- Competitively priced electric or plug-in hybrid SUV
- Styled and engineered in Europe, built in China
- Loaded with tech and practicalities for families and commuters
The Changan Deepal S05 is a stylish electric or plug-in hybrid SUV that truly puts the needs of its buyers first, then gives them a log fire as a bonus.
Overview
C-segment SUVs are among the most popular new cars in the UK and Chinese brand Changan is part of the melee for buyers with its Deepal S05. The model arrived as a pure EV early in 2026, and the line-up has now been augmented with a plug-in hybrid option, badged Ultra PHEV. Changan is claiming some European pedigree for the model, as although made in China, it was styled in Italy by Changan’s Turin design centre, and has received input from the manufacturer’s UK-based engineering team.
With a no-nonsense choice list that makes it easy for car buyers to see what they’ll get for a pocket-friendly outlay, the model is well placed to tempt anyone looking for an electric family car to put it on their consideration list. They may also want to take a look at the likes of the Volkswagen ID4, Peugeot E-3008 and Hyundai Ioniq 5 (or the BYD Sealion 5, Jaecoo 7 or MG HS if they’re after a plug-in hybrid), but Changan’s finance offers make it well placed to compete, especially with the EV, with it’s offering 0% APR PCP at £420 down and then £420.53 per month after a £3,750 deposit contribution from the carmaker (with the PHEV it’s a £3,300 deposit, then £325.26 per month with a £500 deposit contribution). Plus, the Deepal S05 benefits from a seven-year warranty (eight years for the battery) and tonnes of tech. This is a proper statement of intent.
At the initial launch Changan expected retail buyers to account for around half of Deepal S05 sales – the model’s retail appeal should be further boosted by the arrival of the plug-in hybrid, owing to how the EV market generally skews towards fleet.
Pricing and spec
A no-nonsense approach means there are just two derivatives of the Changan Deepal S05 EV: one for buyers who want to go quick and further, and another for those with slightly deeper pockets and who prioritise supercar-like acceleration over longer range.
Both have a 68.6kWh battery, which powers either a single motor, rear-wheel drive (RWD) Deepal S05, or a dual motor all-wheel drive (AWD) variant. The RWD car costs £37,990, while the AWD version is £39,990.
The RWD version delivers a 272PS power output, and can manage the 0 62mph sprint in 7.5 seconds, while the AWD Deepal S05 ups the total output to 435PS, with 0-62mph acceleration in just 5.5 seconds.
To give that some context, the Changan Deepal S05 AWD is about as quick off the mark as a Porsche Boxster S from the early 2000s.
Equipment levels are premium-grade, no matter which variant the buyer is interested in. The only options are a panoramic roof and a tow-bar, so it keeps it simple for buyers. Even the colour choice is standard, there’s none of the ‘white as standard, everything else a paid-for option’ activity that many other carmakers deploy.
Standard kit includes artificial leather upholstery, a 360-degree camera system for parking, a 15.4-inch touchscreen infotainment display, which users can customise to keep their most frequently used functions in permanent button-like tabs at the bottom, plus an augmented head-up display which again offers elements of driver customisation – with a press of a button you can choose to see your mph alone, or alongside nav directions and speed limit warnings.
Intelligent voice control, activated by saying ‘hey Deepal’, lets drivers change various systems and settings without taking hands off the steering wheel; although first you might need to turn down the 14-speaker audio system, complete with bass-pounding subwoofer.
Other standard features focused on occupants’ comfort and convenience include keyless entry, wireless smartphone charging and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, plus cocooning heated and ventilated front seats, with the passenger able to turn their ‘queen seat’ into a recliner with extendable leg rest to ensure their comfort on long journeys. In addition, there are 34 storage spaces throughout the car, including a large 13-litre centre console which can be chilled down to 5 degrees Celsius by the climate control system. This is very useful to keep the family’s drinks and snacks cool on summer trips.
As for the PHEV, this is a slightly different proposition, since the single 1.5-litre, 258PS powertrain option comes with a choice of Pro and Max trim levels. Max is more in line with the EV’s spec, with Pro omitting kit such as the heated and ventilated seats and head-up display. At least this saves customers some money, with Pro trim priced from £32,990, and Max from £34,990.
Related reading: New car review: MG HS has impressive PHEV system, but can frustrate
Technology
Sit the customer behind the steering wheel and it will become immediately apparent that there is no instrument binnacle in front. The Deepal S05 relies on that slick, customisable head-up display for showing essential information while driving, plus the large centre touchscreen (Pro-trim PHEV buyers will be relying on the touchscreen only). Accessing features on the screen is relatively easy, swiping down or from the side to access certain functions, such as changing driving mode between comfort, sport, eco and individual, while permanent digital buttons at the bottom mean key aspects such as climate control and navigation are easily to hand – although the screen is sometimes a bit slow to respond to touches, which can frustrate.
The system also has quirky features that Changan dealers can demonstrate to customers in line with its ‘fun should be easy’ ethos.
The screen can be turned 15 degrees towards or away from the driver, for ease of use by the passenger as well as the driver. Changan says this also helps reduce glare during night driving.
When parked, drivers can also select a ‘rest’ mode in the infotainment, which automatically closes the windows and reclines the driver’s seat ready to help them take a snooze. Or select ‘bonfire’ mode to make a log fire appear on the screen as the heating system simultaneously warms the cabin
This SUV also has a V2L (vehicle-to-load) function which means buyers can connect it to external devices, which it can supply with up to 6kw of power – useful for using a laptop away from home or even plugging in a strimmer to reach those far away parts of the garden.
Safety
The Changan Deepal S05 has gained a five-star Euro NCAP rating, including scoring 94% for adult occupant protection. It also introduces Changan’s FutureSense 2.0 suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), supporting drivers with comprehensive features such as adaptive cruise control, rear collision warning, door opening warning and emergency lane keep. Shortcut buttons on the steering wheel can be set to switch off lane assist and overspeed warnings, should drivers wish to do so.
Its 360-surround view also operates as a dash camera during driving, and it will save recordings automatically in circumstances such as when the car makes an emergency stop or is in a collision.
Driving experience
One the road, the RWD Deepal S05 EV feels quick, reflecting that 7.5 seconds 0-62mph time. As you’d expect of an EV, acceleration is instant when you need to overtake. In fact, even if you put it into ‘eco’ mode there’s still far more instant response than most would expect: eco doesn’t mean significantly muted performance.
In WLTP combined testing the RWD Deepal S05 is good for 303 miles on a full battery charge, while the AWD variant has a maximum range of 278 miles. Charging speeds are up to 200kW.
As for the PHEV, this differs from most plug-in hybrids in that the petrol engine is mainly used as a generator for the electric motor, only sending drive to the wheels in very limited circumstances, meaning the EV’s driving manners are largely maintained. When the petrol engine is required, it only ever comes in at a low murmur, meaning the EV refinement levels are also barely disturbed.
The PHEV’s 18.4kWh battery means an EV-only range of 62 miles under official testing, while the WLTP combined fuel economy figure is 139.2mpg – of course, as with all plug-in hybrids, efficiency will depend on how often the car is plugged in. The PHEV can be rapid-charged at up to 55kW, although this is perhaps unwise given the relatively high cost of public charging.
On our drive of the PHEV, we were impressed by its smooth ride, especially at higher speeds. It rolls a bit in bends, and doesn’t feel particularly agile, but relatively quick steering helps here.
Practicality
The fit and finish of the Deepal S05 is very good, and it has enough features to satisfy most family motorists. Rear seat passengers are particularly well catered for in terms of legroom (although a relatively high floor means a knee-high sitting posture is required) while headroom is decent.
In addition to the cabin storage spaces already mentioned the EV has a 159-litre ‘frunk’ under the bonnet which could hold a small suitcase, and a 492-litre boot can expand to 1,250 litres with fully flat-folding rear seats. There is also 28 litres of underfloor storage. The PHEV ups the boot capacity to 552 litres and the underfloor space to 60 litres, although it loses the frunk.
The model is also capable of towing trailers or caravans up to 1,600kg, when fitted with the £600 optional tow bar.