SUVs are inevitable, but if you’re still one of those car guys who are ‘keeping it true’ to your favourite format (some like them long and sleek, some like ‘no tail’), here’s a breath of fresh air from Auto China 2026. Unlike everything else in Beijing, the Leapmotor Lafa 5 is a Euro-style five-door C-segment hatchback for the electric age. Think Volkswagen ID.3, but with ICE-car looks, like a traditional Golf. Something like this might not have been a big deal a decade ago, but it’s increasingly niche now, more so in China, where hatchbacks aren’t a thing. The front end reminds me of VW’s Scirocco – remember that sporty two-door? By the way, Lafa stands for Lifestyle, Attitude, Freedom and Art but the car will be marketed as the B05 outside of China, and we’ll call it that from now. The B05 is 4,490 mm long and 1,880 mm wide, with a long wheelbase of 2,735 mm. The regular car you see here is 1,520 mm tall, 10 mm higher than the sportier Ultra version that debut in Beijing last week. For context, a VW Golf MK8 is 4,284 mm long, 1,789 mm wide and 1,456 mm tall. Boot volume is 435 litres, expandable to 1,400 litres with the rear seats folded. Like its B10 SUV sister, the B05 sits on the Leap 3.5 EV platform, which means it’s rear-wheel drive and has 50:50 weight distribution. The hatchback sits on independent suspension (rear multi-links) and 19-inch wheels, wrapped with 225/45 Linglong Sport Master e tyres, which we also find on the B10. In China, the entry-level Lafa 5 has a 179 PS/220 Nm motor, while the other four variants get 218 PS/240 Nm. A range of LFP batteries (everything is designed and packed in-house by Leapmotor, with only the battery cells supplied) deliver CLTC range of 515 km or 605 km, which should translate to around 420 km and 500 km on the more realistic WLTP scale. The 0-100 km/h sprint is achieved in 7.9 to 8.9 seconds and top speed is up to 160 km/h. Leapmotor claims energy consumption of between 11.9 to 12.5 kWh per 100 km and DC fast charging top ups from 30% to 80% SoC in around 18 minutes. Inside, the B05’s dashboard is per the B10 SUV, and one gets an 8.8-inch digital meter panel paired to a 14.6-inch central screen. It’s standard Chinese EV fare in here, but the holes on the passenger side of the dash are quite interesting – Leapmotor sells accessories that owners can plug-in according to their needs, such as a foldable table and a phone holder. The Beijing showcar you see here has a cat tapau hook. Unlike the exterior, the B05’s basic dashboard design isn’t at all sporty, but they did throw in some racy touches such as suede-like surfaces, a full-black cabin and frameless windows. The car’s cockpit chip is the Snapdragon 8155, but there’s a more powerful Snapdragon 8295/8650 available. Also optional is LiDAR, marked by roof-mounted sensors and blue lights at both ends of the car. Since this more advanced ‘hands-free’ form of ADAS isn’t applicable in most overseas markets, they’re likely to be omitted for export B05s. In China, the Lafa 5 is priced from 97,800 yuan for the base 515 Plus to 121,800 yuan for the top 605 Max (RM56,569 to RM70,451). The B05 is confirmed for UK and Australia and exports are scheduled for later this year, which means that right-hand-drive production is just around the corner. So, how about ASEAN? Leapmotor’s next model for our region is the A10 a.k.a. B03X compact SUV and we understand that there are no plans for the B05, for now. It’s a shame because this EV is truly a breath of fresh air thanks to its unique bodystyle and subtle-sporty design, but what makes it special is also what makes it a weak business case next to an SUV. What do you think of the B05 and the hotter Ultra version? GALLERY: Leapmotor Lafa 5 a.k.a. B05 at Auto China 2026 Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro. Compare prices between different insurer providers to save the most on your car insurance renewal compared to other competing services. Many payment method supported and you can pay with instalment using Atome, Grab PayLater or Shopee SPayLater. Use the promo code 'PAULTAN' when you checkout for 10% discount!
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