What's the difference?
The B10 isn’t Leapmotor’s first car in Australia - the C10 has been here for more than a year now - but for many it might bring about the first time they hear about the Chinese brand.
The 2026 Leapmotor B10 lands in Australia promising to be the most European of its Chinese compatriots, with the brand’s connection to Stellantis giving it access to other brands under the company umbrella like Alfa Romeo, Maserati and Peugeot.
At its local launch, we get behind the wheel in scorching south-east Queensland to find out if that holds true for this electric small SUV, and to see if the B10 can bring with it a better first impression than the already-arrived mid-size C10.
Mahindra has long been known as a tractor brand and a maker of rugged utes and SUVs, but it’s now dipping its toe into Australia's light SUV segment.
The MY25 Mahindra XUV 3XO marks a further shift in the Indian brand’s local focus from rural and regional to metropolitan.
This tiny SUV goes up against some stiff competition including the Chery Tiggo 4, Hyundai Venue and Kia Stonic, among others. However, the Indian-made SUV holds a specific title that’ll make it stand out among the crowd.
I’ll be a shame if the B10 doesn’t sell well, because it doesn’t suffer from many of the downfalls of its compatriots and its price is extremely competitive for what you get.
As a comfortable smallish SUV, it meets par, and it’s on the better side of tech when it comes to cars from China, and it doesn’t have any major on-road red flags.
You really wouldn’t be disappointed with this having paid $40K, just skip the base model and go for the Design.
Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with travel, accommodation and meals provided.
The fact this is Australia’s cheapest SUV is a massive feat for the Indian brand. It also has so much standard kit so this is even more surprising.
In many ways the XUV 3XO is better to drive than its rivals. The three-cylinder turbo engine has plenty of charm and moves this car along with ease, the car feels confident and composed out on the open road, and there aren’t any bings and bongs from intrusive safety systems.
However, things aren’t perfect. I wish the steering column offered reach adjustment, the steering feel wasn’t so inconsistent and the lane-keep assist wasn’t so hands-on.
If you can overlook these quibbles, this tiny Mahindra is an outstanding value buy if you’re considering a first new car.
Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with meals provided.