Leapmotor B03X review: Another Chinese EV arrives - but you might want to steer clear of this £27,000 SUV

European car giant Stellantis has launched a new electric SUV with Chinese partner Leapmotor, highlighting how closely Chinese brands are becoming intertwined with the European automotive industry. 

Stellantis, which owns Citroen, Peugeot, Vauxhall and a host of other household names, and East Asian newcomer Leapmotor are bringing the B03X small SUV to UK roads this year.

So far, the Chinese brand is best known for its tiny – and very cheap – T03 EV, which at £15,995 stands out as one of the least expensive new cars in showrooms right now.

But competition for its new SUV is incredibly strong; the impressive Renault 4 E-Tech and Kia EV3 both occupy the same space in the market and for around the same price as the £26,995 B03X. And both are made by well-established, well-respected marques that British drivers know and trust.

Leapmotor promises the B03X will make an impression, describing it as a 'passion magnet' that's 'fun to use'. If that's true, it should have no problem turning heads away from the status quo.

Freda Lewis-Stempel travelled to Spain to drive the B03X to find out if it lives up to these bold claims. But she says there are a few reasons why you might want to – literally – steer clear of this particular Chinese EV.

Can the Leapmotor B03X turn heads away from these marques and towards a Chinese badge thanks to its tie-up with Stellantis? Freda Lewis-Stempel drives the B03X to see 

What is Leapmotor? Is it Chinese or European?

Leapmotor has one foot in each camp, as it is a Chinese carmaker that is part-owned by Stellantis.

The latter has a 20 per cent stake in Leapmotor (headquartered in Hangzhou, China) and a 51 per cent stake in a joint venture called Leapmotor International.

This is different – almost the reverse, in fact – of the situation with some European brands such as Volvo and Polestar, which have been bought by a Chinese carmaking powerhouse (in this case Geely) and so are owned by a Chinese group but, from the outside, retain their European roots.

Leapmotor International uses Stellantis' existing dealer network and after-sales operation, but brings the Chinese brand's competitive pricing, technology and single-trim approach to its joint product line-up.

The B03X is one of five Leapmotor International cars on sale in the UK, with a sixth vehicle, the B03 supermini, arriving in the first half of 2027.

At first glance the B03X looks like a less interesting version of the Mini Countryman Electric

The B03X is rounded off and friendly rather than cool and sporty, and features a 'smile' design front and rear

The rear 'smile' is shaped by the curved LED lamps, giving it an emoji-like appearance

B03X looks: Is it just another boxy SUV?

In my mind, the B03X looks like a less interesting version of the Mini Countryman, which still makes it more interesting than a lot of very boring 'boxy' SUVs you'll find in dealerships today.

It has the same upright SUV proportions, high roofline and contrasting black pillars, but adopts a friendlier look thanks to its rounded front and rear design. 

Its curved LED light signatures create a subtle 'smile' effect that gives the car a slightly playful appearance.

For a budget-focused Chinese EV, it is reasonably attractive without being particularly memorable. 

The 14.6-inch floating landscape touchscreen and 8.8-inch driver display are the focal points of the front cabin

B03X interior and practicality: Do you get your money's worth?

The B03X uses Leapmotor's new 'Smart Minimalist' layout, with a low-set dash and soft-touch materials throughout.

However, the finish of the fabrics is definitely of the cheaper variety, feeling more rubbery than premium.

The interior looks best in the lighter Oat Grey than Currant Black, as it makes the cabin feel bigger and more inviting.

The 14.6-inch floating landscape touchscreen and 8.8-inch driver display are the focal points of the cockpit, sitting above air vents surrounded by chrome trim and a cut-out centre console tower, while being complemented by 64-colour ambient lighting.

The steering wheel looks very much like one you'll find in a Tesla (right down to the scrolling buttons) and is also soft-touch. And the seats, which are heated for those in the front, are made from eco-leather.

It's a perfectly pleasant cabin, and the large windows let in plenty of light. 

The front seats are comfortable but the eco-leather upholstery and firmness of the seat bases can turn a bumpy road into a bouncy castle-like experience.

The 405-litre boot lifts up to reveal a second, deep 105-litre compartment (the washable section) that can store items up to 1.14m tall. Together, this provides 510 litres

The B03X does redeem itself with its practical interior design. 

There's loads of room in the centre console tower, which has storage extending to the floor. There are decent door bins and removable rear-seat cushions. Leapmotor claims there are 33 storage spaces throughout the car.

In the second row of seats, the flat floor allows for good headroom and legroom.

The 405-litre boot lifts up to reveal a second, deep 105-litre compartment that can store items up to 1.14m tall and is washable. With a plug hole at the bottom, it's more like a sink and a very handy feature after an outdoor family activity at autumn and winter weekends.  

In total, the boot provides 510 litres of space, which is very impressive and considerably more than the Kia EV3's 460 litres.

Fold the rear seats, which split 60/40, and the load length extends to 2,530mm – long enough for a surfboard or flat-pack furniture. They also fold up to allow you to utilise the floor space underneath the rear seats.

It is a very practical EV, one of the best in its segment for under £30k.

There are some glaring issues with the B03X's drive, like the feather light and disconnected steering, but it has some redeeming attributes such as its comfort and quietness 

What's it like to drive?

When you offer people the option of receiving bad news or good news, the majority opt for the latter first.

So, in that vein, I'm going to relay all the disappointing things about driving the B03X before revealing its more positive qualities.

Firstly, this car is not quick off the mark, especially for an EV, which are typically sprightly. 

Its official 0-62mph time is 8.6 seconds. But it feels slower than that. It lacks initial punch from its 194hp motor, which isn't ideal when navigating busy roundabouts, overtaking on B-roads or trying to build speed on a motorway slip road.

But the biggest issue is the wishy-washy steering. It's like turning soup, and not a thick stew either. We're talking Heinz tomato soup. 

It is so light and disconnected from both driver and wheels that you have almost no confidence when tackling tight corners, to the point that I was actively slowing down to a near standstill on Malaga's twisting mountain roads to compensate for its lack of communication.

Switching between its adjustable driving modes to the Sport setting also did almost nothing to improve its responsiveness or make it more engaging. It's also a faff to locate the settings through the central infotainment screen – just give us a button or a switch, please. 

I also need to highlight a major issue with the air conditioning in my test car – and all the others made available to journalists at the European launch.

It only worked on the 'max' setting. Choose anything else and I had ambient-temperature air blasted at me, which in 35-degree Spanish heat made me feel like I was driving a sauna on wheels.

It's an issue Leapmotor needs to fix ASAP – and it probably will before cars land in UK showrooms, such is the capacity for Chinese brands to deliver over-the-air software updates to vehicles.

The main issue with the B03X is the steering is so wishy-washy it's like turning soup and removes a lot of your confidence in the car

The B03X is a very quiet and smooth car to drive, with almost no road or exterior noise making its way into the cabin

As promised, there is some good news too.

The B03X is a very quiet and smooth on the move, with almost no road or exterior noise making its way into the cabin. 

The suspension glided across the road surface. Though, in this part of Spain, these are well-maintained and silky smooth. A test run on UK's pothole-riddled highways will be its ultimate test.

But it did also deal with speed bumps impressively well – though, as mentioned before, the stiff seats will throw you in the air if you go over them too quickly.

The regenerative braking, which can be adjusted between three modes, is responsive without being overly sharp and performs particularly well in urban environments where frequent stop-start driving is required.

I was also impressed by how unobtrusive the advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) were. 

I started with everything switched on, from lane-departure warnings and vehicle-departure alerts to collision warnings and speed-limit notifications, and never felt compelled to switch them off because they caused so little interruption. 

That's rare for a new car today, especially among Chinese models.

Range, trims and pricing

Leapmotor is making things simple for buyers with just one trim level – and it is packed with equipment for the money.

Every car gets 18-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, eco-leather upholstery, smartphone-based keyless entry and start, 64-colour ambient lighting, parking assist, a six-way electrically adjustable driver's seat, rear privacy glass, 4G in-car Wi-Fi, wireless smartphone charging, an 8.8-inch driver display and a 14.6-inch infotainment screen.

Then there's the ADAS package, featuring 21 driver-assistance systems and 14 sensors and cameras, including a 360-degree surround-view camera, as well as vehicle-to-load functionality, which allows you to power electrical devices from the car. In short, you get a lot included in that single trim.

Currently, the B03X will set you back £26,995, which includes Leapmotor's £1,500 'Leap Grant' – the Chinese carmaker's own version of the Government's Electric Car Grant.

However, the price is provisional and could change.

It gets you an EV with a 53kWh battery that delivers a range of up to 237 miles, according to official tests. If that's the case, that's more than enough mileage for the average Briton to only need to charge once a week. 

If you're regularly covering longer journeys, DC fast charging from 30 to 80 per cent takes just 16 minutes.

As a benchmark, the more premium Mini Countryman Electric starts at £33,005 and has a range of up to 313 miles.

While not fun or passion inducing, the B03X is a reasonably attractive SUV that offers some of the best and most imaginative practicality and storage solutions available in an EV of this size

The Cars & Motoring Verdict

What this car isn't is a 'passion magnet'. It's about as far removed from that as you can imagine. Neither is it particularly 'fun to use'.

Dynamically, it's simply not in the same league as a Renault 4 or Kia EV3. 

What it is, however, is a reasonably attractive SUV that offers some of the best and most imaginative practicality and storage solutions available in an EV of this size.

Family buyers will appreciate the storage features and strong safety offering, but they are unlikely to sit behind the wheel and think, 'Wow, this car is fun to drive.'

But for less than £27,000, will drivers care?

It reminds me slightly of the situation with the Jaecoo 7 SUV, which drove poorly but offered so much for the money that Britons have flocked to it, making it the third best-selling new car of 2026 so far. 

It's not entirely the same, as the Jaecoo undercuts the Range Rover Velar and is a much more obvious 'dupe' for a luxury car, but it shows that buyers today are willing to overlook dynamic shortcomings if a vehicle offers enough value, equipment and practicality.

So, the B03X, especially as it feels more European than most new Chinese cars, might still prove a popular choice.

Leapmotor B03X: Specs at a glance 

On sale: register interest 

Price: provisional price £26,995

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