- Leapmotor is taking on the VW ID. Polo with the B03 subcompact electric hatch.
- A 191 hp motor driving the front wheels pulls it to 62 mph in just 7.6 seconds.
- The 54 kWh battery provides a WLTP range of 242 miles and V2L functionality.
Chinese brands are out in force at this week’s Paris Motor Show, and the Leapmotor B03 is one of the cars putting Western brands on high alert. The B03 is a subcompact electric hatch designed to steal customers away from the VW ID. Polo and Renault 5 by offering more performance, more equipment and more range for a whole lot less cash.
You might have seen the B03 wearing another badge. The same car is known in China as the B05, where it costs less than €7,500 ($8,400), and even comes with Lidar driver assistance technology. Europe’s version misses out on the Lidar, and predictably is vastly more expensive, with an estimated target price of around €25,000 ($28,000). But it’s still likely to prove a hit with drivers who buy with their head, rather than their heart.
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The subcompact B03 slots above the existing T03, and below the crossover B03X says Leapmotor, which is part-owned by Stellantis. It comes standard with a 53 kWh battery that delivers a WLTP range of 242 miles (389 km). Rivals like the VW ID. Polo and Renault 5 can match, or even beat, that range claim, but not in their affordable entry-level configurations.
Almost Hot-Hatch Quick
Same goes for the powertrain. The B03 is powered by a single 191 hp (194 PS / 143 kW) electric motor that’s powerful enough to haul it to 62 mph (100 kmh) in just 7.6 seconds. That makes it only two tenths slower than the Alpine A290 GT hot hatch.
The Leapmotor wins don’t end there. Its 133 kW max charge rate is faster than anything Renault or VW can deliver, and allows the B03 to charge from 10-80 percent in 21 minutes. The Chinese car’s trunk is also significantly bigger than the Renault 5’s, and although the Polo’s is bigger again, only the B03 lets you crank the passenger seat fully flat to carry long loads. You also get an underfloor storage box for wet or muddy boots and clothes.
Instantly Forgettable
What you don’t get is a memorable design. The B03 is blandly handsome on the outside, and the interior looks like the cabin of any number of other Chinese cars. It pairs a 14.6-inch touchscreen with an 8.8 inch digital gauge cluster, and promises easy voice-activated access to many functions. Which is a good thing, because real switches are in short supply.
But bland or not, the strong power and range specifications, and a generous equipment list that includes automatic LED lights, electrically folding mirrors, a heated six-way power driver’s seat, a heat pump and V2L capability, is going to have plenty of appeal for buyers who prioritize value when European sales kick off in 2027.
