Changan Deepal S05 review: Capable family-friendly SUV from a new Chinese brand

We get behind the wheel of the Changan Deepal S05 – another all-electric, mid-sized SUV from China

Changan is a little late to the party here in the UK, but it’s by no means the last Chinese brand to launch here.

Back home, it’s quite the opposite because Changan is China’s oldest car manufacturer. Interestingly, it even has a research and development centre in Birmingham, plus a design base in Turin, Italy.

Changan’s first two models are 100% electric, family-friendly SUVs – the Deepal S05 and slightly larger Deepal S07.

And it was the Changan Deepal S05 that provided my introduction to the brand.

Measuring 4,620mm long, 1,900mm wide, and 1,600mm tall, its obvious rivals in terms of size include everything from the Skoda Elroq, Kia EV3 and BYD Atto 3 EVO, to the Geely EX5, VW ID.5, Peugeot E-3008 and Hyundai Ioniq 5.

Priced from £37,990, there are two versions both with a 68.6kWh battery – a single motor, rear-wheel drive (RWD) with a 303 mile-range, or a dual motor, all-wheel drive (AWD) with a claimed range of 278 miles.

The RWD version delivers 268bhp and 214lb ft of torque and a 0–62mph time of 7.5 seconds, while the AWD boosts power and torque to 429bhp and 370lb ft, trimming the 0–62mph sprint to 5.5 seconds.

DC charging peaks at 200kW, and Changan claims a 30-80% top-up in just 15 minutes.

First impressions are good. Despite the fact that it’s another SUV, the smoothly-styled Deepal S05 is properly streamlined with a drag coefficient of just 0.25 and really stands out. Highlights include a sleek, grille-free front end with slim LED lights, frameless doors, and flush door handles.

Like it or not, it’s on trend inside with a minimalist look. The dashboard is dominated by a 15.4-inch touchscreen that can tilt up to 15 degrees toward either the driver or passenger, plus there’s a head-up display with navigation and driving data.

Unfortunately, there are no physical buttons, so there is a heavy reliance on the touchscreen for essentials such as adjusting wing mirrors.

The cabin itself is smart enough and well put together, even if it is missing a wow factor. Highlights include vegan leather heated and ventilated front seats, and plenty of soft-touch surfaces.

There’s also loads of space in the back for passengers and you get 492 litres of boot space (1,250 litres with the seats folded flat), plus 159 litres in the ‘frunk’ under the bonnet (ideal for storing charging cables). That said, there’s no glovebox.

And just for a bit of fun, we’d recommend ‘rest mode’, which reclines the driver’s seat so you can relax while charging. Also, the front passenger gets a ‘queen’s seat’, which allows them to recline into a near-flat position similar to business-class seating on an aircraft.

On the road, the Changan Deepal S05 is a mixed bag, judging by our time in the RWD variant. The ride is on the wafty side, which is great when cruising along, and for the most part it copes with the worst of the lumps and bumps British roads can throw at it.

However, it can still thud over some potholes, and become unsettled in more challenging corners, where at least there’s controlled body lean.

That said, if you take it easy it’s refined, comfortable and more than fast enough for everyday driving.

And while the steering is light, if on the numb side, traction is good and the brakes are responsive (not a given in an EV).

The Changan Deepal S05 features three main drive modes — Eco, Comfort, and Sport, plus Custom, all accessed via the touchscreen. As ever, Comfort is just fine.

Changan clearly has confidence in the Deepal S05’s abilities, because we were taken to an airbase to test the car’s handling extremes in a controlled environment.

Whether it was guiding it through a series of high-speed slaloms and chicanes, dramatic braking, or reversing exercises, it performed surprisingly well throughout, which provides peace of mind.

It’s safe too, achieving a maximum 5-star safety rating from Euro NCAP, in part due to its extensive suite of driver assistance aids and safety technology.

When it comes to efficiency, I managed a decent 3.5 miles/kWh, suggesting a real-world range closer to 250 miles (claimed 303 miles), which is more than enough for most drivers, but on the modest side compared to some rivals with bigger batteries.

Finally, the Changan Deepal S05 comes with a generous 7-year/100,000-mile warranty, plus an 8-year/124,000-mile battery warranty.

Verdict: Stylish, practical, easy to drive, well put together, and competitively-priced, the Changan Deepal S05 is another promising EV from a new Chinese brand to the UK.

Review in association with AutomotiveBlog