Leapmotor T03: The Electric Volkswagen

While others talk about affordable electric mobility, Leapmotor takes action. Priced at €18,900, the T03 offers a lot of car for the money.

The Push for Affordable EVs

Electric mobility is currently experiencing a slump in demand. Despite politicians trying to paint a rosy picture, the reality is that the key to widespread adoption of EVs lies in making them affordable. The success of electric vehicles will come from the bottom up, with models accessible to the general public. Only then will a broad audience be able to enjoy the benefits of this new mobility.

While Volkswagen has been teasing an electric car under €25,000 for a while, brands like Dacia with the Spring and Citroën with the e-C3 are already delivering on that promise. Now, Chinese automaker Leapmotor enters the scene with its all-electric T03, priced at just €18,900, making its way into Europe. Interestingly, Stellantis holds a 51% stake in the joint venture „Leapmotor International.“ Starting in November, the T03 will be produced in Poland’s Tychy plant as a CKD (Complete Knock-Down), which could help avoid potential tariffs. It’s noteworthy that the T03 enters the territory of the Citroën e-C3, raising eyebrows about Stellantis’ strategy. However, CEO Carlos Tavares is playing it smart: Leapmotor was planning to enter Europe regardless, so better to join them than fight them.

A New Kid On The Block

Currently, Leapmotor is selling the T03 through 40 dealerships in Germany, with the first vehicles already on the road. They’re utilizing the Stellantis dealer network, covering 80% of the country, and they plan to expand further by the end of the year. “We can quickly scale up the number of dealerships and expect to have many more by year’s end,” says Leapmotor Germany head Martin Resch. While the strategy makes sense for a multi-brand company, the real test lies in how the car performs on the road. And the Leapmotor T03 holds up surprisingly well, especially when compared to the Dacia Spring.

At first glance, the 3.62-meter-long and 1.65-meter-high T03 isn’t exactly a looker. It resembles a shrunken London taxi (in silhouette) mixed with a Fiat 500 after a wild designer’s party. But aesthetics aside, let’s talk numbers. The base Dacia Spring starts at €16,900, but the more comparable Spring Expression Electric 65 is priced similarly to the T03 at €18,900. However, unlike Dacia, Leapmotor keeps things simple with just one version for that price. The only choices you need to make are between three colors: light blue, silver, and white.

The Price is all-in

For €18,900, the T03 comes with a solid set of standard features: a rearview camera with rear parking sensors, six airbags, manual air conditioning, power-adjustable mirrors, and electric windows for all four doors. That said, the rear seats are tight for adults, and the door openings are small – if you wear anything larger than a size 36 shoe, it’ll be a squeeze.

The front seats don’t fare much better for two full-grown adults, as the T03 is just 1.58 meters wide. Still, it’s no more cramped than the Dacia. The Spring’s equipment list is decent but doesn’t quite match the T03’s offerings, especially when it comes to driver assistance systems.

Safety and Tech at a Bargain

Speaking of assistance systems, the Leapmotor T03 shines in this area, partly due to EU regulations. The T03 boasts ten driver assistance features, including adaptive cruise control, a blind-spot warning system (which activates when you open the door), and a forward collision warning with emergency braking. Sure, the traffic sign recognition can be a bit wonky (displaying a constant 50 km/h on the autobahn), but that’s an issue even in more expensive cars. However, the constant beeping of the warnings can get annoying.

Inside, the T03 feels modern. Chinese automakers have a knack for creating high-tech interiors. The digital instrument cluster measures eight inches, while the touchscreen is ten inches. The interface is intuitive, though physical buttons, especially for the climate controls, would be welcome. Constantly looking at the screen to make adjustments is not ideal. But overall, the interior feels more premium than the price suggests, with piano black accents and textured hard plastics. Two USB-A ports are included up front, though USB-C would have been preferable.

More Power Than the Dacia Spring

In terms of performance, the Leapmotor T03 edges out the competition. It produces 70 kW (95 hp) and 158 Nm of torque, compared to the Spring’s 48 kW (65 hp) and 113 Nm. This translates to a 0-100 km/h time of 12.7 seconds, about half a second quicker than the Dacia, despite the T03’s extra 125 kg (1,175 kg total). The T03 also beats the Spring in top speed, reaching 130 km/h versus the Spring’s 125 km/h. In real-world driving, we averaged 13.4 kWh/100 km, which is 2.9 kWh/100 km better than the official figure.

The three driving modes – Eco, Standard, and Sport – don’t differ much, and we spent most of our time in Standard. The T03’s suspension is tuned for comfort, so it leans a bit in corners. The steering could be more direct, but for city driving, it’s not an issue, and the T03 isn’t built for the racetrack anyway. Its short 2.40-meter wheelbase gives it a tight turning radius, making it perfect for narrow streets.

Battery and Charging: Competitive but Not Groundbreaking

The T03 comes with a 37.3 kWh battery, offering a WLTP range of 265 km. The Spring, by comparison, has a 28.3 kWh battery with a range of 225 km. The T03’s charging speed isn’t groundbreaking but is still better than the Spring’s. It currently charges at 6.6 kW on AC power (single-phase), but from November, three-phase AC charging will be available. On DC, it charges at 45 kW, taking 36 minutes to go from 30% to 80%. The Spring charges at 3.7 kW (AC) and 30 kW (DC).

In terms of cargo space, the Dacia takes the lead with 308-1,004 liters, while the T03 offers 210-508 liters. The T03’s high loading lip and deep trunk floor also make loading awkward. Still, for a low-priced city car, the Leapmotor T03 is a strong contender that outshines the Dacia Spring in many areas. It’s a real people’s car. Take note, VW.