• Impressive interior quality and ambience
• A nearly entirely button-free dashboard
• Easy enough to use if a little generic in character

How is the quality and layout?

The Leapmotor C10 feels well built. If you’re harbouring some doubts about the quality of Chinese-built cars, we would argue this is a reassuring exemplar of the breed. It feels well screwed together, our test cars had no creaks or rattles, and the choice of materials inside feels well judged. Not quite premium quality perhaps, but certainly not from the bargain basement either.

Settle into the standard leather seats and the driving position is spot-on, with plenty of adjustment that should cater for most differently sized drivers. Nearly all the controls are located in the central touchscreen and what few switches there fall within easy reach from the multi-adjustable steering wheel.

We counted not a single button on the dashboard; there are no visible air vents, either – ventilation being provided through a narrow slot that runs the length of the dash (it works very well). Four physical switches up on the headlining near the rear-view mirrors control the hazard lights, mirror-fold, sunblind operation and an SOS button to call for help in an emergency.

Our testers found the interior design rather banal and derivative – and one that takes heavy design cues from Tesla.

Infotainment and tech

The lack of switchgear betrays a focus on digital integration – a view cemented when you realise the Leapmotor C10 doesn’t even come with a key. The idea is that you sync your smartphone to act as a digital key, though it has a credit card that you tap on the door mirror to unlock the car.

Note the double-width digital screens: there are no physical instruments, the dials being represented in a 10.25-inch high-definition screen in front of the driver. Navigation and entertainment functions are handled by the crisp central 14.6in touchscreen afflicted by a confusing maze of menus and sub-menus. I found it quite difficult to use when moving – and some of the technology on the screen simply didn’t work. The sat-nav, for example, couldn’t adjust its route to compensate for the fact that we had to divert around a burning lorry.

Over-the-air updates will continue to bring new functionality in the months ahead, so we hope the operating system continues to evolve. Gadget lovers will be reassured by the pair of USB-C and USB-A charging points in the rear, meaning you can keep all your gizmos juiced up on the go. There is also a wireless charging pad up front to top up your smartphone.

Comfort

The C10 provides comfortable transport for passengers. We’ve already noted the commodious accommodation for both rows, but the seats themselves do prove comfortable, even on longer journeys. Both front seats are electrically operated (six-way adjustment for the driver, four for the passenger), making it easy to perfect your driving position.

Once on the go, the Leapmotor is reasonably comfortable around town, but if you encounter bumpy roads it’s not the best-riding electric crossover on the market. The suspension can prove a bit crashy and the damping is not the most sophisticated around, letting ridges and scars in the tarmac feed through into the cabin.