The B10 Hybrid EV is Leapmotor’s answer to a common complaint from South African drivers: they like the smooth shove of an electric car but do not want to plan every trip around a charger. This compact SUV tries to remove that uncertainty from the ownership equation. It brings an electric motor that always drives the wheels, a petrol engine that only makes electricity, and a claimed 900 km combined range.
REEV means the engine does not drive the car
The B10 is not a conventional hybrid. Leapmotor uses REEV, or Range Extended Electric Vehicle, technology. This follows a much simpler rule than the hybrid systems many buyers already know: the electric motor always drives you forward. The 1,5-litre petrol engine never turns the wheels. It sits in the background as a generator, stepping in only when battery charge needs support on longer runs.
There is no gearbox programming, no hunt between engine and motor during steady cruising, and no handover when power demand rises. The driver gets the instant response associated with battery-electric cars, with the added comfort of petrol backup when the trip stretches beyond the battery’s comfort zone.
The B10’s 18,8 kWh battery gives it up to 86 km of pure electric range. For the daily school run, the commute into Sandton, the crawl through traffic in Durban, or a week of short urban trips, that should cover a lot of life without waking the generator. Once the battery is depleted enough to need assistance, the system continues working to keep the car moving. Leapmotor claims a combined range of up to 900 km.
A compact SUV that can do the long haul without turning every inter-city trip into a charging exercise has a much easier case to make in a market where public charging is still fairly rare outside the main metros. Johannesburg to Durban, Cape Town to Gqeberha, a weekend up the coast, all become simpler when the car carries its own range extender along for the ride.
The B10 is built around the screen and the phone
Leapmotor has wrapped the B10 around its LEAP 3.5 technological platform. The centre piece is a 14,6-inch HD touchscreen, which serves as the main interface for infotainment, vehicle settings and navigation. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included.
The connected side is handled through the Leapmotor App. From a phone, owners can lock or unlock the car remotely, switch on the air conditioning before setting off, check driving data and schedule charging sessions. Over-the-air software updates are part of the package too, meaning the B10 can be kept current without a workshop visit for every small software revision.
Leapmotor B10 Pricing
At launch, there are two derivatives on offer. The Style is priced at R499 900 and the Design at R549 900. Both come with a five-year, 100 000 km warranty and service plan. Leapmotor says the B10 is part of its push to democratise intelligent, sustainable mobility in the local market.
B10 Hybrid EV specifications
- Model: Leapmotor B10 Hybrid EV
- Body style: Compact SUV
- Powertrain: REEV, electric motor drives the wheels, 1,5-litre petrol engine acts as generator
- Battery: 18.8 kWh
- Pure electric range: Up to 86 km
- Combined range: Up to 900 km
- Infotainment: 14.6-inch 2.5K HD central touchscreen
- Connectivity: Leapmotor App, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, OTA updates
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