Changan Deepal S05 RWD review: 303-mile range, 268bhp and huge tech for £37,990. Does this Chinese electric SUV deserve your shortlist?
The Changan Deepal S05 arrives in Britain with 303 miles of claimed range, rear-wheel drive and enough technology to keep a small branch of Currys busy. Has this unfamiliar electric SUV earned a place on your shortlist?
Another week, another unfamiliar Chinese badge arriving in Britain. Keeping track of the new names is becoming a full-time occupation, though Changan deserves attention because it is one of China’s oldest and most established vehicle manufacturers. I first reviewed one in Dubai over a decade ago, when its cars still had petrol engines and rather less software than the average space station.
The Deepal S05 sits below the larger S07 and costs £37,990 in rear-wheel-drive Max form. That buys a 68.8kWh LFP battery, 200kW or 268bhp, 290Nm and a claimed 303-mile WLTP range. It reaches 62mph in 7.5 seconds and accepts up to 200kW DC, with Changan quoting 23 minutes for a 10 to 80 per cent recharge.
Smooth styling with one curious illuminated flourish
My test car came in Andromeda Blue, answering the question I repeatedly asked while looking at it: is that actually blue? It moves between pale blue and turquoise depending on the light and suits the clean shape. Slim headlights, a bluff nose, flush handles, tapered bodywork and 20-inch aerodynamic wheels complete the modern EV look.
The design was created at Changan’s European centre in Turin, with the chassis calibrated at its UK research and development operation in Birmingham. It measures 4,598mm long and 1,900mm wide, with a 2,880mm wheelbase, while a drag coefficient of 0.25 helps efficiency.
UK-market cars are built in Thailand for right-hand-drive export, giving the S05 an unusually international design, engineering and manufacturing story from the outset.
The unusual detail sits on the left C-pillar. Changan calls it the Energy Interaction Ring Light, a segmented battery-status display that also plays welcome animations. It appears on one side, while the charging port and driver are on the other, so it mainly tells passing pedestrians how much electricity you have left. Still, it is different and far more interesting than another fake air intake.
At the rear, a full-width light bar, V-shaped spoiler and theatrical high-mounted brake light give the S05 a distinctive night-time signature looking like something out of Thunderbirds.
Plenty of luggage space at both ends
The powered tailgate reveals a useful 492-litre boot, expanding to 1,250 litres when the 60:40 rear seats are folded. There is a removable waterproof floor, a small underfloor compartment for cables and tools, a 12-volt socket and a luggage cover that carries yet another Deepal badge, just in case the previous seventeen reminders escaped you. Boot lacks height though.
The practicality party happens under the bonnet. Rear-wheel-drive versions provide a huge 159-litre front boot, while the AWD model offers 152 litres. Braked towing capacity is 1,600kg on either version.
Rear accommodation is convincing. I am a little over six feet one with long legs, and there was useful knee room behind the driver’s seat in its rearward comfort-entry position. My feet felt slightly hemmed in and the raised EV floor left my knees higher than ideal, yet headroom and overall comfort were good.
Passengers receive air vents, USB-A and USB-C connections, an armrest, cupholders and ISOFIX points. Materials feel respectable, with quilted upholstery and soft-touch surfaces. A small window behind the rear door improves visibility, while the optional panoramic roof floods the cabin with light.
The cabin has almost completed its button extinction programme
Climb into the front and the 15.4-inch touchscreen swivels towards the driver. Leave a passenger aboard and it turns towards them instead. It is quick, bright and stuffed with menus, vehicle controls and entertainment features. An augmented-reality head-up display compensates for the absence of a conventional instrument cluster.
The dashboard feels mostly upmarket, with soft materials, neat stitching and slim integrated vents. Harder surfaces around the steering wheel were already showing scratches, raising questions about durability. Physical controls are scarce, although the steering wheel retains buttons for audio, voice control and driver assistance. Almost everything else lives inside the touchscreen.
Storage includes a 50W wireless charging pad, cupholders, a deep split-level cubby and an open tray. I could not find a glovebox, electronically released, secretly concealed or otherwise. Perhaps gloves are another analogue relic Deepal expects us to abandon.
The electric seat usually returned faithfully to my saved position. Twice, however, it continued forwards until I found myself being compressed towards the dashboard. Opening the door or touching the switch stopped it. This appeared to be an intermittent glitch, though I remained alert in case the car had read one of my previous reviews.
| Specification | Changan Deepal S05 RWD Max |
|---|---|
| UK price | £37,990 OTR |
| Battery | 68.8kWh LFP |
| Power | 200kW / 268bhp |
| Torque | 290Nm |
| Drive | Rear-wheel drive |
| 0–62mph | 7.5 seconds |
| Top speed | 112mph |
| WLTP range | 303 miles |
| Peak DC charging | 200kW |
| 10–80% charging | 23 minutes |
| Boot | 492 litres |
| Boot, seats folded | 1,250 litres |
| Front boot | 159 litres |
| Braked towing | 1,600kg |
| Vehicle warranty | 7 years / 100,000 miles |
| Battery warranty | 8 years / 124,000 miles |
One screen controls almost everything
The interface deserves its own review – so it got one, see video above for a detailed look at all the features and facilities. Including Pet-safe mode, and rave machine modes.
A pull-down panel accesses common settings, although adjusting the mirrors still requires the screen. Driving modes, steering weight, accelerator response, regeneration, braking assistance and driver aids can all be configured.
The 14-speaker audio system sounds impressive, particularly in Dynamic mode. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard. The 360-degree cameras can display individual wheels, the car’s sides and a transparent-chassis view, while a built-in recorder captures footage on a loop.
A physical camera button would make parking easier. Reaching the required view can involve opening the applications menu, which feels laborious in a 1.9-metre-wide SUV. Changan has provided enough cameras to film a movie chase, then hide all the controls from the director.
Calm, capable and emotionally unavailable
On the road, the S05 feels reassuringly ordinary. Performance is available when required, though the car rarely encourages exploration. The steering is light, the handling competent and predictable, and the rear-wheel-drive layout introduces no drama. It carries you from A to B calmly without asking you to develop a meaningful relationship.
Ride quality is slightly brittle over broken surfaces, probably encouraged by those large wheels, and road noise is noticeable at speed. Comfort mode suits it best. Sport makes the accelerator needlessly jumpy around town, while the strongest regenerative setting creates awkward resistance. Normal regeneration provides a more natural balance.
The brake pedal can feel artificial, a familiar EV trait as mechanical and regenerative systems argue about which is responsible for stopping. Visibility is reasonable, the cameras help enormously and the rear-quarter glass adds welcome openness.
During motorway, town and A-road driving, the range prediction proved impressively honest. Miles travelled broadly matched the indicated range consumed, even at higher speeds. That inspires confidence compared with an ambitious figure that evaporates whenever the road moves beneath the tyres.
Verdict
The S05 enters an intensely competitive market. Its strengths are space, equipment, useful range, rapid charging and ambitious technology. A seven-year, 100,000-mile vehicle warranty and eight-year, 124,000-mile battery warranty help establish trust.
The driving experience lacks sparkle, the ride could be more polished and the dependence on touchscreen controls occasionally irritates. Yet nothing about the S05 makes everyday driving difficult, while its practicality and equipment give buyers plenty to investigate.
This feels increasingly like a mobile entertainment centre that also performs a competent impression of a family car. For buyers who value features, space and technology above steering feedback and emotional connection, the Deepal S05 deserves a place on the test-drive list. Just keep one hand near the seat switch until you are certain it has finished welcoming you – and don’t upset it!
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