Changan Deepal S07 Review & Prices

The Deepal S07 is Changan’s first model in the UK, and though it’s one of countless new Chinese brands trying to make a wave over on our shores, Changan is a manufacturing giant in its home market. The Deepal S07 is an SUV with a posh-looking interior and lots of standard equipment, but the charging time leaves a lot to be desired.

Choosing the Changan is a bit like being the first of your mates to try out the new Chinese restaurant on the high street. It looks nice from the outside, and if you peer through the glass you’ll see a fancy new interior, but there’s no way of knowing what it’s like until you’re a few courses into your meal.

Potential flies in the Deepal S07’s chow mein come from its alternatives. Between the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, more expensive Peugeot E-3008 and the cheaper Citroen E-C5 Aircross, there are some rather tasty alternatives from the established brands. Other Chinese alternatives include the Jaecoo E5 and Xpeng G6.

Where the Deepal S07 really stands out is in its styling, because it’s one of the sleekest SUVs of this size on sale. The pointy, angled nose with slender headlights, sporty roofline and intricate rear light bar all look smart, and you can opt for yours in a very vibrant shade of orange. There is, however, more than a hint of Lotus Eletre about the design, so it’s not totally original.

The interior is yet another example of minimalism gone mad, with only a single, enormous, 15.6-inch display in the middle of the dashboard. It’s home to almost all of the car’s controls, driver information and infotainment. We expect it to feature crisp graphics and lightning-fast response time to your inputs, as with most other Chinese cars we’ve tested, but the lack of physical buttons could be irritating on the go.

Standard interior kit includes heated and cooled front seats, a heated steering wheel, vegan leatherette upholstery which comes in a fantastic terracotta orange colour and a panoramic roof, so it ought to feel posh from behind the wheel.

Changan Deepal S07: electric range, battery and charging data

Range: 295 miles
Efficiency: 3.3mi/kWh
Battery size: 80kWh
Max charge speed: 93kW
Charge time AC: 9hrs, 0-100%, 11kW
Charge time DC: 48mins, 10-80%, 93kW
Charge port location: Left side, rear
Power outputs: 215hp

It’s slightly longer, wider and taller than a Hyundai Ioniq 5 and it’s quite a lot larger than a Skoda Elroq, so we’re expecting it to be spacious inside. The 510-litre boot is between the Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 for size, though it lags behind the Peugeot E-3008. The Changan does, however, also feature a 125-litre front boot, which means lots of storage space overall.

There’s a single powertrain combination for the Deepal S07, an 80kWh battery with a single electric motor driving the rear wheels. Changan quotes a maximum range of 295 miles on a full charge, but we’ll test how accurate that is once we get behind the wheel. The charging speed is disappointing, however, with a 10-80% top up taking a whopping 48 minutes. A Kia EV6 will do the same in only 18 minutes on a rapid charger.

We’ll comprehensively review the Deepal S07 once it reaches the UK, but in the meantime, have a look at the best Chinese cars currently on sale in the UK. There are plenty of electric car deals through Carwow, as well as EV leasing offers to consider. Remember, Carwow can help you sell your current car when the time comes, too.

Starting at a fraction under £40,000, the Deepal S07 is pretty good value when compared to its alternatives. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 both start at roughly the same price, but they get more expensive with bigger batteries and more options, whereas the Changan comes with a single, well-equipped trim level.

Surround-view cameras, 20-inch diamond cut alloy wheels, a head-up display, keyless entry-and-go, four wireless phone chargers, a suite of safety assistance systems and adaptive cruise control all come as standard on the Deepal S07.