Key highlights:
- Leapmotor is evaluating the 6-seat C16 and 6/7 seat D19 SUVs
- C16 offers EV and EREV powertrains with up to 1000km combined range
- Larger D19 offers up to 720km range in EV form and 1050km total EREV range
Leapmotor wants to expand beyond its 5-seat C10 SUV in Australia, and two larger models could help it get there. The Chinese brand is evaluating the C16 and flagship D19, both of which offer electric and extended-range electric (EREV) powertrains.
With six- or seven-seat layouts on the table, these SUVs could give Australian families more choice. However, Leapmotor hasn’t confirmed a launch date, with its local boss saying the brand is still assessing customer demand, business viability and timing.
Leapmotor launched Down Under in late 2024. It is rapidly establishing itself as a budget-conscious, tech-forward electric vehicle (EV) player and is backed by Stellantis. It has already revealed Australia’s cheapest all-electric SUV, the B03X, and the B05 electric hatch is confirmed for late 2026 arrival.
What models are being considered?
Leapmotor Australia boss Andy Hoang talked to CarExpert Australia and confirmed that the company is looking at two models for the local market.
He said, “They’re on the books, the C16 and the D19; they’re vehicles that we’re looking at. We do think that there’s an opportunity for those cars here, a six/seven seater, customers are asking for that.”
He said the company must work through the business case and decide when each model would make sense for Australia. Leapmotor has announced both vehicles globally and plans to consider them for international markets.
The brand now needs to decide which models could help it grow its Australian presence and meet customer demand. That could give Leapmotor an advantage over other relatively new Chinese brands in Australia, including Deepal, GAC and Geely, which don’t yet offer three-row SUVs.
Leapmotor C16: A larger, six-seat alternative to the C10
The C16 arrived in 2024 as a stretched version of the C10, with an available 2+2+2 seating layout, and both models have received facelifts in China this year. Like the C10, the C16 comes with a choice of fully electric and extended-range electric powertrains with five- or six-seat configurations in China.
| Length | 4925mm |
| Width | 1905mm |
| Height | 1770mm |
| Wheelbase | 2825mm |
| Seating | 5 or 6 seats |
The fully electric C16 uses an 800V electrical system and a single rear-mounted electric motor. The EREV version combines a smaller battery with a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that charges the battery.
| Specification | C16 EV | C16 EREV |
|---|---|---|
| Battery | 81.9kWh LFP | 38.9kWh LFP |
| Engine | – | 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol |
| Motor | Single motor RWD | Single motor RWD |
| System output | 230kW / 360Nm | 200kW |
| EV range | 630km (CLTC) | 185km (WLTC) |
| Combined range | – | 1000km (WLTC) |
| 0–100km/h | 6.8 seconds | Not confirmed |
The C16 offers a generous cabin technology package, with equipment varying by configuration. Standard cabin features include:
- 17.3-inch infotainment touchscreen
- 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster
- 14-speaker sound system
- Curtain airbags covering all three rows
Available equipment includes a 60-inch head-up display, a 17.3-inch rear-seat entertainment screen and Nappa leather upholstery. Buyers can also get massaging seats in the first and second rows, plus a 23-speaker sound system with Dolby Atmos.
In China, the C16 is also available with a LiDAR unit. Working alongside other sensors and radar units, it supports a broad range of active safety and driver-assistance functions.
Also read: Freelander 8 global specs detailed before 2027 Aussie launch
Leapmotor D19: A larger, more premium SUV
The D19 would sit higher in Leapmotor’s Australian range as a more premium offering, but it isn’t part of the brand’s previously confirmed upcoming premium marque. Like the C16, the D19 offers EV and EREV powertrains, and also gives buyers a choice of six- or seven-seat layouts.
The D19 is substantially larger than the C16, measuring 327mm longer and riding on a wheelbase that’s 285mm longer.
| Length | 5252mm |
| Width | 1995mm |
| Height | 1780mm |
| Wheelbase | 3110mm |
| Seating | 6 or 7 seats |
The fully electric D19 uses a 1000V electrical system and offers two battery options from CATL: a 99.6kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) pack or a 115kWh ternary lithium battery. Buyers can also choose between two all-wheel-drive configurations.
| Specification | Dual-motor D19 EV | Tri-motor D19 EV |
|---|---|---|
| System output | 410kW / 625Nm | 540kW / 745Nm |
| Drivetrain | All-wheel drive | All-wheel drive |
| 0–100km/h | 4.9 seconds | 3.94 seconds |
| EV range (CLTC) | 620–720km, depending on variant | 620–720km, depending on variant |
The D19 EREV uses an 800V electrical system, a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and one of two large CATL LFP batteries. The battery capacities are substantial for an extended-range vehicle that isn’t a fully electric SUV.
| Specification | D19 EREV |
|---|---|
| Engine | Turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol |
| Battery options | 63.7kWh or 80.3kWh LFP |
| System output | 300kW / 525Nm |
| 0–100km/h | 6.0 seconds |
| EV range (WLTC) | 285km (63.7kWh) / 370km (80.3kWh) |
| Combined range (WLTC) | 1050km (63.7kWh) / 972km (80.3kWh) |
| Fuel consumption with depleted battery | 6.6–6.7L/100km |
Interestingly, the smaller battery delivers the longer claimed total combined range, at 1050km compared with 972km for the larger pack. The larger battery, however, provides the longer electric-only range.
The D19 also gets a more sophisticated suspension setup, with double-wishbone front suspension, a five-link rear arrangement and continuously variable damping. Its dual-chamber air suspension can raise the vehicle by up to 40mm or lower it by up to 55mm.
Cabin equipment includes:
- 17.3-inch infotainment touchscreen
- 60-inch augmented-reality head-up display
- 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster
- 6.0-inch rear control screen
- 21.4-inch rear multimedia display
A 23-speaker sound system with Dolby Atmos comes standard, along with power doors and a panoramic glass roof. The D19 also features an 8.1-litre refrigerator that can cool to as low as -6°C or heat to as high as 50°C.
Australia’s three-row electric SUV market is growing
No Chinese brand currently offers a three-row electric SUV in Australia, and that will change when the Xpeng G9L arrives. Across all brands, the Tesla Model Y L and new Mercedes-Benz GLB are the only three-row electric SUVs priced below $100,000 before on-road costs. The entry-level Kia EV9 Air also just slips under that threshold.
Buyers spending more than $100,000 have additional options, including the Cadillac Vistiq, Hyundai Ioniq 9 and Volvo EX90. The gap in the market stands out because Chinese brands offer plenty of three-row electric SUVs in their home market.
Plug-in hybrid alternatives are more common
Three-row plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUVs are already much more common in Australia, including models from Chinese brands, such as the Chery Tiggo 9 and BYD Sealion 8. Geely has also confirmed two large PHEV SUVs for Australia in 2027, but neither model offers a third row of seats.
Geely launched in Australia just a few months after Leapmotor, in early 2025. Despite having a similarly small model range, Geely is now selling significantly more vehicles than its rival.
For Leapmotor, adding a larger family SUV could help address a gap in its range and give it another way to attract Australian buyers. But the C16 and D19 remain under consideration, rather than confirmed additions to local showrooms.
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