- Competitively priced electric SUV with great launch finance offer
- Styled and engineered in Europe, built in China
- Loaded with tech and practicalities for families and commuters
Verdict
The Changan Deepal S05 is a stylish electric 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 now joining the melee for buyers with its Deepal S05. 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 Deepal S05 looks set to tempt anyone looking for an electric family car to put it on their consideration list.
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They may also want to take a look at the likes of the Volkswagen ID4, Peugeot E-3008 and Hyundai Ioniq 5, but will they get those as affordably as Changan’s launch finance offer? For the Deepal S05 it’s a three-year PCP at £438 down and then £438 per month. Plus it has a seven year warranty (eight years for the battery) and tonnes of tech. This is a proper statement of intent.
Although Changan UK managing director Nic Thomas wouldn’t say how many he wants to sell, this car is clearly in the UK to take segment share from the traditional brands. Naturally, being an EV it will get some fleet customers but Changan thinks it’s a great proposition for private buyers, who’ll account for around half.
That proportion could even increase when a plug-in hybrid version arrives later this year.
Pricing and spec
The no-nonsense approach means there are just two derivatives of the Changan Deepal S05: 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 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 200kW power output, and can manage the 0 62mph sprint in 7.5 seconds, while the AWD Deepal S05 total output to 320kW, with a 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, 360-view camera for parking, a 15.4in touchscreen infotainment display, which users can customise to keep their most freuqently 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.
An intelligent voice control, activated by saying ‘hey Deepal’, lets drivers change various systems and settings without taking your hands off the steering wheel, but 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 coccooning heated and ventillated 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 celcius by the climate control system. This is very useful to keep the family’s drinks and snacks cool on summer trips.
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. 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 easilly to hand.
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 EuroNCAP 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.
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
I drove the RWD Deepal S05 on potholed Oxfordshire roads during the media launch and found it nimble enough for the majority of buyers. Owners will soon forget it was made in China, as it was styled in Italy by Changan’s Turin design centre, and has benefitted from Changan’s UK-based engineering team’s input and that means Deepal S05 meets a British driver’s desire for responsiveness as well as comfort.
It feels quick too, reflecting that 7.5 seconds 0-62mph time. As I’d expect of an EV, acceleration is instant when I 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.
Practicality
From the day I spent behind the wheel it seems easy to live with. The fit and finish of this electric SUV is very good, and it has enough features to satisfy most family motorists.
In addition to the cabin storage spaces I’ve already mentioned the Deepal S05 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.
It’s also capable of towing trailers or caravans up to 1,600kg, when fitted with the £600 optional tow bar.
Key details of the Changan Deepal S05
- Price: £37,990 (RWD) or £39,990 (AWD)
- Powertrain: RWD model – 68.6kWh battery and 200kW rear motor; AWD model – 68.8kWh battery with 200kW rear motor and 120kW front motor
- Performance: 0-62mph 5.5 to 7.5 secs; top speed 112mph
- CO2 emissions: 0g/km
- Range: (WLTP combined): 278 miles (AWD model) to 303 miles (RWD model)
- Charging: up to 200kW DC charging, up to 11kW AC charging