Leapmotor B05 Australia Price: Is This the Best Cheap EV Hatch Yet?

Tim Bond
9 hours ago
4 min read

Key Facts Panel

Arrival: Late August 2026, Leapmotor's third EV in Australia after the B10 and C10 SUVs
Pricing: Style from $35,990 drive-away, Design LR from $38,990 drive-away (launch offer, 1 July to 30 September 2026)
Range: Style up to 401km WLTP (56.2kWh LFP battery), Design LR up to 482km WLTP (67.1kWh LFP battery)
Drivetrain: Rear-wheel drive, single 160kW/240Nm motor across both variants, 50:50 weight distribution
Charging: Up to 174kW DC on the Design LR, 30 to 80 per cent in as little as 16 to 18 minutes
Warranty: 6 years/150,000km vehicle, 8 years/160,000km battery, 8 years roadside assistance
Safety: Not yet assessed by ANCAP or Euro NCAP at time of writing
Our recommendation: For buyers who want the longest range in this price bracket and don't mind waiting on independent safety testing, the Design LR is the pick of the range. If ANCAP results matter to you before you sign, hold off until ratings land, likely in the months following the August launch.

If you have been comparing every sub-$40,000 EV hatch on the market and feeling like they all blur together, the Leapmotor B05 Australia price is worth pausing on.

It is Leapmotor's first non-SUV in Australia, it undercuts the MG4 on range, and it was chassis-tuned in Italy by engineers who usually work on Alfa Romeos.

Here is what is actually confirmed, and how it stacks up against the hatches you have probably already test driven.

What Makes the B05 Different

Most budget EVs in this segment are front-wheel drive. The B05 is not. Leapmotor has gone with a rear-mounted motor and a 50:50 weight split, and had the suspension tuned in Italy at Stellantis's Balocco proving ground before further work was done specifically for Australian roads.

That matters more than it sounds. Front-wheel-drive hatches in this price range tend to feel nose-heavy under acceleration. Early international reviews of the B05 point to flatter cornering and better body control than you would expect at this price point, largely thanks to that rear-drive layout.

The B05 also uses a cell-to-chassis battery construction, where the battery pack is integrated directly into the vehicle's structure. This is the same approach used in some far more expensive EVs, and it is meant to improve rigidity and free up cabin space without adding weight.

The Two Variants

Variant	Battery	WLTP Range	0-100km/h	Drive-Away Price
Style	56.2kWh LFP	Up to 401km	Not specified	$35,990
Design LR	67.1kWh LFP	Up to 482km	6.7 seconds	$38,990 (launch offer)

Both variants share the same 160kW/240Nm rear motor, 14.6-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a seven-airbag safety package with 21 ADAS features. The Design LR simply gets the bigger battery and the extra range that comes with it.

How the Leapmotor B05 Australia price Compares to the MG4, BYD Dolphin and GWM Ora 5

This is the segment where every dollar and every kilometre of range gets compared side by side. Here is where the B05 lands against its closest rivals.

Model	Price From	WLTP Range	Drive Layout
Leapmotor B05 Style	$35,990 drive-away	Up to 401km	RWD
Leapmotor B05 Design LR	$38,990 drive-away	Up to 482km	RWD
MG4 EV Urban Essence 43	$31,990 drive-away	Around 323km	FWD
MG4 EV Essence 64	$39,990 drive-away	Up to 452km	RWD
BYD Dolphin Essential	$33,792 drive-away	Up to 410km	FWD
BYD Dolphin Premium	Around $40,709 drive-away	Up to 490km	FWD
GWM Ora Lux (hatch)	$35,990 drive-away	Up to 400km	FWD

Note the MG4 name split for 2026: the cheaper front-wheel-drive Urban variants sit below the rear-wheel-drive Essence 64 and XPower, a distinct, pricier model. Don't let the shared badge confuse the comparison.

On outright price, the MG4 Urban and BYD Dolphin Essential both undercut the B05 Style.

On range, the B05 Design LR beats every model at or under its own $38,990 price point, though the pricier BYD Dolphin Premium edges it out at 490km for around $1,700 more.

Combined with its rear-wheel-drive layout, which none of the front-wheel-drive rivals here can match, the B05 is asking a small premium over the cheapest options in exchange for more range and a different driving feel, not the other way around.

Buy or Avoid: The Verdict

Buy if: you want the longest claimed range available at or under the B05's own price point, you value a rear-wheel-drive layout and European-tuned handling over shaving off the last few thousand dollars, and you are comfortable buying before ANCAP results are published.

Avoid, for now, if: independent crash-test results are a dealbreaker for you, or you need a car before late August. The Dolphin, MG4 and Ora 5 are all available today with established safety ratings.

FAQs

When does the Leapmotor B05 arrive in Australia? The B05 goes on sale from late August 2026, with the launch drive-away pricing available on vehicles purchased and delivered between 1 July and 30 September 2026.

How much does the Leapmotor B05 cost? The Style starts from $35,990 drive-away and the Design LR from $38,990 drive-away, both as part of a limited-time launch offer in Lightning Yellow paint.

What is the range of the Leapmotor B05? The Style is rated at up to 401km WLTP from a 56.2kWh battery, while the Design LR extends that to up to 482km WLTP from a larger 67.1kWh battery.

Is the Leapmotor B05 front-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive? Both variants are rear-wheel drive, using a 160kW/240Nm electric motor, which is unusual for this price segment.