2026 Leapmotor D19 evaluation: Fast drive

The Leapmotor D19 is the Chinese language model’s new flagship SUV, sitting above the B10 small SUV and C10 mid-size SUV in its international lineup. It is a huge, lovely factor, and whereas its wheels make it appear like one thing from Bentley or Rolls-Royce, its inside is what actually impressed us throughout our super-quick first drive in China final week.

In essence, it is a full-size, three-row luxurious SUV provided in China as both a battery-electric car (EV) or an extended-range electrical car (EREV, or REEV in Leapmotor-speak, as per the prevailing C10 REEV and upcoming B10 REEV). Relying on the model, it may be had with six or seven seats, dual-motor all-wheel drive, or tri-motor all-wheel drive within the flagship BEV Efficiency trim.

It’s additionally monumental. At 5252mm lengthy, 1995mm huge and 1780mm tall, and with a 3110mm wheelbase, the D19 is longer than most massive SUVs bought in Australia, and is geared toward consumers who need real three-row area.

The D19 hasn’t been confirmed for Australia, although we firmly imagine will probably be coming to our market as Stellantis appears to be like to proceed its onslaught with new Leapmotor fashions in Australia. As soon as authorized, export-market car localisation might theoretically be accomplished inside 9 to 12 months, which might imply the D19 arrives right here someday in 2027. 

In Australia, the Leapmotor D19 is finest in contrast with a reasonably small group of huge or upper-large three-row SUVs that provide a real seven-seat format or a second-row captain’s chair configuration.

It’s bodily nearer in measurement to a Cadillac Vistiq, BMW X7, Denza B8 or Mercedes-Benz GLS than it’s to extra apparent rivals just like the Kia EV9. The Hyundai Ioniq 9 and Mazda CX-90 are additionally related as a result of their wheelbases are comparable too, despite the fact that they’re shorter general.

How a lot does the Leapmotor D19 price?

Australian pricing for the Leapmotor D19 has not been introduced. In China, the D19 vary begins at ¥219,800 (A$45,000) for the REEV and tops out at ¥269,800 (A$55,000) for the tri-motor BEV Efficiency model.

It could be truthful so as to add round $10,000-15,000 to the costs listed above for a tough thought of what the D19 might price in Australia.

What’s the Leapmotor D19 like on the within?

The six-seat model we examined in China had essentially the most superb second-row captain’s chairs, which we genuinely fell asleep in at one level whereas getting a therapeutic massage. There may be a lot room within the second row that legroom is a real delight, and for those who do not want greater than six seats, it will be a criminal offense to not get the captain’s chair choice in a D19.

The seven-seat model is geared toward consumers who want an additional middle-row seat, of which there will likely be lots, however we didn’t get to see an instance of that in China this time. However for those who solely have three youngsters or fewer, get the six-seater model and allow them to develop up in absolute consolation.

The D19’s six-seat format is constructed round consolation, with heating, air flow and massaging for the entrance seats and zero-gravity second-row captain’s chairs. The ‘leather-based’ color choices are additionally a delight, with beautiful browns and different brighter colors that basically make the inside stand out. How they survive years of abuse by youngsters stays to be seen, nonetheless.

Know-how is a robust level of the D19. The 15.6-inch central touchscreen, 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster, and 9.0-inch rear touchscreens are typical of what’s now anticipated from any first rate Chinese language model. And they don’t disappoint, with excessive decision, fairly straightforward menu constructions, and super-responsiveness due to a pair of Qualcomm Snapdragon 8795 chips (the identical CPU you can find within the newest Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely).

What’s below the bonnet?

That relies on the model. The REEV makes use of a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine as a range-extender, paired with a big lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery and dual-motor all-wheel drive. The engine is there solely to generate electrical energy and lengthen vary, somewhat than making the D19 a standard petrol-powered SUV.

The electrical-only variations cast off the petrol engine and use bigger LFP batteries, and could be had in both dual-motor all-wheel drive or tri-motor all-wheel drive varieties, the latter for the Efficiency trim.

The vary figures are based mostly on China’s CLTC take a look at cycle, which is usually extra beneficiant than WLTP. Any Australian-delivered D19 would possible include totally different claimed figures.

How does the Leapmotor D19 drive?

We drove the D19 solely briefly on the world’s smoothest proving floor in China, so this isn’t a definitive verdict however our first impressions had been fairly constructive. This factor is huge and it weighs nearly three tonnes within the greater specs.

The automobile we drove was the entry-level REEV 400 which makes use of a small 1.5-litre petrol engine to generate electrical energy, somewhat than drive the wheels. This implies the D19 feels very very like an electrical automobile ought to, which implies it has loads of instantaneous torque and accelerates super-smoothly and with out hesitation.

Just like the Leapmotor B05 we drove, the D19 did not stay as much as its claimed 0-100km/h time of 6.0 seconds (3.9 within the absolute prime spec), and with 4 adults on board we recorded about 8.5 seconds. Once more, we must always level out this automobile was being examined over and over so there may very well be a large number of the reason why it did not ship standing-start acceleration anyplace near its claims.

For one thing measuring greater than 5.2 metres lengthy, the D19 feels fairly agile and, given the kind of use a automobile like it will get, it is truly fairly first rate dynamically. Sure, the steering has subsequent to no suggestions, however we did drive the Chinese language specification, not the D19 with the European tune that can come to Australia.

The air suspension and steady damping management (CDC) system are supposed to give the D19 a luxurious SUV really feel, however the proving floor solely offered a small street course for testing, which the D19 dealt with with ease. It is such an enormous factor that what occupants within the third row really feel could also be solely totally different to these up entrance, so we want extra time behind the wheel.

The D19’s claimed turning circle is 11.4 metres in customary kind, or 10.8m for the tri-motor model with ‘CrabSteer’. For context, the Kia EV9 has a 12.4m turning circle regardless of being shorter in size. Which is why this automobile feels fairly agile at sluggish speeds.

The most important query is how the D19 will behave away from a managed proving floor. On paper, it has the dimensions, efficiency and expertise to compete with costlier three-row electrical SUVs, however we’ll want an Australian drive to correctly choose journey consolation, refinement, effectivity, and ease of use.

Is the Leapmotor D19 secure?

The Leapmotor D19 doesn’t but have an Australian ANCAP security score or a security score from some other unbiased security authority that we might discover. It’s prone to have been designed to fulfill the newest European security necessities for a most five-star Euro NCAP score (which is just about mirrored for our market), however that continues to be to be seen.

How a lot does the Leapmotor D19 price to run?

Australian aftersales particulars together with car and battery guarantee, capped-price servicing and roadside help haven’t been confirmed for the D19. Nonetheless, like different Leapmotor fashions in Australia, it needs to be lined by a six-year, 150,000km car guarantee, whereas its high-voltage battery pack needs to be lined by an eight-year, 160,000km guarantee.

CarExpert’s Tackle the Leapmotor D19

The Leapmotor D19 is the type of SUV that exhibits how rapidly Chinese language manufacturers are pushing into segments as soon as dominated by premium and mainstream legacy automakers. Actually, it might move for a $200,000 European luxurious SUV on appears to be like alone, and from our restricted time behind the wheel the inside can also be fairly rattling good.

On paper, it has all of the components Australian massive SUV consumers like, together with three rows of seating, huge batteries, lengthy vary claims, all-wheel drive, air suspension, a high-tech cabin and the selection of both range-extender or pure-electric energy.

The REEV model is arguably the extra fascinating one for Australia, as a result of it guarantees lengthy electric-only vary for every day driving and petrol-backed flexibility for longer journeys. The EV, in the meantime, offers Leapmotor a extra direct rival for big electrical SUVs like the favored Kia EV9 and Hyundai Ioniq 9, each of that are priced properly above the place Leapmotor ought to hopefully place the D19.

If Leapmotor brings the D19 right here with the best specification and sharp pricing, it might give the model a critical flagship. For now, it’s promising, however nonetheless very a lot a automobile we have to drive extra extensively on Australian roads.

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