Not long ago, a new electric SUV in Australia cost well over $40,000 once it was on the road. Leapmotor, the Chinese brand sold here through Stellantis, wants to change that. On 6 October it announced the B03X: $29,990 drive-away for the entry Style and $33,990 drive-away for the Design LR, with cars due in dealerships in November.
Before you get too excited, read the fine print. These drive-away prices are a launch offer. They apply to cars in the standard Acorn Brown paint, bought and delivered between 1 October and 31 December 2026, and fleet, rental and government buyers are excluded. Any other colour adds $990. The underlying list prices are $26,990 and $30,990 before on-road costs.
What you get
| B03X Style | B03X Design LR | |
|---|---|---|
| Drive-away (launch offer) | $29,990 | $33,990 |
| Battery (LFP) | 39.8 kWh | 53 kWh |
| WLTP range | 292 km | 382 km |
| Motor output | 130 kW | 145 kW |
| Peak DC charging | 100 kW | 133 kW |
| 0–100 km/h (claimed) | 8.6 seconds | |
Both grades come with an 11 kW AC onboard charger, 3.3 kW vehicle-to-load and a 14.6-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Leapmotor says the cargo area holds up to 1,315 litres with the rear seats folded. The Design LR adds 18-inch alloys, heated front seats and steering wheel, a 360-degree camera with a built-in dashcam, and a 12-speaker sound system.
Who it suits
The Style's 292 km WLTP range is fine for city driving and commuting. As a sole car for country driving, though, it will need planning. Our rule of thumb from independent highway testing is that real range at a steady 110 km/h usually ends up around 25 to 35 per cent below the WLTP figure. On that basis, expect something like 200 km between full charges on the motorway, and less in winter. We'll swap in measured figures once Bjørn Nyland or another independent tester runs the B03X. If you regularly drive between regional centres, the Design LR's bigger battery and quicker charging are worth the extra $4,000.
The competition
The B03X joins a budget segment that has filled up quickly. MG's configurator lists the MG4 EV Urban from $31,990 drive-away, BYD sells the Atto 2, and the Atto 1 hatch starts lower still. What sets the B03X apart is that you get an SUV body and a large touchscreen at this price, not a hatch. Leapmotor's warranty is 6 years/150,000 km on the car and 8 years/160,000 km on the battery. That's competitive, but some rivals offer longer cover.
Our take
The B03X matters because of the price more than the car. A sub-$30,000 drive-away electric SUV from a brand with a major dealer network behind it puts pressure on everyone. Check the offer's end date and the colour conditions, compare it with an MG4 Urban or Atto 2 quote for your postcode, and if you'll do a lot of highway driving, go for the Design LR.