All-electric hatchback has a range of 485km on single charge

Chinese car giant Leapmotor has added to its line-up with the unwrapping of the B05, a fully electric C-segment hatchback with a claimed range of up to 485km.

It is the fourth model to arrive since the brand launched in Ireland in October, last year, joining the T03 compact city car, the B10 compact SUV and the C10 large family SUV.

This Golf-sized hatch is offered in two trims and two battery options across three versions.

Both battery units are built around Leapmotor’s Cell-to-Chassis (CTC) architecture, which integrates the battery directly into the vehicle structure to improve efficiency, reduce weight and increase cabin space.

On DC fast charging, the B05 will juice up from 30pc to 80pc in about 16 minutes with the 56.2kWh battery, and in about 17 minutes with the larger 67.1kWh battery.

On a 7.5kW home charger, the same charge takes approximately three hours and 44 minutes, and four hours and 24 minutes, respectively.

Sitting at 4,430mm long and 1,880mm wide, with a 2,735mm wheelbase and a drag coefficient of 0.26, the B05 combines a coupe-inspired silhouette with everyday practicality, including a 345-litre boot that extends to 1,400 litres with the rear seats folded.

Hidden door handles, a blade-style lighting signature and a low, forward-leaning stance give the car a seriously aggressive look.

Classy 19-inch two-tone alloys add a touch of premium, as do the pillarless doors, the deep roof spoiler, and the coast-to-coast LED lightbar running across the tailgate.

The cabin is spacious and decluttered, and has class-leading lateral roominess, which is further enhanced by ambient lighting and reclining rear seats.

The dash is simple and practically buttonless, with all functions channelled through a 14.6-inch touchscreen.

This is powered by Leapmotor’s latest operating system, Leap OS 4.0 Plus, and the Leapmotor app gives owners full remote access to key vehicle functions, including climate control, charge scheduling, vehicle status monitoring and digital key functionality.

The entry-level Style arrives comprehensively equipped as standard, with all the aforementioned features, plus an 8.8-inch digital cluster, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless phone charging, air-con, vehicle-to-load (V2L), over-the-air updates, seven airbags, 21 advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) functions and a 360-degree parking camera.

Upgrade to the Design and you’ll also get a panoramic sunroof with electric sunshade, eco-leather seats, electrically adjustable and heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, ambient lighting, automatically folding mirrors, rear privacy glass, rain sensors and a 12-speaker audio system.

Drive-wise, our first impressions were very positive, considering we had a 30-minute slot at the launch, which allowed us to take in the local roads around Citywest and a brief sprint up the N7.

The B05 has been co-developed with Stellantis’s global chassis team (Peugeot, Opel, Fiat and Alfa Romeo) and was specifically tuned for European roads.

It features a rear-wheel-drive architecture, 50:50 weight distribution and MacPherson front suspension and multi-link rear suspension. Its electric motor delivers a meaty 215hp and 240Nm of torque, which means it will top 100kmh in just 6.7 seconds.

I’ll reserve full judgment until we get our hands on it for a full test in the coming weeks. What is thoroughly impressive, though, is the price, which starts at €28,998, rising to €32,984 for all the bells and whistles, of which there are plenty.

The Leapmotor retail network now stands at 10 franchise dealers across eight counties, following the addition last month of Lynn Motors in Dundalk, Co Louth.

Two further models will follow the B05 in short order, with the B03X compact SUV arriving in Q4 of 2026 and the B03 hatchback hitting the Irish market in Q1 of 2027, bringing Leapmotor to a six-model line-up in Ireland inside 18 months of the brand’s arrival.

Stephen McGrath, brand manager of Leapmotor Ireland, said: “B05 takes Leapmotor into the very heart of the Irish market. The C-segment hatchback is where a huge number of Irish drivers shop and, until now, the fully electric options in that segment have asked people to pay a significant premium for the privilege. B05 does not.

“It is rear-wheel drive, a genuinely enjoyable drive, and arrives with the specification most brands treat as an optional extra, all from just €28,998.”

The B05 is available to order now.