MGMW members Bill McCarthy and Paul Hadley were invited to the UK launch of the Changan Deepal S05, held in the Cotswolds.
A Brand New Name On UK Roads
Chinese automotive giant Changan is not a name that most UK buyers will be familiar with, but that is about to change. The company has chosen the rolling countryside of the Cotswolds as the backdrop for the UK debut of its Deepal S05 electric SUV, and it is a confident opening statement from a brand that clearly means business.
Both of us arrived with open minds and very few preconceptions. Only Bill had driven a Changan product before, and that sense of the unknown for Paul. made for an interesting day behind the wheel. By the time we handed the keys back, we had a good idea of what the brand was about.
First Impressions On Cotswolds Roads
The Cotswolds turned out to be an inspired choice of venue. Narrow country lanes, undulating A-roads and the occasional market town gave us a thorough workout of the S05’s ride and handling, and it acquitted itself well throughout. The RWD model we spent most time in produces 272hp and 290Nm of torque, enough for a 0 to 62mph time of 7.5 seconds. It does not feel like a performance car, nor is it trying to be, but it is punchy, responsive and genuinely enjoyable to press on through the bends.
What struck both of us most was how well the chassis copes with the kind of broken, patchy tarmac that Cotswolds roads specialise in. The S05 feels composed and settled, with none of the jitteriness that can afflict heavier EVs on less-than-perfect surfaces. Changan reportedly spent considerable time fine-tuning the car specifically for UK roads at their Birmingham R&D facility, and it shows.
The Tech On Board Is Seriously Impressive
Back at the launch manor house, we had a proper look around the interior, and it is genuinely well put together. The 15.4-inch infotainment screen is sharp, responsive and straightforward to use, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, augmented reality navigation via the head-up display, heated and cooled front seats, a 14-speaker sound system and a 159-litre frunk on top of the 492-litre boot at the rear. For the money, the specification is difficult to argue with.
The Price Makes It A Serious Proposition
The RWD model starts at £37,990 and the AWD variant at £39,990, both backed by a 7-year vehicle warranty and an 8-year battery warranty. Range on the RWD tops out at a claimed 303 miles, with DC fast charging at up to 200kW bringing it from 10 to 80 per cent in around 23 minutes.
Neither of us expected to come away from the Cotswolds quite so impressed by a brand we had never encountered before. The Deepal S05 is well designed, well built, good to drive and realistically priced. Changan has arrived in the UK with something genuinely worth considering.
