Should you spend more on a European electric SUV or take a chance on a Chinese car?

Budget is usually the number one factor that goes into choosing a car, so it comes as little surprise that Chinese brands are soaring in popularity at the moment. There’s no doubt about it, they’re leading the way in terms of value for money, offering far more kit than the established European manufacturers at more competitive prices.

Is that really enough to determine what you’ll spend the next three-to-four years of your life in, though? It’s all well and good having lashings of leatherette and plenty of equipment to play with, but are the bells and whistles worth the expense of a good driving experience for the next three or four years?

For me they’re not, but even if you don’t care about how a car drives, there are some fantastic leasing deals that might make you think twice about defaulting to a Chinese car when chasing value.

A good example is the Changan Deepal S07. At £230 per month, it’s only £33 per month cheaper than the Skoda Elroq, which was highly commended in the Carwow Car of the Year Awards 2026. So which should you choose?

Changan Deepal S07 v Skoda Elroq: Exterior design

Well, the Changan draws first blood here, because it’s a sharper-looking thing than the Elroq. That’s not to say the Skoda is ugly by any means, because it isn’t, but the Changan’s pointy shark-nose, sleek roofline, funky light bar at the back and the simple creases down its sides are all hits, as is the metallic orange paint on the car I drove.

The Elroq isn’t as head turning, because while the front end is pretty slick, the side profile and rear end are a smidge awkward by comparison – as a result of its compact boot.

Changan Deepal S07 v Skoda Elroq: Interior styling and practicality

A closer battle here, but I have to give it to the Skoda. The Deepal S07 is too far gone in style-over-substance, because while it’s pretty handsome inside and you’re surrounded by plush, upholstered materials, cracks soon begin to show.

The all-in-one central display is convoluted to use with too many menus to sift through, while the head-up display is tiny. It’s not just software quirks, as the weirdly thick steering wheel spokes get in the way of your fingers and the hazard light button feels haphazardly-placed on the car’s ceiling. I also have to mention the awful, fake wood-veneer door trims. Ew.

Meanwhile, the Skoda’s cabin is a prime example of minimalism done right. The dashboard swoops down below the infotainment display, and while the climate control menus are annoying to operate, the software is still easier to navigate than in the Changan.

Skoda’s steering wheel is a delight, too, with a real driver display set behind. While there are more scratchy plastics in the Elroq’s cabin, notably around the centre console and lower door cards, it feels more solidly put together.

Interior space is similar in both cars, and while the Skoda offers a touch more storage space for bits and bobs, you’re unlikely to notice a difference on the day-to-day. The Changan does win in terms of outright boot volume, with a 510-litre boot and brilliant 125-litre front boot, but the Skoda has more useful spaces in its 470-litre cargo compartment.

Changan Deepal S07 v Skoda Elroq: Batteries, range and driving

While the Skoda comes with a range of battery options, this leasing offer is for an SE L model with a 63kWh battery and 250-mile range. That’s not as much as the Deepal S07 can offer, with its larger 80kWh battery meaning 295 claimed miles of range.

In the real world we saw an identical 3.5mi/kWh when testing both models, which equates to 280 miles from the Changan, and though we drove a larger-battery model, an SE L would only manage 220 miles on a charge.

But the moment you get in, select drive and set off the Changan is well and truly outclassed. The Skoda is a lot more comfortable in town and easier to park – though both are a piece of cake to manoeuvre.

On the motorway the Changan actually feels a touch more planted than the Elroq does, as the Skoda can feel as though it floats a touch over high speed dips, but otherwise both are very comfortable. Don’t bother with the Changan’s active cruise control, though, as it drifts towards white lines far too easily.

You’re likely not expecting much sportiness from either of these cars, and you’re right not to, as both are equally unimpressive when being hustled from bend to bend on a twisty road.

Changan Deepal S07 v Skoda Elroq: Verdict and deals

The Changan Deepal S07 is one of the better electric SUVs to come from China, with genuinely desirable styling and a plush cabin to go with the middling driving experience. Combined with its reasonably affordable lease deals, that would be enough to give it the win…if the Skoda were noticeably more expensive.

But for just £33 more per month over the same two-year term and less than £300 more up front (£3,452 for the Skoda vs. £3,159 for the Changan), it’s worth choosing the Czech car over the Chinese one.

It’s easier to live with, more pleasant to drive and for the added peace of mind that you’re buying a car from an established brand with a decent reputation for reliability, it’s a no brainer. The Elroq wins in this case.

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*Savings are made up of the maximum dealer discount off RRP – subject to dealership, location and trim. Prices correct at the time of writing.