Leapmotor T03: Stellantis’ Affordable Electric City Car Arrives in the UK
The Leapmotor T03, Stellantis’ budget-friendly Chinese electric vehicle, is priced at £15,995 (Image: Jack Mortimer)
Pros
- One of the most competitively priced new electric cars in the UK market
- Remarkably spacious interior for a compact city car
- Generous array of standard technology features
Cons
- Overly light steering in all modes
- Absence of a rear window wiper
- Infotainment system could benefit from further refinement
The Leapmotor T03, a compact electric city car, is now available at Stellantis dealerships alongside Vauxhall and Fiat models, boasting an attractive entry price of £15,995. This positions it as one of the most affordable electric vehicles for UK drivers. While its design may be considered conventional, the distinctive “bug-eyed” headlights and rounded front grille lend a charming aesthetic to the front.
The cabin of the Leapmotor T03 prioritizes simplicity, creating a bright and airy atmosphere enhanced by a standard full-size panoramic glass roof. Despite its small stature, the T03 offers considerable room for both front and rear occupants. However, the 210-litre boot capacity is less generous compared to the Dacia Spring.
Nevertheless, the Leapmotor T03 is well-equipped. Standard features across all models include alloy wheels, a touchscreen interface, and a reversing camera. Notably absent are a rear wiper and parcel shelf. Every T03 variant is powered by a 94bhp electric motor coupled with a 37.3kWh battery, delivering satisfactory performance and a claimed range of 165 miles.
On the road, the Leapmotor T03 exhibits surprising agility up to approximately 40mph and excels in maneuverability, making it well-suited for urban environments. However, the steering is notably light, and during testing, the tyres of the vehicle occasionally rubbed against the wheel arches when cornering at full steering lock.
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China’s influence on the UK new car market is undeniably expanding. In 2024, nearly 100,000 new vehicles registered in Britain originated from China, a number projected to increase with the arrival of new manufacturers this year.
For many UK car buyers, established brands offer a sense of familiarity. Leapmotor, backed by Stellantis, is poised to become a recognizable Chinese automotive name in the UK.
Founded in Hangzhou in late 2015, with its first model produced in 2019, Leapmotor gained significant attention in the UK automotive scene following its acquisition by Stellantis in 2023. Stellantis is the parent company of thirteen brands, including well-known marques such as Fiat, Vauxhall, and Peugeot.
This Stellantis connection provides Leapmotor with an established dealership network, sharing showrooms with familiar models like the Corsa and 500, as well as Stellantis & You outlets. The entry-level Leapmotor T03 electric supermini is marketed at a highly appealing price point of just £15,995.
While not the absolute cheapest new electric car – the Dacia Spring, designed in Romania but built in China, is approximately £1,000 less expensive – the T03 remains one of the most economical routes to purchasing a new car. The key question remains: can this Chinese newcomer outperform the Dacia and compete effectively against the established market of used electric vehicles from traditional automakers?
The T03 presents a charming front design, while its rear styling is more conventional (Image: Jack Mortimer)
Exterior Design
Contrary to the perception that Chinese cars often emulate Western designs, the Leapmotor T03 exhibits a distinct aesthetic. The front end, in particular, possesses a cute appeal, characterized by its prominent headlights and slightly rounded nose, accentuated by the sizable panel housing the charging port.
This design language is less evident at the rear, which features horizontal taillights connected by a black strip across the unusually shaped tailgate, and a largely unadorned rear bumper. This results in a more commonplace appearance for the T03’s rear.
The Leapmotor’s color palette is also somewhat understated for the UK market. White is the standard offering, with Glacier Blue (pictured) and Starry Silver available as £650 options. The Chinese market offers a wider range of colors, including a vibrant orange, but all UK-specification cars feature a two-tone finish with a black roof.
Despite the use of dark plastics, the T03’s expansive glass roof contributes to a bright and airy cabin environment (Image: Jack Mortimer)
Interior Cabin
Stepping inside the Leapmotor T03 is surprisingly pleasant, especially considering its budget-friendly price. While it’s not a luxury vehicle and the dashboard incorporates hard black plastics, the overall build quality and finish are commendable.
The black and grey cloth interior may seem subdued compared to the ivory option available in China, but the standard panoramic glass roof significantly enhances the interior ambiance, creating a brighter and more spacious feeling.
Unlike many modern cars, the T03 forgoes a bulky center console. However, there is sufficient space for a couple of cups between the front seats and convenient access to the electronic handbrake. Reflecting a growing trend in EVs, the automatic transmission is operated via a column-mounted selector near the steering wheel.
The Leapmotor’s boot space is smaller than some rivals, but it provides impressive rear passenger legroom (Image: Jack Mortimer)
Practicality and Space
Surprisingly, practicality stands out as a key strength of the Leapmotor T03. While compact at 3.62 meters long and 1.65 meters wide, it boasts a noticeably taller roofline compared to many competitors.
This design translates to ample headroom for both front and rear occupants. Even more unexpectedly, with the front seat adjusted slightly forward, rear legroom is surprisingly generous – exceeding that found in larger vehicle segments, including compact crossovers.
However, this rear passenger space comes at a compromise. The boot, with its somewhat awkward shape, offers a capacity of just 210 liters – approximately 100 liters less than the Dacia Spring and Citroen e-C3. The rear seats do fold flat, expanding cargo volume to 508 liters. Split-folding rear seats would have enhanced versatility for scenarios requiring both cargo space and seating for three passengers.
The Leapmotor’s 10-inch touchscreen is feature-rich but requires some familiarization (Image: Jack Mortimer)
Technology and Features
Currently, UK buyers have a single specification option for the Leapmotor T03. However, it comes well-equipped as standard, including features not offered on the budget-focused Dacia Spring. These include 15-inch alloy wheels, air conditioning, a 10-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth connectivity (although Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are not included), a panoramic glass roof, and a notably clear reversing camera system.
Unexpectedly, the T03 lacks both a rear window wiper and a parcel shelf. Ironically, even older, basic models include these features.
Most vehicle functions are controlled via the Leapmotor’s touchscreen. Volume, climate controls, and the boot release are persistently displayed at the bottom of the screen. However, the icons are somewhat small, potentially requiring drivers to divert their attention from the road and navigate through menus that may require acclimatization.
With 94bhp and a 37.3kWh battery, the Leapmotor T03 delivers sufficient power and range for urban driving (Image: Jack Mortimer)
Performance and Range
While not conceived as a performance vehicle, the Leapmotor T03 offers a respectable level of power compared to the Dacia Spring. All T03 models are equipped with a single front-mounted electric motor producing a reasonable 94bhp.
This powertrain enables the Leapmotor to achieve a top speed of 81mph and accelerate from 0-62mph in 12.7 seconds. This acceleration is marginally quicker than the most powerful Dacia Spring but slightly slower than the Citroen e-C3 and entry-level Renault 5 E-Tech.
The Leapmotor T03 currently offers a single battery option: a 37.3kWh usable capacity unit providing a claimed range of up to 165 miles on a single charge. This range makes the T03 suitable for city driving and occasional longer journeys.
The Leapmotor’s steering is highly maneuverable but feels somewhat disconnected in corners (Image: Jack Mortimer)
Driving Experience
Despite its performance figures, the Leapmotor T03 feels surprisingly energetic on the road. With assertive accelerator input, the car accelerates briskly up to 30-40mph.
Ride quality is acceptable, especially considering its price point. However, body roll becomes noticeable when cornering at higher speeds. At lower speeds, the Leapmotor excels in maneuverability, with a tight turning circle of under 10 meters.
One less favorable aspect of the Leapmotor T03’s driving dynamics is the handling. While offering three steering modes, even the Sport setting feels excessively light for a more engaging driving experience.
Furthermore, during testing, the front tyres of the vehicle exhibited rubbing against the wheel arches during tight turns, particularly when parking near kerbs – an undesirable sound for drivers.
The Leapmotor T03 presents excellent value and practicality, though not without minor drawbacks (Image: Jack Mortimer)
Verdict
The Leapmotor T03 offers considerable appeal as an electric car priced lower than many conventional petrol-powered city cars. Its standout feature is the exceptional rear passenger space for its size. It also provides sufficient power and range for practical daily driving.
However, the T03 does have shortcomings. The overly light steering diminishes driving enjoyment, and some expected features are absent.
Despite these drawbacks, the Leapmotor T03 occupies a distinct niche in the market, particularly for those considering leasing or salary sacrifice schemes. For buyers prioritizing a new car, the T03 serves as a viable entry point into electric motoring for young families or as a secondary vehicle for urban commutes and errands.