback, so it has pleasing proportions and truly attractive shapes. The photos don’t do it justice—frontally, it resembles a modern version of the VW Golf, while the rounded rear part evokes Porsche. The floor in the cabin is flat; my children sit in the back just as shown below, but installing the ISOFIX anchors was a nightmare because the seatback drops too low—I thought I’d have to drive a hammer into it. The left seat was adjusted for the driver’s needs (1.9 meters tall), the right one was shifted for better visibility, and I also removed the headrest:

This software, which has its quirks, captivated me with its numerous options. One-pedal driving? Sure, it can be activated, though only while parked. Changing the steering assist level? No problem at all. What about the accelerator pedal response? Definitely there — it can be lazy (Comfort mode) or appropriate (Sport mode). Ambient lighting colors? Absolutely. How about the ambient lighting’s response to potential issues (warnings, obstacles while reversing)? No problem. Mirror adjustment? Certainly. Wipers?

And here’s the surprise: the wipers have their own control on the steering wheel lever on the left side. I warn you not to accidentally turn on “R” while driving faster.

I’m going to keep driving

Note from Elektrowozu’s editorial team: Leapmotor B05, price, and technical specs <- here, in the previous article.

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