Efficiency & Charging
7.5/10
Performance & Driving Dynamics
6/10
Interior & Technology
7.5/10
Practicality & Usability
8/10
Value & Running Costs
7.5/10
Overall
7.5/10
Overview
The Leapmotor B03 is the brand's new B-segment electric hatchback, slotting between the T03 city car and the larger B05 and aimed at urban drivers who want supermini convenience without the usual compromises. It rides on the Compact Electric Platform and reaches showrooms in early 2027 as a single, fully equipped model. Rivals include the Renault 5 E-Tech, Volkswagen ID. Polo and Hyundai IONIQ 3. On paper the case is persuasive: generous space, a long standard equipment list, quick charging and brisk performance, all at a price expected in the mid £20,000s. However, how it drives and its annoying and intrusive driver assistance systems are definite drawbacks.
Design
The B03 shares its styling with much of the Leapmotor lineup but drops the crossover's plastic cladding and sits lower, giving a cleaner hatchback stance. Rounded front and rear ends aid aerodynamic efficiency, a floating-roof look echoes the larger B05, and short overhangs keep the proportions tidy at 4,175 mm long. The smiley-face tail-light graphics make it look frinedly and approaching, and automatic LED headlights and tail-lights are standard. The car rides on 17-inch alloy wheels, and five colours are offered: Light White, Sunstone Orange, Seaweed Green, Galaxy Silver and Sandstone.
Interior
Inside, a minimalist dashboard is dominated by a 14.6-inch floating touchscreen and an 8.8-inch digital driver display, with most functions in menus rather than on physical switches. Leap OS 4.0 Plus runs on a Snapdragon chip, can show two apps at once, offers natural voice control and supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto plus over-the-air updates. Materials include OEKO-TEX-certified fabrics and synthetic leather, with a Morse code-inspired pattern of dots and dashes across the trim, seats and speaker grilles. The driver's six-way power seat reclines to 149°, and both front seats and the steering wheel are heated. Guard and Camping modes keep the climate control running when parked, and a new physical key replaces the NFC card used on earlier Leapmotor models.
Performance & Powertrains
A single front-mounted motor drives the front wheels, producing 145 kW of power and 200 Nm of torque, good for 0-62 mph in 7.6 seconds and a 101 mph top speed. The 53 kWh LFP battery is built into the structure and delivers up to 242 miles of range. Charging peaks at 133 kW, taking 10-80% in 21 minutes. The suspension uses MacPherson struts at the front and a torsion beam at the rear. Comfort, Standard and Sport modes adjust throttle, regenerative braking and steering weight, and a new motion control system detects loss of grip within 200 milliseconds. However, similar to most Leapmotor models, the ride and steering are lacking and the driver assistance systems are intrusive and annoying.
Practicality
Leapmotor claims class-leading rear legroom of 888 mm on a 2,605 mm wheelbase, and the car is roughly 18 cm longer and 9 cm taller than the Renault 5. 30 storage spaces are dotted around the cabin and the front passenger seat folds flat for long items. The boot holds 405 litres, rising to 1,305 litres with the rear seats folded. A dual-level floor creates a flat load bay up to 2.47 metres long, or opens extra underfloor storage, and a removable panel opens up the full height for up to 5 carry-on suitcases. The 90-litre Leap Box, a washable underfloor compartment, takes wet or muddy items, while the LeapFlex rear seat base flips up Honda Jazz-style to reveal 578 mm of height for bicycles.
Buying
Official pricing is unconfirmed, but estimates around £25,000s, placing it between the roughly £16,000 T03 and £29,000 B05. There is one specification, so only paint and interior colour are chosen. Standard kit includes a 360-degree camera, automatic climate control, heated power-folding mirrors, seven airbags and 21 driver assistance functions, among them adaptive cruise control with lane centring and rear cross-traffic braking. Leapmotor's UK warranty covers four years or 60,000 miles, with the battery covered for eight years or 100,000 miles, and its retail network exceeds 90 outlets. Value hinges on the final price, but the single-trim approach and Leapmotor's finance record suggest it should compete well.