Either Rodimus or the good ol' boss monkey Primal. I feel they're a lot better than Optimus Prime as characters. Optimus Prime has been a very flat character to me most of the time.
Well, if we take cartoon continuity then the Autobots lead by Optimus Prime may have won battles, but they slowly lost the war: when he became leader it was an Autobot planet and when they left four million years ago the Decepticons were in control with some Autobot resistance, while just before his death the planet was being repaired by Megatron. And when he got back from the death, this lead to a devastating attack on the planet during which the Decepticons retook te planet and almost destroyed Earth and Cybertron if it hadn't been for chance. On the plus side, he is a good friend to everybody (save the Dinobots who were locked in a closet, and the Aerialbots who nearly defected and even after questioned him and the Autobots) and he would be a kind leader to follow Rodimus Prime won the Autobots the war and under his leadership they rebuild the planet, became self sufficient and established a place for themselves in the Galaxy. With him as leader there's also more delegation of jobs. And I like a leader who can delegate and ensures victory. But him questioning himself can be bad for morale. Neither Ultra or Delta Magnus is leader material to me. Optimus Primal is basically the best of Optimus Prime and Rodimus Prime combined. Succesful, kind with still room for self doubt where needed. So he'd be my choice very closely followed by Rodimus Prime.
Optimus Primal. One day he's saving your life in the heat of battle and the next he's taking the team on a nature walk.
Primal. He actually ends wars. For all that Rodimus did, it was Unicron that devastated the Decepticons & allowed for the Autobots to come in afterwards & easily drive out their remaining forces.
Have to go with Primal. He's a good leader, he doesn't give orders he wouldn't do himself, he seems more relaxed and knows how to have some fun more than his ancestor, and he is willing to learn things. Optimus Prime was a good leader but he seemed to be portrayed as too perfect and too stiff at times.
