Leapmotor C16 vs EXEED ET, what to choose from a $20,000 mid-size SUV?

In the fiercely competitive new energy vehicle market, mid-size SUVs are becoming more and more popular among consumers because of their spaciousness and excellent performance. If I were to choose a few representative models, I think the Leapmotor C16 and EXEED ET should be on the list, they have their own unique charm: Leapmotor C16 has high space utilisation, and the interior configuration and materials are very solid, so you can have a luxury MPV experience for less than tens of thousands of dollars.  The EXEED ET is excellent in terms of intelligent configuration, comfort and safety. I will take the Leapmotor C162024 Extended Range 200 Intelligent Driving Edition and EXEED ET 2025 Extended Range 4WD Max as examples, respectively, from the appearance of the design, interior decorations, body dimensions, power performance and assisted driving and other aspects of the in-depth analysis of these two cars, to show you how to choose $30,000  Dollar SUVs.

The overall shape of Leapmotor C16 combines the dynamism of SUV and the stability of MPV, with smooth and natural lines, and appropriate proportions. The front face adopts a closed design, with penetrating LED light bands, simple and full of sense of technology, a new new energy vehicle image is impressive. The side lines of the body are long and straight, with a floating roof, creating a stylish and atmospheric visual effect. The aluminium alloy wheels have a unique shape, and the front and rear are matched with 255/50 R20 specification tyres, which can enhance the grip and at the same time provide a more stable guarantee for the vehicle. The rear part of the car is more solid, the wide rear window brings passengers a wide view of the rear, and the penetrating tail lamps echo with the headlights, which are highly recognisable when lit up.

 EXEED ET lines are smooth and elegant, outlining a very futuristic body outline. The front adopts a closed grille design, and the headlight group has a sharp shape, with a penetrating LED light strip. The sharp headlight complements the unique grille design, and is highly recognisable as a brand when illuminated. On the side of the body, the hidden door handle design not only enhances the car's sense of simplicity, but also optimises the aerodynamic performance, effectively reduces wind resistance and improves driving efficiency. The frameless doors are more fashionable, which is a mainstream element of the current new energy vehicles. In the rear part, the penetrating tail light group is also very eye-catching, with a large-size spoiler, full of sporty atmosphere. The front end of the roof is equipped with LiDAR, further highlighting its technological attributes.

Second, the interior decoration

The interior of the Leapmotor C16 is simple and technological, except for the multi-function buttons, there are no physical buttons in the front row, presenting a minimalist style. The seats are made of environmentally friendly silicone material, which is soft, comfortable and environmentally friendly, with a small amount of chrome decoration to enhance the sense of refinement. The leather steering wheel with multi-function control and heating function can also be adjusted up/down/forward/backward in four directions, and this heating function is very considerate when using the car in winter. The design of the penetrating air conditioning vents makes the centre console look layered, and the configuration of the 14.6-inch 2.5K floating centre console and 10.25-inch floating dashboard pulls the technological atmosphere of the car full. With Leapmotor OS in-car intelligence system and Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295P chip, the operation is smooth and the display is clear. There are Gaode brand maps, mobile phone connectivity, OTA upgrade, facial recognition and voice recognition, a ‘Hello Zero’ can easily play music and map navigation and other functions. Adopting 2+2+2 type 6-seat layout, the front seats can be electrically adjusted, supporting forward and backward movement, backrest adjustment and headrests, as well as heating and ventilation functions, the second row of independent seats and support for electric adjustment, while the second row of small table boards are also equipped for the convenience of passengers to use. In addition, there are 12 speakers and Karaoke function, bringing passengers immersive music enjoyment. The rear privacy glass and multi-layer acoustic glass bring a quieter ride inside the car.

The interior of the EXEED ET is made of high-grade materials such as leather, wood-grain veneer and gold decorative strips, creating a warm and luxurious atmosphere. The design of the centre console is simple and atmospheric, with all the buttons and functional areas well laid out and very easy to control. The penetrating air conditioning vents are cleverly integrated with the centre console area, which not only maintains a neat appearance, but also makes the interior feel more spacious. The two-spoke flat-bottomed steering wheel is wrapped in leather, has multi-function controls and heating functions, and can also be adjusted up/down/forward/backward.15.6-inch centre-control floating screen with 10.25-inch digital LCD instrumentation, the car is equipped with the StarTour OS intelligent system, with a chip of Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295P chip, which supports intelligent voice control, allowing users to adjust the air conditioning, play music, and navigate through voice commands, further enhancing the convenience of driving. It further improves the convenience of driving. The seats are made of leather, and the 2+3 five-seat layout is spacious. The front seats can be moved forward and backward, and the angle and height of the backrest can be adjusted, providing a comfortable experience for passengers of different shapes. Front and rear ventilated/heated/massage, passenger zero-pressure seat and Star Bar create a comfortable and luxurious driving environment.

Third, body size

The Leapmotor C16 has a length, width and height of 4915/1905/1770mm, and a wheelbase of 2825mm, making it a three-row, six-seat SUV that is suitable for the travelling needs of a multi-person family. The interior passenger space is excellent in its class, close to 67.2% space utilisation, all three rows of passengers are comfortable, my height of 1.75m, sitting in the front row of the head and legs have nearly a fist and a half of headroom, in the second row of the position of the legs can be freely stretched. The boot has a daily capacity of 209L, which expands to 1022L when the rear seats are folded down proportionally, meeting the cargo needs of daily travel and family trips.

EXEED ET is 4955/1975/1698mm in length, width and height, with a wheelbase of 3,000mm and a 5-seat layout. The interior of the car is very spacious and can meet the needs of different passengers. Especially in the back row, taller passengers can also get enough legroom and headroom, long time ride will not feel depressed. The storage space of 60L in the front compartment and 485L in the rear compartment is also considerable, and the rear seats support the 4:6 ratio to be put down, and the extended boot space can reach up to 1,835L, which can provide enough space to put luggage, outdoor equipment and other items.

Power performance

The Leapmotor C16 is equipped with a supercharged 231 horsepower powertrain, with a 1.5L engine, maximum power of 70kW and maximum horsepower of 95Ps. It is equipped with a lithium iron phosphate battery pack with a capacity of 28.04 kWh, which supports 800V fast charging, is more fuel-efficient than an oil car, and has a higher charging efficiency than its counterparts, completing a 30%-80% charging in 30 minutes. CLTC working condition pure electric range is 200km, CLTC comprehensive range of 1095km. I will drive the car to and from work on weekdays, 220km round trip a week, the cost of using the car is calculated as long as four hundred yuan a month, in the holiday driving tour to play, the power consumption is finished there is a range extender can be given to the battery charging, the 100 kilometres of fuel consumption is as low as 5.4L, the car plus 92# oil, there is a very good fuel economy. Very good fuel economy. Rear-mounted rear-drive drive, chassis with front MacPherson independent suspension + rear multi-link independent suspension, after professional tuning, can effectively filter out the road vibration, the vehicle in the process of driving through the speed bumps or potholes, the passengers inside the car can hardly feel the obvious vibration, the body is smooth to ensure that the passengers' riding comfort.

EXEED ET equipped with 1.5T engine plus electric motor combination, maximum power 115kW, maximum horsepower 156Ps, CLTC pure electric range of 200km, CLTC integrated range of 1500km. 41.16kWh lithium iron phosphate battery packs, motor total horsepower 469 Ps, total power 345 kW, equipped with a full-area 800-volt supercharging platform, the peak charging power of 420kW, 15 minutes to replenish the energy 475km. 420 kW, 15 minutes to replenish energy 475 kilometres. Electric four-wheel drive drive mode, the chassis adopts the front double-wishbone independent suspension + rear multi-link independent suspension combination, chassis tuning focus on comfort.

Fifth, assisted driving

Leapmotor C16 is equipped with the Leapmotor Pilot assisted driving system, equipped with a single NVIDIA Orin X chip (arithmetic power of 254TOPS), 5 millimetre wave radar, 1 128-line LiDAR, 11 outside the car camera and 12 ultrasonic radar and other perception hardware, with a car side blind spot image, 360 ° panoramic image and transparent image, front and rear Parking radar, rich perception system can effectively identify the real-time road conditions, and timely feedback to the owner, to ensure the safety of the vehicle in the process of driving.L2 level assisted driving, OTA fully upgraded, high-speed city-fast NAP + urban NAC, smart driving is comparable to 300,000-grade SUVs, there are automatic lane-change assistance, ramp automatic exit (in), high-speed section of the navigation assisted driving and other functions, and can be automatically switched lanes according to the road conditions when driving in high speed. According to the road conditions automatically switch lanes, play a timely role in avoiding danger. Adaptive cruise control in the cruise control system can adjust the safety distance and control the speed according to the speed of the car in front, which can relieve the driver's fatigue when driving a long distance.

EXEED ET 2025 upgraded with Falcon Intelligent Driving, equipped with Horizon Journey 3*2 & TDA4*1 chips, as well as 10 exterior cameras, 2 interior cameras, 12 ultrasonic radars and 5 millimetre-wave radars, a wealth of high-performance sensors, support for high-speed navigation, city navigation, intelligent parking and other full-scenario functions, the first batch of the first full-volume opening of the 20 cities, plans to achieve the second quarter of the nationwide! City Pilot function covers roadside zero-speed activation, narrow-road turnaround, roundabout access and other intelligent driving scenarios.L2 level assisted driving, supporting track reversing, automatic parking, uphill assist and cruise control system functions.

After the above comparison, we found that Leapmotor C16 and EXEED ET have their own unique charms, and stand out from the crowd of new energy vehicles: Leapmotor C16 wins in terms of affordable price, flexible seating layout, and strong computing power of the car; EXEED ET has excellent space performance, power performance, charging speed, and a wealth of assisted driving. Ultimately, it is necessary to consider the budget, the number of family members, the performance of the vehicle and the demand for intelligent configuration, and other factors, and rationally choose a model that suits you.