Leapmotor T03 is a no-frills, budget EV that's cheaper than a Fiat 500 – just not as cute

09/25/2024 06:34 PM

IT'S not Fiat 500 cute. But it is small and simple like a 500.

Easy to park or drive in tight spaces like a 500.

Much cheaper than a 500. And packed with kit.

This is the Leapmotor T03.

Leapwho?

Leapmotor. Another oddly-named Chinese EV firm coming our way.

But this one has been clever.

Like, really clever.

Because Leapmotor has teamed up with Stellantis – owner of Vauxhall, Peugeot, Fiat and others – to build and sell electric cars in Europe.

In fact, Stellantis owns 51 per cent of the international arm of the business and T03 will be sold at the big glass cathedrals in every town alongside Corsas, 208s and . . . Fiat 500s.

You'll see T03 at 50 UK dealers by Christmas.

But is it any good? Yes and no.

For the money, yes.

There's one high-spec version costing £15,995.

Six airbags. Five doors. Four seats.

I can't think of anything beginning with three. Two digital display screens.

One comically cheap school-run/commuter car.

Hang on, I've thought of something. The paint. There's three paint colours – white, silver and blue. Your only choice.

Everything else is standard – reversing camera, satnav, adaptive cruise control, panoramic glass roof with electric shade, heated wing mirrors, LED lights, 15in alloys, all the anti-crash tech the law now demands, and more.

Serious competition

Dacia's £15k Spring, also built in China, has some serious competition.

The dinky T03, just 3.6 metres long, is powered by a 95hp e-motor. It's nippy and has a cheeky sense of fun.

Sport mode adds a smidge more power and tightens the steering.

Maximum range from the 37.3kWh battery is 165 miles.

Recharging to 80 per cent at a public DC charger takes 36 minutes.

Longer at home.

Now for the negatives. There's no Apple CarPlay and the built-in satnav is a turd.

They need to put better rubber on it. Wider tyres that actually grip the road. Westlake tyres, anyone?

The low-speed drone to alert pedestrians is annoying.

T03 is £6k cheaper than a Fiat 500 and lowers the cost of an EV for everyone, which is a good thing.

But I'd have a nearly-new 500 all day long.

• LEAPMOTOR will send three models our way in the next 12 months. The dinky T03, above, a big £36k electric SUV called C10 and a medium-sized SUV called B10. Leap year?