Leapmotor has added a new name to Europe’s compact EV fight: the B05, a fully electric C-segment hatchback priced from €26,900. It is aiming squarely at buyers who want a sensible daily car without the usual boxy EV styling, and it arrives with enough range, power, and tech to make that pitch harder to ignore.
The Leapmotor B05 uses a sporty shape, Stellantis collaboration, and a long-range option to position itself as a serious alternative to established European and Chinese rivals already chasing the same customers.
Leapmotor B05 price and range
Two battery choices are on offer. The 56.2 kWh version is rated for 401 km WLTP range, while the larger 67.1 kWh pack stretches that figure to 482 km. Charging is also positioned as a selling point, with the battery able to go from 30% to 80% in around 17 minutes.
- Starting price: €26,900
- Battery options: 56.2 kWh or 67.1 kWh
- WLTP range: 401 km or 482 km
- Charging: 30% to 80% in around 17 minutes
Leapmotor B05 design and chassis
Leapmotor says the B05 uses a wide body with a coupe-inspired profile and a shoulder width of 1,880 mm, plus frameless doors, hidden handles, and 19-inch aerodynamic alloy wheels. That is a lot of visual theatre for a hatchback, but it also serves the usual EV brief: cleaner airflow, less drag, and a cabin package that can be helped by clever packaging.
Under the skin, the CTC, or Cell-to-Chassis, setup integrates the battery into the frame to improve rigidity and interior space. That approach has become a signature move for EV makers trying to squeeze more practicality from compact platforms, and it is one more sign that Leapmotor wants the B05 to compete on engineering, not just price.
218hp, 6.7 seconds, and a Launch Control mode
Power comes from a motor rated at up to 218hp, or 160 kW, with 240 Nm of torque. Leapmotor says that is enough for 0 to 100 km/h in 6.7 seconds, and if that sounds a little more enthusiastic than your average commuter hatch, the car also gets a dedicated Launch Control mode.
The chassis was developed with Stellantis and tuned for European roads, which matters more than the marketing gloss suggests. A lot of EV newcomers can make a decent spec sheet; fewer manage to make the suspension feel right on the other side of the showroom glass.
Cabin tech and safety kit
Inside, the B05 uses a dual-screen setup with a 14.6-inch central display and an 8.8-inch digital cluster. Safety equipment includes 21 ADAS functions, a suite of 14 sensors and cameras, a high-strength body structure, and seven airbags.
That is a fairly aggressive equipment list for the money, and it puts pressure on older rivals whose entry trims still lean on stingier standard kit. If Leapmotor can deliver this spec without ugly option-pack gymnastics, the B05 could become the sort of car that makes familiar badge loyalty look expensive.
What Leapmotor B05 is really targeting
The B05 is not trying to be a halo car. It is trying to be the EV that buyers can actually justify: affordable enough to cross-shop against mainstream hatchbacks, and modern enough to feel like a step forward rather than a punishment for going electric.
The real test will be whether Europe’s compact EV buyers trust a fresh badge with the same money they might spend on a better-known alternative. If the pricing holds and the range claims translate well in the real world, Leapmotor may have picked an especially awkward moment for everyone else.