The electric hatchback market has a major new contender, and it’s taking direct aim at European benchmarks.
At a press launch event held at London’s iconic Ministry of Sound, GawneIn60Seconds got an exclusive first look at the all-new Leapmotor B05. Backed by automotive giant Stellantis (the parent company behind Peugeot, Vauxhall, Alfa Romeo, and Jeep), this Golf-sized electric five-door hatchback promises long range, punchy performance, and premium tech at a price point that will make Volkswagen sweat.
Here are the key takeaways from our static first look.
The Math: Playing a Different Game to VW
The most compelling aspect of the B05 is its aggressive pricing structure.
Leapmotor is simplifying the buying process by offering one fully loaded specification priced at £28,995 OTR (before applying the brand’s ‘Leap Grant’ or introductory 0% APR finance offers). At under £29k, it significantly undercuts rival family EVs like the Volkswagen ID.3, MG4, and Cupra Born without forcing buyers to tick expensive option boxes.
Key Specs & Powertrain Stats
- Price: Sub-£29,000 single trim range
- Battery & Range: 67.1 kWh battery delivering up to 300 miles (WLTP)
- Performance: Single-motor rear-wheel drive, 215 hp (218 PS), 0–62 mph in 6.7 seconds
- Rapid Charging: 174 kW peak DC fast charging (30% to 80% in just 17 minutes)
- V2L (Vehicle-to-Load): Bi-directional charging capabilities capable of powering external electronics—demonstrated live at the event by running a full retro arcade game cabinet directly off the car’s battery!
Exterior Styling & Design
Unlike many raised crossovers on the market, the B05 stays true to traditional five-door hatchback proportions:
- Footprint: At 4.4 meters long, it shares a virtually identical footprint to a classic VW Golf.
- Aero Features: Low-slung profile, clean dry-part LED headlight units, frameless window glass, flush pop-out door handles, and a sleek rear roof spoiler.
- Standard Fitment: 19-inch alloy wheels, panoramic glass roof, and privacy glass come standard on every model, with ‘Lightning Yellow’ serving as the standard hero launch color.
Interior Comfort & Digital Cabin
Stepping inside, the cabin is a clean, button-free landscape that surprises with space:
- Legroom & Headroom: Thanks to a completely flat rear floor and generous wheelbase, knee room and headroom in the back are exceptional for adult passengers or child car seats.
- Digital Screens: Dominated by a crisp 14.6-inch floating central touchscreen running ‘Leap OS 4.0’ with built-in app connectivity (including TikTok, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto), paired with an 8.8-inch digital driver display mounted directly to the steering column.
- Boot Space: The sporty, low-slung tailgate line sacrifices a small amount of ultimate cargo volume compared to the chunkier VW ID.3, resulting in a slightly higher load lip, but it retains a practical, usable boot layout with split-folding rear seats.
Dealer Network & Peace of Mind
One of the biggest hurdles facing new Chinese brands in the UK is long-term support. Because Leapmotor has partnered directly with Stellantis, buyers benefit from established UK dealer infrastructure, local parts distribution, over-the-air (OTA) software updates, and dedicated smartphone app integration for pre-conditioning and remote vehicle management.
First Impressions
While we haven’t taken the B05 out on UK roads for a dynamic drive test just yet, static first impressions are exceptionally strong. For under £29,000, combining 300 miles of range, sub-7-second acceleration, frameless styling, and major manufacturer backing makes the Leapmotor B05 an extraordinary value proposition.