Leapmotor is ditching the SUV frenzy for a plain-looking electric hatch with 215 bhp, a 67.1kWh battery and rapid charging that promises 10–80% in 24 minutes. So why does a single piece of tech make it feel worryingly off the mark? Leapmotor/Press Association/dpaFor a little while now, SUVs and crossovers have been the talk of the town. Whether it be hybrid, electric or anything else in between, it has been the SUV bodystyle that has been in vogue, with car makers of all types creating their own takes on this design.Leapmotor hasn't been any different, either. But with this new car – the B05 – it's taking an altogether more traditional direction, bringing a conventional hatchback to market in an effort to widen its presence in Europe.What's new?AdvertisementAdvertisementAs mentioned, Leapmotor has been largely focused on SUVs up until this point – aside from the tiny T03 city car – with this Chinese brand offering up largely similar models. Part-owned by Stellantis, Leapmotor is looking to keep the momentum rolling as it expands with more dealers within the UK, with this B05 aiming to increase its reach into more conventional areas.Similar in size to your standard Volkswagen Golf or Vauxhall Astra, the B05 does get an electric setup, but a pretty conventional design, which may help it to appeal to more drivers, or simply those who just don't fancy an SUV.What's under the bonnet?Unlike many other electric vehicles, the B05 is being offered with just a single motor and battery setup. There's a 215bhp electric motor driving the rear wheels, and this is connected to a 67.1kWh battery for a claimed range of up to 480 km in certain specifications.AdvertisementAdvertisementLeapmotor says that because of the B05's 174kW charging speed, you should be able to get the battery from 10 to 80% in around 24 minutes. Leapmotor has also leaned on the knowledge of its European Stellantis colleagues to bring the chassis of the B05 closer into line with what buyers here expect, with near-50:50 weight distribution and a more complex suspension setup than what you'd normally get on a Leapmotor model, included on all versions.What's it like to drive?Previous Leapmotor cars haven't offered the most dynamic or involving driving experiences, but the B05 isn't half bad in this area. The steering has some decent weight to it and the suspension is well-judged. Through quicker bends, the car stays flat and well-managed and, in all, it's a solid-feeling car from behind the wheel. It feels more like a traditional European hatchback in this regard, which is a big move forward for Leapmotor. Make no mistake, this is not a quick car, but the performance on offer feels perfectly adequate for the type of vehicle it is.It's just a shame that such a haphazard assistance system setup lets down the driving experience. Leapmotor says that it's easy to disengage features such as lane keeping assistance and speed limit detection – it isn't – and when they're on, they are simply too distracting and verging on the dangerous. Even when you think you've got them switched off, they never feel truly deactivated. It's a pity, as the car – on the whole – is pretty solid to drive.AdvertisementAdvertisementHow does it look?Leapmotor has hardly been rewriting the rulebook with the design of its recent cars and it feels as though the ink is staying dry for now. On the one hand, it's nice to see a diversion being taken to move away from SUVs for a little bit, but on the other, the B05 just feels a little too plain – to our eyes at least. Rounded lights, flush door handles and a smoothed-off front end? It all feels a bit overdone now.There are some nice features like the full-width lightbar, but overall it's a pretty subdued design. At least there's a bright yellow colour which can spruce things up a bit.What's it like inside?AdvertisementAdvertisementThe B05 really counters when it comes to inside space. Rear-seat headroom is particularly good, particularly when you consider that all cars get a panoramic sunroof as standard. Kneeroom is good, too, and we'd say that passengers of all sizes should be able to get comfy back there. The fit and finish is good too, and though everything feels a little grey and drab, it's all solid and feels good to the touch.There are essentially no major buttons up front, mind you, though Leapmotor has designed some steering wheel buttons that can act as shortcut keys to certain elements, it isn't as intuitive as dedicated controls. At least the 345-litre boot is adequately sized and can be increased to 1,400 litres by folding down the rear seats.What's the spec like?In keeping with the rest of the line-up, the Leapmotor B05 is competitively priced. It starts from €27,900 in Germany or £28,995 in the UK, for example, meaning that it does undercut the vast majority of the competition.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe standard equipment is extensive, too, with the larger 14.6-inch infotainment system, 19-inch alloys, automatic air conditioning and heated seats all included as standard. To get the same level of equipment on a more traditional car – like a Volkswagen Golf, for instance – would cost considerably more.Aside from the aforementioned Lightning Yellow, the choice of colours is largely focused around greys and blacks, which is a shame as we feel the B05 could look pretty good in a brighter or more vibrant shade.VerdictThe Leapmotor B05 feels almost annoyingly close to being a decent everyday hatchback. It drives nicely, has the right level of performance and an impressive range that'll mean you won't have to charge it up that frequently. When you do, a good charge speed ensures you won't be waiting long.AdvertisementAdvertisementUnfortunately, all of these positives come close to being undone by an unintuitive assistance system setup, which meddles in your driving too frequently. If Leapmotor were to sort this, the B05 will be one to recommend. Until then, it's a little way off the mark.The Leapmotor B05's 67.1kWh battery has claimed range of up to 480 km in certain specifications. Leapmotor/Press Association/dpaUnfortunately a haphazard assistance system setup lets down the driving experience in the Leapmotor B05. Leapmotor/Press Association/dpa
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