2026 Leapmotor B05 review: International first drive

Leapmotor is set to double down on its release of the B10 SUV this year by introducing the B05 fully electric hatchback to Australia before the end of 2026.

Leapmotor entered the Australian market only last year with the release of the C10 SUV, but the B05 shows the brand is moving quickly to diversify its line-up Down Under.

While the B05 shows promise, we were only granted a limited 20-minute driving experience in the yet-to-be-confirmed Ultra variant in China, with just five of those spent behind the wheel.

Despite this, the all-electric Volkswagen Golf-sized hatch shows promise, and could be the affordable small car many Australians are after.

Rear-wheel drive and fully electric, this hatchback is just a touch larger than popular small hatchbacks like the VW Golf and Toyota Corolla.

Our test circuit for the B05 Ultra was in no way representative of Australian conditions, as it was done so on a freshly built test track in China that was smoother and flatter than any local road. 

Yet even with all those limitations, the B05 shows promise in ride comfort and handling – even before European engineers re-tune this electric hatch for Australia and overseas markets.

The distribution and re-tuning of Leapmotor vehicles for international markets is undertaken by Stellantis, the car giant behind brands such as Citroen, Peugeot, Jeep and Maserati. 

Chinese roads and drivers have different requirements and expectations in the way suspension and handling is set up for vehicles, making a Chinese-tuned vehicle typically unsuitable for the driving conditions of Europe or Australia.  

This means a detailed assessment of the way this car drives in China is somewhat, but not completely, irrelevant to those looking at picking up a B05 when it arrives in Australia later this year. 

With rear-drive dynamics and instant torque afforded by the all-electric powertrain, the B05 proved plenty fun at pace, and could easily handle being thrown into a corner – but of course a proper assessment will be reserved for when the car arrives in Australia.

In terms of ride refinement, the B05 – even in its Chinese tune – seems up to the task of inner-city streets, feeling easy to drive like a Toyota Corolla, but again we’d like to introduce it to a few speed bumps and potholes before we can call it a winner.

With a claimed 180kW of power, the B05 Ultra is a step above the 132kW or 160kW offered by the regular B05 variants.

The B05 Ultra claims a 0–100km/h acceleration time of 5.9 seconds which, from the driver’s seat, feels believable, and with its reasonably sporty and responsive handling, it doesn’t overwhelm or intimidate the driver.

The car feels quick when launching from 0–100km/h, but it did so in a tad over seven seconds during testing, which is slightly slower than the claimed 5.9 seconds. 

Overseas specifications of the B05 and B05 Ultra are available with either a 56.2kWh or 67.1kWh battery with corresponding range increases for buyers to pick from.

The regular B05 – with less potent outputs – quotes a claimed 515km or 605km of driving range range respectively, while the more powerful B05 Ultra claims marginally less at 500km or 600km.

These range claims are based on China’s Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle (CLTC). This testing standard is based on Chinese driving conditions, so driving conditions in Australia would likely see these vehicles' real-world range fall below those quoted.

The B05 also comes in a 43.9kWh variant in China, but no range for this one is quoted – and it is unclear whether such a battery would be suitable for the Australian market.

The EV's battery was sitting on 23 per cent for this acceleration test, with the car having already spent its afternoon being aggressively driven by successive groups of international media.

When the B05 Ultra dipped down to 20 per cent battery, its 14.6-inch centre screen displayed an optional prompt, in Chinese, to activate ‘Super Power Saving Mode’ to limit speed and disable some functions.

If activated, the (translated) warning message said the car's speed would be limited to 100km/h, the air conditioner’s power limited, and a number of features disabled. These included vehicle power supply, ‘seat comfort’, and ambient lighting, along with some infotainment functions and driving settings. 

The infotainment display comes standard with a Snapdragon 8155 chip powering its functions, the same chip found in the Leapmotor B10. But buyers can upgrade to a more powerful Snapdragon chip as an optional extra – at least in China.

While different journalists took turns driving the B05 Ultra around the track, there was a reasonable amount of time to spend sitting in the comfortably equipped rear seats of the B05 Ultra. 

There are tight pockets on the back of both front seats for back-seat passengers to poke something into if need be, plus a single vent at the back of the centre console to let air flow into the rear of the vehicle.  

Park, drive and reverse functions are found on the right stalk behind the steering wheel. This is something any owner would adjust to, but those unfamiliar might find themselves knocking the car into neutral if used to their indicator being on the right – something that occurred twice during the test drive.

The 14.6-inch touchscreen, large and crisp, was fiddly in the way many have come to expect car touchscreens to be, and replaces any physical knobs and dials that have traditionally controlled air conditioning and other functions. 

The display shows a 3D model of the car and touch-based controls while parked, which activate handy functions like opening and closing the rear hatch. 

But the screen was a little unforgiving of any imprecise taps, taking several attempts to ensure a perfect hit on the small circle that would open the boot or retract the sunroof.

Both a USB-C and USB-A port sit below the rear vent to allow for device charging, with a storage spot that can be pulled out underneath them. The storage container could be handy for placing devices while charging, but wouldn’t be suitable for holding a coffee cup. 

However, if you don’t have a fifth passenger in the middle seat, an armrest can be pulled down to reveal two cupholders.

The rear seat space, while not overly generous, is certainly remarkable in that even adults will be comfortable in the second row. Even with my 200cm-tall frame seated behind a tall driver, I found there was decent head, leg and shoulder room to be had without an occupant in the middle seat.

Compared to a Toyota Corolla, the Leapmotor B05’s second-row practicality is a vast improvement, and likely because the all-electric platform has liberated more in-cabin space.

Families should also take note, because child seats and teenagers will fit in the second row with sufficient comfort and room.

No Australian pricing has yet been announced for the B05, but recently announced pricing for the base B05 variant in Europe is €26,900 (AUD$44,010).

This would position the B05 against higher-spec versions of the Toyota Corolla, Mazda 3, and Kia K4, but above affordable EV options like the BYD Dolphin (priced from $29,990 before on-road costs) and MG 4 Urban (priced from $31,990 drive-away).

There are still many questions about this car that won’t be answered until we can get an Australian version of it here to drive on local roads, but there’s reason to be interested in this electric hatch.

Max is the News Publishing Coordinator for Drive. He enjoys creating engaging digital content, including videos, podcasts, interactive maps, and graphs. Prior to Drive, he studied at Monash University and gained experience working for various publications. He grew up playing Burnout 3: Takedown on the PS2 and was disappointed when real life car races didn’t have the same physics.

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