Leapmotor

T03

The Leapmotor T03 is a value-for-money, funky, five-door city car that is fully electrified. It’s well equipped, easy to drive and deceptively spacious with a very attractive price-tag.

Test Drive

Leapmotor T03 – First Drive (2025)

Another week, another Chinese brand on the rise – this time, it’s from a carmaker called Leapmotor. Although the name may not be too familiar with most people, this is definitely one to watch, particularly because Stellantis owns a 51 per cent stake in the company across Europe. This means Leapmotor vehicles will be sold alongside popular and established brands like Peugeot, Citroen, Vauxhall, Jeep and many more.

The Leapmotor T03, which is built in Poland for the UK market, is a five-door, fully electric city car that’s priced at just £15,995. This puts it in direct competition with the Dacia Spring, which launched recently. While I haven’t driven the Spring yet, I had the chance to inspect both cars side by side, and I must say the build quality of the Leapmotor is notably superior. The exterior cladding is smooth and the charging flap feels solid, unlike the sharp-edged and flimsy fittings found on the Dacia.

So, what’s the T03 all about? It’s a quirky little city car that’s easy to drive and offers solid value for money. While it’s not without its faults, such as frequent warning chimes and a somewhat limited driving range, it’s a great option for those prioritising affordability. With only one trim and a single battery choice the T03 offers a straightforward purchasing process too.

The car boasts a funky design that bears a resemblance to the Fiat 500, though with a flatter roofline. Its small bonnet, neat lighting clusters, LED tail lights, single windscreen wiper and 15-inch alloy wheels with petal-shaped spokes help make it stand out.

Inside, the T03 offers a surprisingly spacious cabin, complete with a panoramic sunroof, which is a nice touch for a budget car. The cloth seats are comfortable and supportive and driver visibility impresses too.

On the downside, certain simple functions like the door mirror adjustments, are accessed via the touchscreen, which rather over-complicates matters. The 10.1-inch touchscreen offers access to the navigation, Bluetooth, radio and the rearview camera, though it lacks Apple CarPlay or Android Auto smartphone mirroring. The navigation system’s graphics are also sub-par, and the service can be unreliable which makes the lack of phone services even more noticeable.

Behind the steering wheel, an eight-inch driver display shows key data such as speed, battery charge and range, making for a driver-focused cabin, even if it’s a bit too reliant on the touchscreen.

Despite its compact size, the T03 is surprisingly spacious. With a length of 3,620mm and a wheelbase of 2,400mm, it offers ample room for two six-footers up front, and rear passengers have plenty of leg, head and elbow space too. While it’s tight for three adults in the back, it comfortably fits two, or three kids.

The compact boot can accommodate 210 litres of kit, which is just about enough for a typical supermarket run, and the rear seats fold down to expand the cargo area. There are plenty of compartments throughout the cabin to secure smaller items, including door bins, a glovebox, central cubby, a single cup holder, trays, plus USB-C ports to keep devices charged.

So, getting down to the nitty gritty then, what is the Leapmotor T03 like to drive? The answer is it’s a bit of a mixed bag. The front-wheel drive model has just one battery – a 37kWh battery that delivers a WLTP-tested range of 165 miles, though urban driving could push that to 245 miles, aided by regenerative braking.

With 95hp with 158Nm of torque, it accelerates from 0 to 62mph in 12.7 seconds, with a top speed of 81mph. While these numbers aren’t groundbreaking, the T03 is primarily designed for city driving, where rapid acceleration isn’t a priority.

The car handles well on twisting roads, and the suspension smooths out bumps decently enough, though there is a noticeable whining noise when accelerating or braking below 20mph. Drive modes called Eco, Sport and Standard alter the dynamics a little, with the regenerative braking more noticeable in Eco mode.

Safety features are comprehensive, including various driver assistance systems, though they can be a bit irritating with constant alerts. Thankfully, they can be disabled, but that sort of defeats the object of these functions.

One factor Leapmotor is keen to emphasis about its cars is ‘value’ and the T03 is a perfect example of that with its attractive £15,995 price-tag. Our car was sporting a Light White shade which is free, but customers can select from Glacier Blue or Starry Silver colours that add £650 to the asking price.

Charging the 37kWh battery from home takes around three hours, but a CCS fast charger can boost the battery from 30-80 per cent in just 36 minutes. And for added peace of mind, the vehicle comes with a four-year, 60,000-mile warranty package, increased to eight years and 100,000 miles battery cover.

All in all, the Leapmotor T03 has plenty of plus points with its quirky styling, easy handling, spacious interior and attractive price tag. While brand recognition may be a hurdle, especially with the influx of Chinese carmakers, the backing of Stellantis will certainly help. There are also attractive finance deals available at launch, with the car on offer for a £199 deposit and £199 monthly payments over four years.

All in all, the Leapmotor T03 is an excellent value proposition for those looking for an affordable, well-equipped electric city car.