Compact SUV with a 204 hp engine and a range of up to 500 km (in the Chinese cycle) has everything to keep Geely EX2, BYD Dolphin and Yuan Pro up at night
We went to one of Leapmotor’s industrial complexes, on the outskirts of Hangzhou, to see the range for the Chinese market. Currently, the brand offers six models such as the A10 compact SUV and the immense D19. But it’s the little one who has everything to shine here.
The 4.27 m long SUV with a wheelbase of 2.60 m is equipped with a 205 hp engine and 20.4 kgfm of torque (mounted on the rear axle). According to the brand, it has batteries that deliver autonomy in the range of 500 km, due to the optimistic Chinese cycle. According to Inmetro standards, we can expect something around 350 km.
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Leapmotor does not say whether or not the car will come to Brazil. But judging by what it did in 2025, when it took us to the same city to see the B10, C10 models and drive the big C16, we can bet that the SUV should be the brand’s next bet in Brazil. The ritual was the same.
And if we consider the prices charged by Leap, the A10 (which cannot use this name outside China for trademark registration reasons) can arrive with prices between R$ 140 thousand and R$ 180 thousand. This is the range in which models such as BYD Dolphin, Geely EX2 and Yuan Pro are positioned.
In addition, if we also judge by the interest of the Brazilian public in SUVs and the growing demand for less demeaning electric vehicles, the A10 could be the silver bullet for Stellantis to consolidate itself in the segment. This is because the brand sees Brazil as a strategic market. To hit the target, it needs to be priced better than BYD, which has prices between R$ 160 thousand and R$ 183 thousand.
Executives at the headquarters in China want to reach the mark of 1 million units distributed in 2026. In this context there is the huge domestic market, with more than 30 million annual sales, but also a considerable volume for exports. And in this scenario, Brazil should be the base to supply the Latin market.
Leap will start operations in Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia and Ecuador. And in this context, the production located in Goiana (PE) will play a fundamental role in the brand’s strategy.
We questioned the vice president of Leapmotor, Felipe Daemon, who is in China, about the possibility of expanding the production capacity of the Pernambuco plant, which currently operates at full speed with the production of Jeep, Ram and Fiat models, apart from the Leap B10 and C10, which will be assembled there. Without giving details, the executive was emphatic: “if it is from a business point of view that brings return, the company will always be open to expanding”, he points out.
We drove quickly, the A10 inside the Leapmotor industrial complex. Before the first contact, we were already alerted that the car is configured for the Chinese market. In other words, content such as the LIDAR system, suspension adjustment and some minutiae of local legislation would not be present in a possible model sold in Brazil in the future.
The SUV pleases for the body of work, it has torque to move quickly, but it is not sporty. Far from it. It has good interior space, in addition to offering comfort in the second row, thanks to the flat floor.
The finish is simpler than that of the B10 and C10 brothers, but the assembly is good and there is no shortage of items such as leather seats and padded appliqués.
Among the contents are a panoramic sunroof, electric trunk opening (no measurements disclosed, but it has a deep compartment, below the lid, which should be occupied by a repair and recharging kit). It also has alloy wheels (18-inch rim), in addition to items common in Chinese models such as huge multimedia, digital instrument panel, climate control and electrically adjustable driver’s seat.
The Leap A10 uses McPherson type suspension (front) and torsion axle (rear). The brakes are disc brakes on all four wheels. On the test track, it was possible to see that the setup is very soft, to the taste of the Chinese consumer. For here, a new calibration will be needed, as was done with B10 and C10.
Thus, the Leap A10 may be Stellantis’ big card to consolidate itself in the electric market in Brazil. It will have strong competition, as the Dolphin has a consolidated reputation, which ends up pulling the Yuan in tow. The EX2, on the other hand, has fallen in favor of the consumer, due to its good cost-benefit ratio. Attributes for this, the A10 has.
