First drive in the Deepal S05: this newcomer from China gets a lot right

Changan, one of China’s oldest car manufacturers, is venturing westward. More specifically, the group is launching its subsidiary brand Deepal and two SUV models, the S05 and S07, in Europe. The former is positioned in the compact segment, while the S07 competes in the mid-range class. The two newcomers were available to test at the IAA Mobility.

As the C segment is by far the highest-volume segment in Germany, I opted for the S05 for my first test drive. The car was waiting for me in the underground car park of a hotel, and it certainly looked impressive. The basic shape is not particularly spectacular and resembles that of many common compact SUVs.

Former VW chief designer Klaus Zyciora is now responsible for Changan styling. One of the S05’s main competitors, the Volkswagen ID.4, also comes from Wolfsburg. Other rivals include its technical sibling, the Skoda Enyaq, and the Renault Scenic E-Tech Electric.

Although the Turin-based design department has experimented little, the exterior of the S05 can certainly be described as distinctive. This is also due to details such as the illuminated brand logo on the C-pillar, which is set in an illuminated circle. This decorative element also indicates the battery charge level.

The frunk is generously sized

With its two-part headlights, the SUV is right on trend. The narrow light units in the upper section are the daytime running lights, while the main headlights are located at the bottom of the front apron. A little further down are active aerodynamic flaps that open and close as required. They also contribute to the comparatively low drag coefficient of 0.25.

Unsurprisingly, there is a continuous light strip at the rear. As it is slightly darkened, the 4.60-metre-long, 1.80-metre-wide and 1.60-metre-high S05 is somewhat reminiscent of the Alfa Romeo Junior from behind and also slightly reminiscent of the Porsche Cayenne. Behind the tailgate is a luggage compartment with a capacity of a respectable 492 litres in the normal configuration. When the rear seats are folded down, this increases to 1,250 litres. Added to this is a generously sized frunk with a capacity of 159 litres. In the all-wheel-drive version, the front luggage compartment is seven litres smaller due to the additional motor on the front axle.

Minimalist cockpit with Tesla influences

The interior design is clearly inspired by the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y. Changan has dispensed with an extra display for driving information in its Deepal SUV, which gives the cockpit a very minimalist look. As in the mid-range models from the Californian electric car pioneer, the current speed is shown at the top left of the 15.4-inch touchscreen.

This solution still takes some getting used to. While Tesla sticks with this layout, the S05 also features a clearly visible head-up display with augmented reality functionality. This makes it appear as if navigation instructions, for example, are woven directly into the real environment.

The screen in the centre impresses with its high resolution and fast response time, thanks to a Qualcomm 8155 chip. To minimise reflections, the display can be adjusted by up to 15 degrees. In some situations, it even actively tilts towards the person behind the wheel. Two smartphones can be charged simultaneously via a double inductive charging cradle located on the centre console.

Although our test vehicle was the basic ‘Pro’ version with a conventional steel roof, costing €38,990, the interior offered a pleasant and sufficiently bright atmosphere. The panoramic roof is only available in the ‘Max’ version, which costs €41,990.

Even the basic model leaves little to be desired

The entry-level version is certainly not what you would call sparse. For example, it comes standard with a 360-degree camera, electrically adjustable front seats and faux leather upholstery. While this ‘vegan leather’ looks rather cheap in some other Chinese vehicles, the upholstery in the Deepal S05 makes a thoroughly decent impression.

There is also virtually nothing to complain about in terms of the build quality of the rest of the material mix. Only the wood-effect decorative elements look rather cheap, as in many other cars from the People’s Republic. In terms of space, the S05 is on a par with its competitors. There is also sufficient legroom and headroom in the second row, even if there are electric SUVs in the C-segment that are even more generously proportioned.

Maximum range is rather mediocre

The Changan subsidiary offers its compact SUV on the local market in two drive configurations, but the underbody always houses a 68.8 kWh LFP battery with battery cells from CATL. Deepal’s compact SUV comes standard with a 200 kW and 290 Newton metre rear motor, which accelerates the nearly two-tonne vehicle from zero to 100 kph in 7.5 seconds.

If that’s not enough, you can also opt for the all-wheel-drive version, the S05 AWD Max, which the company is offering for €44,990. This version, with 320 kW and 502 Nm, reaches 100 kph two seconds faster. At 180 kph, the S05 hits the speed limiter. The SUV is also suitable for towing, with Changan estimating the combined maximum towing capacity for both drives at 1.6 tonnes.

According to the WLTP standard, the S05 with rear-wheel drive only has a range of 485 kilometres, while the all-wheel drive version has a maximum range of 445 kilometres. The additional motor naturally results in slightly higher consumption. According to the manufacturer, this averages 17.5 kWh, compared to 15.9 kWh for the RWD version.

Charging with up to 200 kW

When it comes to sheer charging power, the Deepal S05 is ahead of the competition. All models have a charging capacity of 200 kW, which means that the standard battery can be charged from 30 to 80 per cent in 15 minutes.

At first glance, this sounds more impressive than it actually is – most car manufacturers usually start the stopwatch at the 10 per cent threshold, which is why this information from Changan is not very meaningful. Charging from 10 to 80 per cent should be possible within 23 minutes.

A detailed test, including a charging curve check, will have to show how the SUV’s charging performance really performs. The power storage unit can only be charged at 11 kW at AC charging stations. However, it can also supply external electrical devices with power if required. The whole thing works at up to 6 kW.

Chassis suits European tastes

When setting off, the futuristic pedestrian warning tone immediately catches your attention. You can choose between three different sounds, all of which sound distinctly futuristic. During the test drive through Munich city traffic, the noise insulation also proved impressive, with passengers hearing very little of the hustle and bustle of the big city.

The Changan engineers have done a great job of tuning the chassis; even cobblestones are no problem for the shock absorbers. While other Chinese cars often have suspension that is too soft for European tastes and give a floating feeling, the fairly firm chassis should also go down well with local customers. The same applies to the smooth-running but not entirely insensitive power steering. All in all, the S05 offers a decent level of comfort, but also keeps the driver sufficiently informed about the condition of the road.

The temperament of the drive system is also a good match. When needed, the family SUV sprints off briskly, pushing the passengers back into their seats. On wet surfaces, the S05 does tend to skid slightly, which was noticeable during the test drive on an avenue that was still wet from rain. Unfortunately, I didn’t have enough time to test how the newcomer performs on the motorway and at higher speeds. However, the car handled Munich city traffic during rush hour with ease.

Only one detail, supposedly for safety reasons, was really annoying: Changan decided to put most of the settings and information on the central touchscreen. But if you take your eyes off the road for just a few seconds while driving and look at the central screen, the overambitious attention warning system immediately starts nagging you. Fortunately, it can be deactivated with just a tap of your finger.

Conclusion

This compact SUV not only has the right technical specifications, looks and quality feel, but also offers good value for money. Added to this is a standard warranty of seven years or 160,000 kilometres and generous standard equipment. When you factor this in, the model undercuts its European competitors by several thousand euros.

With vehicles such as the Deepal S05, Changan should be able to establish itself on the German market quite quickly – provided that the Chinese group also invests in marketing, the distribution network and service.