2026 Leapmotor B05

The Leapmotor B05 is genuinely promising. Actually, more than that.

This is a proper electric hatchback. A good-looking one too. Low, wide, clean and far more European in its proportions than many people might expect from a Chinese EV brand. There is something Volkswagen Scirocco-like in the front, a hint of Porsche Macan in the rear, and somehow it all comes together better than that sentence should suggest. The result is a car that looks surprisingly resolved. Maybe even suspiciously good.

Design: finally, not another electric SUV

In a market flooded with electric crossovers, the idea of a sleek, compact hatchback already feels refreshing. The Leapmotor B05 sits low, has a strong stance and avoids the overdesigned chaos we often see from new EV brands trying to make a statement.

It feels more European than Chinese in the best possible way. Not anonymous, but also not weird for the sake of being different. The front has a clean, slightly sporty face, while the rear gives the car more presence than you expect from this segment. It is not trying to copy one single car, but you can clearly feel that Leapmotor understood what European buyers like.

Interior: much better than the price suggests

Everything looks and feels solid. The materials are better than expected, the seats and steering wheel are nicely finished, and the surfaces you actually touch do not feel cheap. Even details like the air vents feel properly made, which is not something you can take for granted in this price range.

There is leather, decent trim quality and a generally premium impression that makes the price feel almost confusing. You step inside expecting cost-saving to be obvious. Instead, the B05 feels like a car from a brand that knows it needs to prove itself. And in many places, it does.

The only real issue is atmosphere. The cabin is clean and minimalist, but also very grey. Very safe. Very “fifty shades of grey”. European buyers often like a bit more warmth, colour or personality inside, especially in a car with such a sharp exterior. The quality is there, but the interior could use more emotion.

Tech: clean, but too screen-dependent

The B05 interior looks modern partly because almost everything has been moved into the central screen. And we really mean everything.

That gives the cabin a clean and minimalistic look, but it is not always practical. Adjusting simple functions should not feel like a small infotainment puzzle. The system itself looks sharp, but the lack of physical shortcuts becomes annoying once you start using the car every day. This is one of those modern EV problems that keeps coming back.

Driving: rear-wheel drive makes a difference

On paper, it already has the right ingredients: rear-wheel drive, a low centre of gravity and a near 50:50 weight distribution. The result is a car that feels more balanced and more mature than expected.

The steering, accelerator response and regeneration can all be adjusted separately, which is genuinely useful. The suspension cannot be configured, but honestly, it does not need to be. The car sits well on the road, feels stable in corners and has a level of composure that makes it feel like a proper European hatchback rival.

It is not a hot hatch. But it is pleasant, predictable and more enjoyable than many compact EVs that cost more. The rear-wheel-drive layout helps enormously. You feel that the front axle is not doing everything, and that gives the B05 a more natural balance through corners.

Performance and efficiency: more than enough

The Leapmotor B05 comes with 218 hp and rear-wheel drive, which is more than enough for this type of car. It is not violently fast, but it feels quick enough in daily driving and never underpowered. Depending on version, the B05 is available with a 56.2 kWh battery or a larger 67.1 kWh battery. Official WLTP range is up to around 401 km for the smaller battery and 482 km for the larger one.

Leapmotor quotes an average consumption of 15.8 kWh/100 km, but during our test we managed to stay below 13.5 kWh/100 km without any real effort. That is excellent. And honestly, that made us very happy.

Charging: good enough to make life easy

The B05 can charge from 30 to 80% in around 17 minutes when conditions are right, which is competitive in this segment. That means longer journeys should not become painful, especially with the larger battery. Of course, most brands quote 10 to 80% charging times, so the 30 to 80% figure is worth keeping in mind. Still, the charging performance is clearly not an afterthought.

Comfort: good, but the seating position needs work

The ride is smooth and the B05 generally feels comfortable enough for daily use. But the seating position is not perfect. As a taller driver, you can feel slightly too high in the car. The seat adjustment does not go far enough, and because you cannot tilt the seat base properly, it is difficult to create a more natural or sporty driving position.

That is frustrating. Because the chassis is better than expected, and the car invites you to enjoy it a little. But the driving position does not fully support that. You sit on the car slightly more than in it, and that takes away some of the connection.

The beeps: please fix this with an update

Now for the biggest irritation. The B05 beeps constantly.

• Drive slightly too fast? Beep.

• Touch a road marking? Beep.

• Look away for a second? Beep.

• Do something the car does not like? Beep again.

It becomes exhausting. Yes, you can switch many of these systems off, but finding everything in the infotainment menus feels like solving a puzzle. And because this is such a good car underneath, the constant warning sounds are even more frustrating.

This is exactly the kind of thing an over-the-air update should fix. Not by removing safety, but by making the system calmer, smarter and less irritating. European drivers will not accept a car that feels like it is panicking all the time.

Price: almost absurd value

This is where the B05 becomes really interesting. The smaller-battery version starts from around €25,995, while the larger-battery version comes in at around €30,495. In Belgium, pricing starts slightly higher, from around €26,900 depending on version and market.

That is extremely aggressive. Especially when you consider what you get: a good-looking electric hatchback, rear-wheel drive, strong efficiency, a decent interior, generous equipment and proper range. And then there is the bigger picture. Even with import-related pressure on Chinese EVs in Europe, Leapmotor still manages to position the B05 at a price that makes many established rivals look very expensive.

AutoNext Verdict

It is one of the most surprising compact EVs we have driven recently. It looks good, feels well built, drives better than expected and delivers excellent real-world efficiency. The fact that it is a hatchback instead of another crossover already makes us like it more.

But it is not perfect. The seating position needs work, the interior could use more personality, the touchscreen dependency is annoying and the constant beeping almost ruins the experience at times. Almost. Because underneath all that, there is a seriously strong car here. And Europe should pay attention.