Thankfully for Irish motorists, there is plenty of competition when it comes to buying a new car, be that petrol, diesel, hybrid or fully electric, in small and large cars.
The fully electric Hyundai Inster was recently named Irish Small Car of the Year and when it was introduced in February this year, the introductory price was €18,995. That Irish price was even lower than the UK price; we were told that the Irish price would increase and it has now.
Earlier, Dacia introduced us to their Spring, with a starting price of €16,990, making it the cheapest electric car in the country. Now, Leap Motors have entered the electric small car market with their T03.
Leap are based in China, but Stellantis, who distribute brands like Opel, Peugeot, Citroen, Alfa Romeo and Fiat in Ireland, now have a 51% share in their European operation and their cars are distributed in Ireland by the Gowan Group.
I drove the T03 from Gowan’s headquarters in Citywest to Kilkenny for the official launch and for Leap’s larger C10 in Mount Juliet.
The T03 reminded at bit of the old Fiat 500 and it’s a very neat city car, officially only 3.6 metres long and 1.6 metres wide. So, ideal for city driving, and city parking. Leap’s starting price for the T03 is €18,950.
With a range of approximately 265km, it would be an ideal car for urban driving or maybe a second car if your family finances can afford two cars.
I compared the Leap T03 to the old Fiat 500, but really, it’s a distinctive car and I got a lot of people in supermarket car park approaching me last week to find more about the car.
Naturally it’s a bit tight inside. Sometimes in my reviews, I say that you could, at a squeeze get three people into the back seat, but this T03 is definitely a four-person car. There is only one trim and one battery size, but you get four colour choices. My test car came in a light blue, a bit like the old Dublin GAA jerseys of the fifties and sixties.
You will always know the day of the week when driving the Leap T03 as the infotainment screen on the dash tells you the day and date on the screen. Naturally the interior is a bit tight, but the manufacturers have done a good job giving us cubby holes for phones and other items inside the car, and you get a full sunroof to brighten up your day.
As mentioned above, just room for two people in the back seat. Naturally in such a small car, the boot space is tight and there is a bag for your charge cables and repair kit, but no Frunk at the front.
Gowan will be using their existing dealer network to sell Leap cars and already six dealers have signed up as Leap dealers. They are offering a six-year unlimited mileage warranty.
Like all electric cars, the T03 will take off like a greyhound and that noise to warn pedestrians will disappear when you reach 30km/h.
James Brooks, who is the Opel MD in Ireland, will also oversee the Leap segment in Gowans and he says that Leap will benefit from the reputation and experience of their extensive dealer network. He is encouraging Irish motorists to ‘Take the Leap’ and take a test drive in one of their new cars.
