Leapmotor B03X SUV
New from £27,985
Is the Leapmotor B03X SUV a good car?
Read our expert review
Words by: Catherine Kent
"Leapmotor may have only been in the UK for a short while, but it has already brought us an array of electric models in all shapes and sizes. Now it’s time for its first compact crossover – enter the B03X. This all-electric small SUV provides oodles of space and up to 237 miles of range, but how does it shape up against a long list of rivals including the Renault 4, Skoda Epiq, Volvo EX30, Peugeot E-2008 and Kia EV3? Well, the B03X majors on its flexible interior and the tonnes of kit you get as standard. However, it doesn’t have the style or finesse of its competitors and the B03X is let down by its forgettable looks, fiddly infotainment and mediocre driving experience."
Green Rating
Leapmotor International is a joint venture between Chinese brand Leapmotor and European powerhouse Stellantis, owner of Peugeot, Vauxhall, Citroen and more. Leapmotor International will shortly begin building cars in Europe, but for now UK cars will continue to be manufactured in China. Disappointingly, there’s no link to Leapmotor’s sustainability strategy from its consumer website. However, its 2025 ESG report says it has reduced the water consumption per vehicle by 58 per cent since 2022 and it is expanding its investment in solar power at its manufacturing plant in Jinhua, saving 7,716 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions in 2025. It has also worked to reduce the weight of its vehicles by four to seven per cent. The B03X is a compact crossover with a medium-sized battery which should be relatively efficient and the upholstery is made from an OEKO-TEX certified leather alternative made from bamboo charcoal.
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Running costs for a Leapmotor B03X
All B03Xs come with a moderately sized battery which officially is good for up to 237 miles of range but call it around 200 miles in the real world. If you can charge your B03X at home on a dedicated off-peak energy tariff a full charge will cost less than a takeaway coffee. When you do need to top-up on the go public charging will be more expensive, though you shouldn’t need to hang around too long as the B03X can top up from 30 to 80 precent in 16 minutes. While the B03X doesn’t qualify for the Electric Car Grant, at the time of writing Leapmotor is offering its own £1,500 ‘Leap-Grant’ which mirrors the lower level of the government’s official scheme. Given all the features offered as standard the B03X offers decent value for money and company car drivers will gain further advantages thanks to the Benefit in Kind incentives for going fully electric.
Reliability of a Leapmotor B03X
Leapmotor is a new brand in the UK and while it’s been around for a decade in China, it is still too soon to know how its cars will fare in the long run. Leapmotor offers a four-year/60,000 warranty on all its cars and the battery gets a separate eight-year/100,000-mile cover. Electric cars have fewer mechanical parts than an equivalent petrol or diesel car, however they are heavily reliant on software and occasionally the odd technical gremlin can creep in. The B03X will receive regular over-the-air (OTA) updates to fix any bugs and improve the car’s functions over time. To add further reassurance Leapmotor has teamed up with Stellantis which owns familiar brands like Peugeot, Vauxhall, Jeep, Citroën and Fiat. This has helped Leapmotor to build a large dealer network to provide sales and support. We’ve been living with a Leapmotor B10 on long-term test and while it has been dependable so far, we have been experiencing some frustrations with the app-based digital key.
Safety for a Leapmotor B03X
The B03X is packed with seven airbags plus an array of sensors and cameras which provide 21 advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). These include lane keeping assistance, blind spot monitoring, front and rear collision warnings, adaptive cruise control and driver attention monitoring. Leapmotor is expecting the B03X to receive a full five-star rating from safety body Euro NCAP, but for our safety score we have marked it down because of its over reliance on a fiddly touch-screen. Yes, we know there’s a voice assistant but it’s too tempting to delve into the submenus on the central display. We didn’t find the safety systems as overbearing as in other Leapmotors we've tested and there is now the option of configurable driver personas which allow you to preset your preferred combination of features before you set off. However, there’s still room for improvement and Leapmotor has already suggested further software updates are likely to arrive over-the-air in due course.
How comfortable is the Leapmotor B03X
The B03X’s greatest strength is its use of space. In the back there’s much more room than in a Renault 4 and for extra flexibility the rear bench folds up to provide a walk-through area with a totally flat floor. This is a similar trick to the ‘Magic Seat’ configuration in the Honda Jazz. The B03X has also taken a leaf out of the Ford Puma Gen-e’s book by adding a waterproof compartment under the boot floor which provides the perfect storage for muddy boots or a cavernous compartment for taller items. Up front both seats are electrically adjustable helping you to get comfy, however even in the lowest position you still sit very high up and the steering wheel doesn't adjust much for height or reach. While the B03X focuses on practicality we’d have liked the interior to be more interesting, but instead you are met with a sea of grey plastic and bamboo charcoal faux-leather upholstery. Another gripe was the air-conditioning which kept defaulting to a rather wheezy eco mode. This was less than ideal on a baking hot test drive in southern Spain, but with a bit more planning we could have preconditioned the car’s temperature using the Leapmotor app. Out on the road the B03X is set up for comfort and it copes relatively well with larger speed bumps, however it is less refined over rough surfaces which cause it to profusely bounce around.
Features of the Leapmotor B03X
Like other models in the Leapmotor range the B03X is offered with just one trim level so you only need to choose the colour. All the features you could possibly want are fitted as standard – though they are all controlled via the large 14.6-inch touch screen so finding them is not always easy. The bottom row of widgets and the shortcut tray are both configurable, but the icons are small and confusing. If you persevere, you’ll find ambient lighting, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel among necessities like the wingmirror adjustment. We do like the 360-degree camera which gives confidence when manoeuvring and other features include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless phone charger and ‘Pet Mode’ to keep your four-legged friends happy. The overall design is rather bland, though, and Leapmotor’s attempt to inject some personality with face-shaped taillights and graphics of Leapy, the brand's Minion-like mascot, all fall a little flat.
Power for a Leapmotor B03X
The B03X is a small family car and while it has a reasonable amount of power it is not designed to be driven enthusiastically. There are three drive modes – Comfort, Standard and Sport – but the steering is incredibly light regardless of which one you choose. This is fine around town, but it doesn’t inspire much confidence in the corners or at higher speeds. The good news is Leapmotor says this can be changed via an over-the-air update, so hopefully this will improve once the cars arrive in the UK. Meanwhile, the regeneration modes do change how quickly the car slows down when you take your foot off the accelerator, but the strongest setting is very grabby and makes it tricky to drive smoothly. Ultimately, the B03X is best kept in its standard settings which won't set your world on fire but they will allow you to pootle along as you go about your day-to-day business.
Lease deals
These deals are based on terms of 8,000 miles, for a 36 month lease with a 6 months initial payment.
Standard equipment
Expect the following equipment on your Leapmotor B03X SUV. This may vary between trim levels.
- 12V Power Supply Socket
- 14.6in Central Infotainment Screen
- 2nd Row - USB - Type-A and Type-C
- 4G Connection
- 8.8in Driver Cluster Display - Digital
- App Store
- Apple Carplay and Android Auto - Smartphone Connection
- Audio Apps
- Bluetooth
- DAB
- E-call
- Front Row USB - Type-C x2
- OTA Capability
- Online Navigation
- Speakers - 12
- Vehicle Intelligent Chip - 8155
- Video Apps
- Wifi
- Wireless Charging
- 18in Alloy Wheels - Aluminium
- Branded Tyre - Yokohama
- Built-in Antenna
- Charging Connector
- Door Mirrors - Power Adjustable - Heated - Electrically Folding - Car Lock Auto Mirror Folding
- Exterior Lighting Effect
- Front Engine Compartment Manual Unlocking
- Front Licence Plate Frame
- Front Nozzle
- Front Tyre Size 215/50 R18
- Front and Rear Electric Windows - One-Touch Open and Close with Anti-Pinch Function
- IP BAR Ports
- Licence Plate Lamp
- Long Press Key Lock Button to Raise Windows
- Long Press Key Unlock Button to Lower Windows
- Metallic Roof Cover
- Rear Licence Plate Frame
- Rear Nozzle
- Rear Tow Hook Port
- Rear Tyre Size 215/50 R18
- Rear Windshield Heating
- Rear Wipers
- Roof Racks
- Semi-Hidden Door Handles
- Tow Hook Mounting Points
- Transparent Chassis View
- Tyre Sealant
- 2nd Row 4-6 Seat Folding
- 2nd Row Centre Armrest with Cup Holders
- 2nd Row Seats with L&R Removable Headrests and Centre Headrest
- 2nd Row Top Tether x2
- 4-Way Steering Wheel Manual Adjustment
- 6-Way Electric Adjustable Driver Seat
- Air Conditioning Refrigerant - R1234YF
- Air Recirculation Automatic Switch
- Air Recirculation Manual Switch
- Ambient Lighting - 64 Colours
- Anti-Dazzling Interior Rear View Mirror - Manual
- Artificial Leather Steering Wheel
- Automatic Air Conditioning
- Boot Light
- Driver Sunvisor with Vanity Mirror
- Dynamic Ambient Lights
- Front Central Armrest
- Front Central Armrest Storage Compartment
- Front Passenger Glovebox
- Front Passenger Seat 4-Way Manual Adjustment
- Front Passenger Sunvisor with Vanity Mirror
- Front Row Cup Holders
- Front Row Reading Lights
- Front Single Zone Climate Control
- Front Windshield Boneless Wipers - Rain Sensing
- Gigabox - Storage Under Trunk Floor
- Grab Handle - Front Passenger Side - with Damping
- Grab Handles - Rear Row L&R Sides - with Damping
- Heated Front Seats
- Heated Steering Wheel
- Intelligent Voice Interaction
- Keyless Start System
- Luggage Compartment Curtain Slide Rails
- Manual Interior Door Handles
- Microphone
- Multi-Function Steering Wheel
- Rear Row Under-Seat Storage Box Mounting Points
- Roof Coat Hooks
- TJA - Traffic Jam Assist
- 2nd Row ISOFIX Child Seat Port
- 2nd Row Mechanical Child Safety Lock
- 2nd Row Seat Belt Reminder
- 2nd Row Seat Belts with Pretensioner and Force Limiter - L&R
- ABS - Anti-lock Braking System
- ADDW - Advanced Driver Distraction Warning
- AEBS - Automatic Emergency Braking System
- ARP - Active Rollover Protection
- Air Pump
- Assist Lane Change (ALC)
- Auto Hold
- Automatic Door Unlocking After Collision
- Blind Spot Lights and LED Turn Signals on Door Mirrors
- Bluetooth Key
- Body Anti-Theft Alarm System
- Central Door Lock
- Centre Airbag
- Child Presence Detection (CPD)
- Comfortable Stop
- DOW - Door Opening Warning
- Drive Recording
- Driver Seat Belt Reminder
- Driver and Co-Pilot Airbags
- Driver and Passenger Side - Keyless Entry
- Dynamic Braking Function
- EBD - Electronic Brakeforce Distribution
- EDR - Event Data Recorder
- ELKA - Emergency Lane Keeping Assist
- ESC - Electronic Stability Control
- Electronic Parking Brake - EPB
- FCTA - Front Cross Traffic Alert
- FCTB - Front Cross Traffic Brake
- Farside Airbag
- Forward-Looking Millimetre Wave Radar - Single Angle Radar
- Front Seat Belts with Double Pretensioners and Force Limiter
- Front Side Airbags
- Front Side-Looking Millimetre Wave Radar
- Front-View Monocular Camera
- HBA - Hydraulic Brake Assist
- HDC - Hill Descent Control
- HHC - Hill Hold Control
- HOD - Hands Off Detection
- Hazard Lights
- Headlight Delay
- ISA - Intelligent Speed Assist
- Keyfob (Passive Keyless Entry) x2
- LCC - Lane Centering Control
- LKA - Lane Keep Assist
- Life Detection Radar
- Low-Speed Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS)
- MCB - Multi Collision Brake
- Mechanical Key x2
- NFC Key
- Passenger Airbag Disable Switch
- Passenger Seat Belt Reminder
- RCTA - Rear Cross Traffic Alert
- RCTB - Rear Cross Traffic Braking
- Rear Retroreflector
- Rear Side-Looking Millimetre Wave Radar
- Reflective Vest
- Safety Hammer
- Second-Row ELR Seat Belt - Middle
- Side Air Curtains
- Side Curtain Airbag
- Side Reverse Ultrasonic Radar - 4
- Speed-Sensing Auto Door Locking
- TCS - Traction Control System
- Tow Hooks
- Visual Assistance - Hill Start Assist Image
- Visual Assistance - Narrow Road Assist Image
- Visual Assistance - Reversing Image
- Visual Assistance - Start Assist Image
- Visual Assistance - Turn Assist Image
- Warning Triangle
- 3 Driving Modes
- 360 Surround View Camera
- ACC - Adaptive Cruise Control
- BSD - Blind Spot Detection
- DDAW - Driver Drowsiness and Attention Warning
- DMS - Driver Monitoring Camera
- Direct Tyre Pressure Monitor System - TPMS
- FCW - Forward Collision Warning
- FVDW - Front Vehicle Departure Warning
- Front Parking Sensors
- Front Reverse Ultrasonic Radar - 4
- LDW - Lane Departure Warning
- RCW - Rear Collision Warning
- Rear Parking Sensors
- Rear Reverse Ultrasonic Radar - 4
- Scheduled Charging
- Steering Modes - 3
- Automatic Headlights
- Automatic High-Low Beam
- Electric Headlight Height Adjustment
- Headlight Lens
- LED Brakelights
- LED Daytime Running Lights
- LED High-Mounted Brake Light
- LED Rear Fog Lights
- LED Reversing Lights
- LED Split Headlights
- LED Taillights
- Heat Pump
- Regenerative Brake - 3 Modes
- Type 2 Mode 3 Charging Cable
- V2L - Vehicle to Load
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Your questions answered
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Contract Hire ('Leasing') is subject to status and approval and is only available to UK residents aged 18 and over. Vehicle must be returned with no more than fair wear and tear to avoid further charges. You will not own the vehicle. Excess mileage charges and return conditions apply.
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