Leapmotor T03 review

The boot capacity stands at 210 litres compared with the Spring’s 308 litres. It’s big enough for a weekly shopping trip or a weekend away for two adults, but the shape is annoying. It seemingly needlessly curves around the rear lights, reducing access, and there’s a rather large loading lip, too. Neither is there any underfloor storage.

The Leapmotor T03 hasn’t been assessed by Euro NCAP yet, although Leapmotor says it will provide great protection to occupants in a crash thanks to its body-cage structure. This uses a one-piece, all-aluminium anti-collision beam and ‘high-strength’ steel, and comprises 60 percent of the T03’s body. 

Levels of standard safety kit are impressive. There are three cameras and five radar sensors, which help implement the T03’s 10 driver-assistance functions, many of which you would expect to be fitted as standard in a family hatchback rather than a budget city car. These include lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic speed assist with traffic sign recognition, driver tiredness detection, blind spot detection and an automatic emergency brake. 

The T03 is too new to judge on reliability, and the underpinnings haven’t been seen on other cars in the UK.

Leapmotor T03 alternatives

There are very few all-electric rivals to the Leapmotor T03 at this £15,995 launch price. The most obvious is the Dacia Spring, which sits either side of the Leapmotor at £14,995 for the Expression variant, and £16,995 for the Extreme. While the Dacia has a bigger boot and a much more recognisable badge, the Leapmotor has more range and is better equipped. 

A slightly leftfield alternative is the £17,990 Microlino. It’s a modern interpretation of the classic Isetta bubble-car design from the Sixties, so it’s certainly got plenty of character. The Microlino’s 114-mile range isn’t the best, though, and neither is its performance, as it tops out at 56mph. In reality, it’s more of a city-based car than the Leapmotor.