Leapmotor poses the greatest threat to the success of the Renault 5: 197 HP, 390 km of range, and an 80% charge in 21 minutes

14/10/2026 10:30

Updated to

14/10/2026 10:30

Leapmotor, now widely regarded as Stellantis Group’s Chinese brand, has chosen the Paris Motor Show for the European debut of the B03. This 100% electric utility vehicle is designed primarily for urban driving, and the company positions it as a major competitor to the successful Renault 5, BYD Dolphin Surf, and Geely E2.

The launch comes at an important time for the brand in Europe. Its first European factory in Zaragoza has just begun producing the Leapmotor B10. With the B03, Leapmotor aims to bring electric vehicles to more people in one of the market’s most popular categories.

Performance: Nearly 200 HP for a utility vehicle

The B03 is built on Leapmotor’s latest compact electric platform, though the company has not revealed its name. Its electric motor delivers more than sufficient 197 horsepower—a very high figure for a car of this size, more typical of a compact sports car than an urban vehicle.

For now, we don’t know if there are multiple power versions or whether it has front-wheel or rear-wheel drive. The battery capacity and chemistry are also unknown. All of this information, along with much more, will be unveiled once the B03 approaches its commercial launch date, scheduled for early next year.

Range and charging: the big advantages

Although there is much data we do not know, range is not one of them. Leapmotor has estimated that the B03 will be able to travel 390 kilometers before running out of power. At least in its longest-range version. This is sufficient for daily city driving and short trips on our roads.

The most notable aspect is charging. The battery supports fast charging at 2.5C, meaning it can receive a charge equal to 2.5 times its capacity. In practice, it goes from 10% to 80% in about 21 minutes, which is enough time for a relaxed coffee at a service station. What Leapmotor has not disclosed is the maximum charging power in kW.

An interior designed to make use of space

Despite its size, the B03 offers up to 888 millimeters of legroom in the rear seats. The brand describes it as having a versatile trunk with a waterproof compartment under the floor called Leap Box, along with adjustable rear seats named LeapFlex. It also features over 30 storage compartments.

Notable features include a 14.6-inch central display, an 8.8-inch digital dashboard, cable-free Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and over-the-air updates. It also comes with heated seats and steering wheel, automatic climate control, and 21 driving assistants.

B Family for Europe

The B03 doesn’t come alone. In early 2026, Leapmotor unveiled the Leapmotor B03X in Brussels, a B-segment SUV that the brand plans to launch in Europe this fall. With these two models, Leapmotor expands its offerings in the most affordable segment of the market, below the Leapmotor B10 and Leapmotor T03.

On paper, the B03 has strong advantages in terms of power and charging speed. But without knowing the price or battery capacity, it’s too early to determine whether it can compete with the best-selling urban electric vehicles. Given its rivals, Leapmotor should announce a minimum selling price of around 22,000 euros before applying any discounts and/or subsidies.