By Brian Byrne.
The Leapmotor T03 clearly illustrates the near-term divide in electric cars. There will be EVs suited for city driving and others designed for long-distance travel, and they won’t be the same. The biggest difference will be affordability. What won’t be compromised is quality. China-based Leapmotor understands this, and the T03 doesn’t hold back in this regard. Every part of it meets today’s standards. Of course, at the price point, some features are missing.
The T03’s name isn’t memorable, nor is the car particularly attractive. Its style echoes some city models from the 1990s—think Nissan Micra or Citroën Saxo. But its cube shape maximises space for four passengers, as long as they’re not all as long-legged as I am. The bodywork is plain, with no outlandish design elements, making it easy to wash. There’s a standard glass roof panel. The EV charge port is conveniently located at the front, reducing hassle at charging stations.
Inside, the car’s interior matches its tidy exterior. The dashboard is straightforward, with easily accessible air vents and a clearly visible emergency flasher button. However, this results in a lower-mounted infotainment screen that is angled but suffers from glare from the glass roof. The screen graphics are better than some Chinese rivals—clear and adequately sized. All climate controls are operated via the screen. A peculiarity is that the fan defaults to zero whenever the car is turned off. Which means things can begin to fog up until it’s manually turned on. The driver’s instrument cluster is simple and displays essential information clearly. The fabric seats are well-sized and comfortable, with front ones featuring correctly angled integrated head restraints. The rear seats are suitable only for two passengers, and the boot offers a modest 210 litres.
The T03’s powertrain focuses on city affordability, with a small 36kWh battery and an electric motor capable of a 0-100km/h toddle of under 13 seconds. The official range is 265 km, but real-world figures are around 200 km. With city driving, it’s possible to exceed 300 km in mild weather. This is where the ‘does it suit?’ calculation needs to be made.
The T03 is NOT a car for long intercity journeys — I had a 400 km round trip planned, but decided against it when I realised charging stops would add more than an hour to the five hours plus I would already be driving. The absence of heated seats also affects winter usability, as heating consumes additional battery power. Conversely, it proved to be a very practical vehicle for my local trips during my time with it.
When I look back at the T03, it feels like two cars in one. On one hand, it represents affordability and a decent finish quality for an urban runabout—similar to many small combustion-engine vehicles. On the other hand, it has minor flaws such as screen glare, the lack of physical switches, and a range comparable to the 2012 Renault Zoe. The equaliser for buyers will be their driving needs. For most, the range may be acceptable, especially if they start each day with a full charge.
The choice is theirs.
PRICE: From €18,995. WHAT I LIKED: It suits the runabout role.
Joe Norris Motors is a specialist in Peugeot and Leapmotor, offering manufacturer-approved diagnostics and maintenance. Your Local Dealer in county Meath is Joe Norris Motors, Kenstown Road, Navan. Tel 046 902 1312
DROP IN USE OF HELMETS BY CYCLISTS, E-SCOOTERS
Fewer pedal cyclists and e-scooter riders in Ireland are wearing helmets, writes Brian Byrne. That’s according to a study by the Road Safety Authority. Only half of pedal cyclists in the study were observed to be wearing helmets, a 7 per cent decrease since 2024. Only 27 per cent of e-scooter riders were observed wearing safety helmets, down 15 per cent since the previous year. Very high helmet use rates were again observed among motorcyclists, at 98 per cent, consistent with prior studies. In addition, only 19 per cent of e-scooter riders wore hi-viz clothing, compared to 28 per cent of motorcyclists and 20 per cent of pedal cyclists.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS DOMINANT IN 2025
Three out of four cars sold in Ireland in 2025 had automatic transmissions, writes Brian Byrne. This compares to 66 per cent in 2024.
With stricter emissions regulations favouring automatic transmissions, manual gearboxes are expected to become increasingly rare over the next five years. The change has been accelerated by the rise in electric and hybrid vehicles, all of which have automatic transmissions.
The growth has been inexorable since the advent of dual-clutch automatic transmissions, which have generally proven more fuel-efficient than manual transmissions.
INSURANCE PRODUCT FOR TOYOTA, LEXUS OWNERS
Toyota and Lexus have launched a new tailored motor insurance product in the Irish market, writes Brian Byrne. Toyota Insurance Services has developed it in partnership with insurance technology leader Wrisk Europe GmbH. The product offers comprehensive, competitively priced cover designed exclusively for Toyota and Lexus drivers, including Any Driver Cover, Genuine Toyota Parts, No Claims Bonus Protection, and Vandalism & Uninsured Driver Protection. Hybrid and EV drivers also benefit from added protections such as battery, charging cable and wall box cover. The launch represents a significant expansion of Toyota’s insurance offering, reinforcing the brand’s position as Ireland’s best-selling car brand for the fifth year running.
Toyota’s 2025 best seller, Yaris Cross.
