- New Changan Deepal S07 launches in UK
- Select among the first to drive it
- Electric SUV is stylish and well equipped
- Range of up to 295 miles on a single charge
- Priced from £39,990 (below the luxury tax threshold)
Hold up - the Tesla Model Y just got another new rival in the form of THIS, the new Changan Deepal S07.
It’s an electric SUV built by one of China’s oldest and largest car manufacturers, with Changan now making inroads into the UK market.
The Deepal S07 is impressively styled, gets a ton of kit fitted as standard, and boasts a range of up to 295 miles between charges.
But what does it drive like and should you consider leasing one? We grabbed the keys earlier this week and attempted to find out.
Who is Changan?
Changan isn’t just another Chinese car manufacturer, it’s one of the nation’s oldest and largest, with roots going all the way back to 1862 when it was then a military supply factory.
The firm began building cars in 1959 when it produced the Changjiang 46, a rough ‘n’ tough copy of the American Willys Jeep.
Fast forward to today and Changan is investing heavily in EVs, with those cars now arriving in Europe.
The Deepal S07 is the first Changan to launch in the UK and order books are open now with prices beginning at £39,990.
Has the Changan Deepal S07 been designed for UK roads?
Yep, Changan has a clear strategy in this regard; to give UK customers a car that has proper European styling and which has been fine-tuned to cope with the demands of Britain’s notoriously potholed roads.
Changan has a design centre in Turin, Italy, hence its smart exterior suit and sleek coupe-like silhouette (which we’ll explore further below).
The second thing you need to know is that Changan also has an R&D centre in Birmingham, and the people in white coats there have worked to tailor the Deepal S07’s suspension and steering for British drivers.
Has it all come together as Changan expected?
Pretty much, yes. Our jaunt saw us navigating the Deepal S07 through rain-drenched country roads and pockmarked lanes, and it didn’t miss a beat.
The steering felt properly weighted and feedback was decent through the S07’s compact, chunky steering wheel. The firm suspension also does a good job of hiding the car’s hefty two tonne weight.
What battery and range does the Changan Deepal S07 have?
All versions of the Changan Deepal S07 are fitted with an 80 kWh battery that unlocks a range of up to 295 miles between charges.
How does that compare to rivals?
Well, it’s slightly more range than the entry level Skoda Enyaq can muster (268 miles), trumps the most affordable variants of the Kia EV6 (around 265 miles), and also beats the cheapest versions of the Xpeng G6 (270 miles).
The Tesla Model Y still triumphs, though, with entry-level Standard Range RWD cars able to travel up to 311 miles between charges.
Another strong contender when considering alternatives is the Hyundai Ioniq 5. Base models are near-identical in price to the Deepal S07 and get a range of up to 273 miles between charges.
When it comes to power and pace, the Deepal S07 develops 218 PS and 320 Nm torque, which drives the rear wheels. It’s enough to accelerate this new kid on the block from 0-62mph in 7.9 seconds.
The Deepal S07 doesn’t feel particularly rapid in the context of some other electric SUVs (including the BYD Sealion 7 which can rocket from 0-62mph in 4.5 seconds) but it’ll be more than enough poke for most.
Despite the horrifically damp weather on our test, the Deepal S07 also declined to wheel-spin away from fast junctions, which tells you that they’ve got the traction systems dialled-in.
Changan Deepal S07 charging times
Charging isn’t particularly rapid, but could be adequate for those who predominantly recharge from home anyway.
Public DC speed is up to 92 kW (again, not particularly quick when you consider the Tesla Model Y has 250 kW DC skills). Changan quotes a 30-80% charge in 30 mins but a 10-80% top-up (a more commonly-quoted stat) will take around 45 minutes.
Buy another Greggs sausage roll to scoff while you wait, would be our advice.
Changan Deepal S07 - exterior styling
Changan says the Deepal S07’s design ‘combines the sportiness of a coupe with the versatility of an SUV, striking a perfect balance between style and practicality’.
And it’s hard to argue with it. It’s a good-looking car from pretty much all angles and it’s easy to see glimpses of the Italian influence, from the sculpted lines to the hidden electric door handles.
You get a shark-nosed front end and an aggressive rear that’s complemented by a full-width LED light bar.
The badge has a whiff of CUPRA about it while the Deepal S07 could easily be mistaken for an oversized version of the MG4 hatch (which is no bad thing, as the little MG EV has won just about every industry award going).
You might also end up comparing the Deepal S07 with the Xpeng G6, another Chinese EV with a coupe-like silhouette and plenty to offer.
All in all, it’s a strong aesthetic and the Deepal S07 arguably looks better in the metal than it does in the pics.
It’s certainly a departure from the smooth, minimalist lines of the Tesla Model Y - but is it enough to tempt you away from California’s finest?
Changal Deepal S07 - interior
There’s just one trim level with the Deepal S07, which keeps things nice and simple, and the car’s cabin and tech is arguably its strongest selling point.
You get lovely quilted vegan leather upholstery, ambient LED lighting, and wood-effect veneers that Changan describe as ‘yacht-effect’.
There’s a huge panoramic glass roof, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 14-speaker sound system, and a 15.6-inch rotating ‘Sunflower’ screen, which points its head towards either the driver or passenger seat, depending on who is using it.
An augmented reality head-up display is a nice touch for a car at this price point while a 360-degree surround view camera will make sure you don’t reverse into any bollards.
There are other flourishes, too. The doors release via an electric button, not a traditional latch, while you can even take a selfie by giving the ‘peace’ sign with your fingers to the rear-facing camera, with that image then projected onto the infotainment display.
Does the selfie capture tech still work with your two fingers pointed the other way? That’d be telling, you’ll have to find out for yourself.
Is the Changan Deepal S07 safe?
The Deepal S07 is indeed safe, with Euro NCAP having already awarded it the full five star rating.
Safety features include adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, and intelligent adaptive cruise control (IACC).
For those who need it, there’s also an optional retractable tow bar that supports up to 1,500kg towing capacity.
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