Exclusive Test Drive Mobiwisy: Leapmotor C11

We had the opportunity to take the flagship Leapmotor, the SUV C11, for a test drive, and its electric range appears to approach 600 km!

Mobiwisy was the first French media to test the T03 city car and the C11 SUV. This latter will not be marketed in France before 2023, but a “100% Chinese” version was available for us.

Visually, this large baby measuring 4.74 meters long and 1.89 meters wide makes an impression. While some will note its resemblance to the Volkswagen ID.4 on the front and Porsche Macan at the rear, the Chinese SUV conforms to current aesthetic standards.

Carefully Crafted Comfort

This good impression continues inside, with a colorful and very spacious cabin. At the rear, the absence of a tunnel allows three passengers to find their comfort. Similarly, Leapmotor C11 offers two trunks: one at the front and one at the rear, with a very deep double bottom to accommodate charging cables. The dashboard is fairly conventional, but features three digital screens, including one for the passenger. Unfortunately, all controls were in Chinese! A word finally on the finishing: it’s quite flattering, with thick leather and Alcantara-type inserts on the doors. There is a slight assembly lightness in the lower parts, less visible.

Top-Grade Performance

Over a 40 km route, we enjoyed the comfort of the controlled suspension and the vigorous accelerations provided by the 400 kW (544 hp) motor. Leapmotor announces 0 to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds, the same time as a Porsche Boxster Spyder! However, it’s in range that the C11 appears most promising. Up to 600 km according to the onboard computer (Chinese standards CLTC), or nearly 500 km according to our WLTP protocol, thanks to its massive 90 kWh battery. Two unknowns remain: the charging system planned for Europe… and the price.

Also read: In Europe, 20% of electric cars come from China