Leapmotor C10 vs Subaru Forester
A detailed look at how two of Australia's most popular SUVs compare on price, running costs, safety, and everyday livability.
Subaru Forester scores higher, 76 vs 70
Prices are RRP before on-road costs unless stated otherwise. Always confirm with the manufacturer or dealer before purchasing.
Data checked: specs 30 Aug 2026, price 29 Oct 2026
Leapmotor C10
18 of 27 standard · no option data · 9 no dataFrom
$43,888
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- SUV
- Fuel type
- Plug-in Hybrid
- Engine
- Petrol
- Power
- 158kW
- Economy
- 0.9 L/100km with a full battery
- Safety
- No data
- Boot (seats up)
- 546L
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Subaru Forester
18 of 27 standard · no option data · 9 no dataFrom
$45,990
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- SUV
- Fuel type
- Petrol
- Engine
- Petrol
- Power
- 136kW
- Economy
- 7.9 L/100km
- Safety
- ANCAP ★5 · 2024
- Boot (seats up)
- 496L
Top CarSorted Score, 76 vs 70, but the Leapmotor C10 is $2,102 cheaper
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Leapmotor C10: we're still completing kerb weight, 0-100km/h and energy consumption.
A blank cell below means we don't have that figure, not that the car scores badly on it. We leave them empty rather than estimate, so any row where one car is blank isn't a like-for-like comparison yet.
$43,888RRP
- no option data for this car
$45,990RRP
- no option data for this car
Printed option prices only. A pack is counted once and makes the figure a floor when it carries no printed price. Nothing is inferred from the other car.
A plug-in hybrid is compared on its fuel use as a hybrid (battery depleted), the figure that is like for like with the other car; its certified combined figure, which assumes every trip starts with a full battery, is printed under it. Electric range is how far it goes before the petrol engine is needed.
Price and cost per week
Leapmotor C10 Hybrid Style (REEV)
$43,888
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 31 May 2026
No published drive-away price on our record.
About $180 a week in repayments ($43,888 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.). An estimate, not a loan offer.
Subaru Forester AWD
$45,990
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 29 Oct 2026
$45,990 drive-away in NSW, as published by Subaru Australia
About $189 a week in repayments ($45,990 drive-away; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.). An estimate, not a loan offer.
The Leapmotor C10 starts $2,102 lower on RRP.
On-road costs (stamp duty, registration, CTP and dealer delivery) depend on your state and the dealer; ask for a written drive-away price before you sign.
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Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Finance
From ≈$180/wk(≈$779/mo)
Estimate on the Leapmotor C10 at $43,888 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
Compare real car-loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Novated lease
Paid from pre-tax salary with the running costs inside the lease. What it comes to depends on your salary and the term.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the Leapmotor C10Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link. Opens apply.driva.com.au in a new tab.
Safety Rundown
We hold no ANCAP data for the Leapmotor C10. With no pair of ratings to compare, the active-safety features in the spec table above are the fairer comparison.
Driver assistance, as the manufacturer lists it
Driver assistance, system by system. We can confirm 8 of 10 key systems on the Leapmotor C10 and 7 on the Subaru Forester.
Swipe across. Tap a feature to see what it does and each car's source.
StandardOptional: printed price, +pack or NCO (no-cost)No, not offeredNo dataCounts beside each car use the same colours; ? is no option data.
From each manufacturer's Australian equipment list. No data means that car's document does not say. The drawings are our own illustrations of how each kind of system works.
Recalls on our record
Leapmotor C10
None open on our record
Subaru Forester
- REC-006737 · published 7 Oct 2026Due to a manufacturing defect in the intermediate case of the transaxle, cracks may develop in the support section of the parking pawl.Year range on the notice: 2026
- REC-005831 · published 20 Nov 2023The front drive shaft may not meet manufacturing specifications and the outer race of the front driveshaft may crack.Year range on the notice: 2023
- REC-001604 · published 2 Jun 2021The rear stabiliser bracket bolts may not have been sufficiently tightened during production.Year range on the notice: 2017 - 2020
- 9 more on the model page.
A recall covers the builds its notice lists, not every car of a model. Check your VIN at vehiclerecalls.gov.au.
Charging times
How long each takes to charge, from a household power point to a DC fast charger, estimated from battery size and the car's own maximum charge rates.
How long to charge
28.4kWh usablePublic DC
50kW charger · 0–80%
Ultra-rapid DC
up to 65kW · 0–80%
Estimates from usable battery size and the car's max charge rates (7.4kW AC, 65kW DC). Real times vary with temperature, starting charge, charger output and the charging curve.
Feature Showdown
The Leapmotor C10 features a 14.6-inch touchscreen paired with a 10.3-inch digital dash, while the Subaru Forester gets a 11.6-inch display and 4.2-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.
The Leapmotor C10 stands out with panoramic roof, power tailgate and V2L — features our data doesn't list for the Subaru Forester. The Subaru Forester counters with heated front seats. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.
Interior trim differs: the Leapmotor C10 gets synthetic leather upholstery while the Subaru Forester offers cloth.
Equipment few rivals have, on either carShowHide
Drivetrain
The Leapmotor C10 uses a Petrol producing 158kW and 320Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a RWD layout.
The Subaru Forester responds with a Petrol making 136kW and 247Nm, paired to a cvt driving all four wheels.
The Leapmotor C10 has the clear power advantage at 158kW vs 136kW. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.
Space & Comfort
The Leapmotor C10 measures 4,739mm long on a 2,825mm wheelbase, 84mm longer than the Subaru Forester at 4,655mm (2,670mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Leapmotor C10 generally means more rear legroom.
Boot space is 546L in the Leapmotor C10 and 496L in the Subaru Forester, giving the Leapmotor C10 a 50L advantage.
For towing, the Subaru Forester leads with a 1,800kg braked capacity vs 1,500kg. That 300kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.
Neither U-turns in one sweep on a 7 m local street (both need a three-point turn); the Subaru Forester's turning circle is 0.6 m tighter, 10.8 m against 11.4 m kerb to kerb. The street estimate is indicative, worked from the published turning circles.
Cost to own
We do not hold a like-for-like fuel or energy figure for both cars, so we do not cost them against each other.
Warranty: 6 years / 150k km (Leapmotor C10) and 5 years / Unlimited (Subaru Forester). Capped-price servicing: no data (Leapmotor C10), 5 years (Subaru Forester).
Where each one leads
The Leapmotor C10: the lower starting price ($43,888 against $45,990), more power (158kW against 136kW), the bigger boot with the seats up (546L against 496L) and the longer warranty (6 years against 5).
The Subaru Forester: the higher braked towing limit (1,800kg against 1,500kg).
The Verdict
Subaru Forester scores higher, 76 vs 70
The Subaru Forester scores 76 to the Leapmotor C10's 70 on the CarSorted Score, and leads 1 of the 6 spec rows that separate them. The biggest gaps: safety (Subaru Forester ahead by 29 points), reliability (Subaru Forester ahead by 4 points), practicality (Subaru Forester ahead by 3 points). Boot space with the seats up: 546L in the Leapmotor C10, 496L in the Subaru Forester. Warranty: 6 years on the Leapmotor C10, 5 on the Subaru Forester.
Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Finance
From ≈$180/wk(≈$779/mo)
Estimate on the Leapmotor C10 at $43,888 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
Compare real car-loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Novated lease
Paid from pre-tax salary with the running costs inside the lease. What it comes to depends on your salary and the term.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the Leapmotor C10Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link. Opens apply.driva.com.au in a new tab.
Common questions
Which is cheapest, Leapmotor C10 and Subaru Forester?
The Leapmotor C10 is the cheapest at $43,888 before on-road costs. That undercuts the Subaru Forester by $2,102.
What are the ANCAP safety ratings?
Subaru Forester holds a 5-star ANCAP rating (tested 2024). We hold no ANCAP data for Leapmotor C10, so there is nothing to compare on crash performance. Compare the active-safety features above instead.
Which has the most boot space?
The Leapmotor C10 has the largest boot at 546L with the seats up.
Which can tow the most?
The Subaru Forester has the highest braked towing capacity at 1,800kg.
Which has the best warranty?
The Leapmotor C10 has the longest warranty at 6 years / 150,000 km.
Which is the most powerful?
The Leapmotor C10 makes the most power at 158kW.
Track the Leapmotor C10 & Subaru Forester
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How to read this page. Prices, specifications, ANCAP ratings, warranty, the CarSorted Score and the verdict come from our records for the grades shown, sourced from the manufacturers' Australian documents, and change when those records change; the date each was last checked is printed under the headline. Prices are recommended retail prices before on-road costs unless marked drive-away. A plug-in hybrid's fuel figure is labelled with its basis: with a full battery (the certified combined figure) or as a hybrid (battery depleted). Charging and running costs are estimates on the stated assumptions. Always confirm price and specification with the manufacturer or dealer before you buy. CarSorted does not accept payment for recommendations.
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