Chinese brand Leapmotor’s largest model in Australia is currently the C10, a five-seat mid-size SUV, but it’s eyeing larger and more versatile models to slot above it.
The brand’s local boss, Andy Hoang, name-checked both the C16 SUV and the flagship D19 SUV as models Leapmotor is evaluating for Australia.
“They’re on the books, the C16 and the D19, they’re vehicles that we’re looking at. We do think that there’s an opportunity for those cars here, a six/seven seater, customers are asking for that,” Mr Hoang told CarExpert.
“It’s just a matter of us working through what is the best business scenario for those vehicles and timing for them.
🚘 Don’t just read about your next car. Find a great deal with CarExpert.
“These are all vehicles that Leapmotor has announced globally that these are products that we have in our stable, and these are the products we will be looking at for international markets, and it’s just a matter of us working through what is the best timing for us to get some of those products, and which ones that we think have an opportunity to help us here, grow our footprint, and customers demand.”
Notably, other relatively new Chinese brands in Australia, including Deepal, GAC and Geely, don’t yet have three-row SUVs.
The C16 was introduced in 2014 as a stretched version of the C10 with an available 2+2+2 seating configuration, with both models facelifted in China this year.
Like the C10 it’s based on, the C16 is offered with a choice of electric (EV) or extended-range electric (EREV) powertrains.
The C16 measures 4925mm long, 1905mm wide and 1770mm tall on a 2825mm wheelbase shared with the C10 it’s based on. It’s offered in China as either a five- or six-seater.
The electric version features an 800V electrical system and a single, rear-mounted electric motor producing 230kW of power and 360Nm of torque. This is powered by an 81.9kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery.
Leapmotor claims 630km of range under the more lenient CLTC cycle and a 0-100km/h time of 6.8 seconds.
The EREV variant uses a smaller 38.9kWh battery and a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine to charge it. Electric-only range is 185km, with total combined range of 1000km, both on the WLTC test.
Inside, there’s a 17.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, an 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster, and a 14-speaker sound system, with safety equipment including curtain airbag coverage for all three rows.
Available equipment includes a 60-inch head-up display, 17.3-inch rear-seat entertainment screen, Nappa leather seat upholstery, massaging first- and second-row seats, and a 23-speaker sound system with Dolby Atmos.
The Chinese-market C16 can also be had with a LiDAR unit which, along with an array of sensors and radar units, powers a wide range of active safety and driver-assistance technology.
The D19 would be a decidedly more premium offering for Leapmotor’s local lineup, even though it doesn’t belong to Leapmotor’s previously confirmed, upcoming premium brand.
Like the C16, it’s offered with a choice of EV and EREV powertrains. However, it’s available with the choice of six- or seven-seat configurations.
It’s considerably larger, measuring 5252mm long, 1995mm wide and 1780mm tall on a 3110mm wheelbase.
EV variants use a 1000V electrical system and a choice of 99.6kWh LFP or 115kWh ternary lithium batteries from CATL, powering either 410kW/625Nm dual-motor or 540kW/745Nm tri-motor all-wheel drive powertrains.
Claimed 0-100km/h times are 4.9 and 3.94 seconds, respectively, with CLTC range figures of between 620km and 720km depending on the variant.
EREV variants incorporate an 800V electrical system, a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and either 63.7kWh or 80.3kWh LFP batteries from CATL – still huge capacities for a vehicle that isn’t a full EV.
Total system outputs are 300kW and 525Nm, with a claimed 0-100km/h time of 6.0 seconds.
WLTC electric and total combined range figures are 285km and 1050km respectively with the smaller of the two batteries, and 370km and 972km with the larger pack. Fuel consumption is between 6.6 and 6.7L/100km with a depleted battery.
The D19 features double-wishbone front and five-link rear suspension and continuously variable damping. Dual-chamber air suspension allows the vehicle to be raised by up to 40mm and lowered by up to 55mm.
Inside, there’s a 17.3-inch touchscreen, 60-inch augmented reality head-up display, 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, and a 6.0-inch rear control screen and 21.4-inch rear multimedia display.
A 23-speaker sound system with Dolby Atmos is standard, along with power doors, a panoramic glass roof, and an 8.1-litre refrigerator that can be adjusted to as low as -6℃ to up to 50℃.
No Chinese brands currently offer a three-row electric SUV in Australia, something that will change with the upcoming launch of the Xpeng G9L.
In terms of electric SUVs with three rows of seating from any brand, there’s only the popular Tesla Model Y L and the new Mercedes-Benz GLB below $100,000 before on-road costs, with the entry-level Kia EV9 Air also just sliding under this price point. Above $100k, there are more options including the Cadillac Vistiq, Hyundai Ioniq 9 and Volvo EX90.
The lack of electric three-row SUVs from Chinese brands is particularly noteworthy given how many of these are offered by these same brands on their home market.
Plug-in hybrid (PHEV) three-row SUVs are much more common, including from Chinese brands, with examples including the Chery Tiggo 9 and BYD Sealion 8.
Geely has confirmed two large PHEV SUVs for Australia in 2027, but neither offers a third row of seating.
The rival Chinese brand was launched here just a few months after Leapmotor in early 2025, and is now significantly outselling it despite having a similarly small lineup.