Overview

Chances are you've never heard of Changan, but the Chinese car maker is one of the biggest in its home market, and it's arriving in the UK with real intent. The Deepal S07 is the first model to land here under the Deepal brand, and it's a five-seat electric SUV with a sporty fastback roofline, a long list of standard equipment and a price that sits just under £40,000. That means no luxury car tax, which is a neat trick for a car that looks and feels this upmarket.

There's only one version to choose from, so there's no confusing options list to wade through. Everything comes as standard, from the augmented reality head-up display to the 14-speaker sound system and the retractable tow bar.

It's entering a crowded market, though. Fellow Chinese newcomers such as Leapmotor and Xpeng are chasing the same buyers, as are more established names like BYD and MG, not to mention the Tesla Model Y, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Skoda Enyaq. So does the S07 have what it takes to stand out?

Driving

The Deepal S07 is rear-wheel drive, with a single electric motor producing 215bhp and 236lb-ft of torque. That's enough for a 0-62mph time of 7.9 seconds, which won't set your pulse racing, but we've become spoilt by EV performance. In reality it's more than quick enough for everyday driving and will keep pace with pretty much any diesel SUV.

Changan has a research and development centre in Birmingham, and the S07 has been tested and tuned for UK roads. It shows. With MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension, it soaks up most bumps and broken tarmac well, and around town and on the motorway it's quiet, smooth and composed.

Push on a bit, though, and its limits appear. The ride can become unsettled over particularly poor surfaces, and there's a noticeable amount of body roll in tighter corners. That's not unusual for a large, heavy SUV, but grip could be better too, and the rear wheels can spin under hard acceleration in the wet. The steering is light and accurate enough but offers little in the way of feedback. Switching to Sport mode adds weight, but it doesn't make the car feel any more engaging.

There's no one-pedal driving mode, and the regenerative braking can feel inconsistent. The transition from regen to the friction brakes isn't always smooth or intuitive, and the brakes can sometimes feel slow to respond.

The S07 comes with a full suite of driver assistance systems, including adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring and a 360-degree camera. It's also earned a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating. The problem is that the systems are far too sensitive. Frequent chimes for small or harmless actions quickly become distracting, and the lane-keeping assist can intervene abruptly or tug at the wheel unexpectedly. Hopefully, future software updates will calm things down.

Range and running costs

The S07 uses a 79.97kWh battery, giving an official range of 295 miles on the WLTP combined cycle. That's respectable rather than class-leading, and in real-world driving you should expect around 240 to 260 miles in mild conditions, dropping further in cold winter weather or on long motorway journeys.

Charging is where the S07 falls behind. A 30-80% top-up on a DC rapid charger takes around 35 minutes, which is slower than many rivals that can manage 10-80% in under half an hour. If you regularly cover long distances, that's worth bearing in mind. Charging at home on an 11kW wallbox, a full charge will take around eight hours, so an overnight top-up is easy.

There's also vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability, which means you can use the car's battery to power external devices such as camping equipment, laptops or power tools.

As with all electric cars, running costs should be low, particularly if you can charge at home on an off-peak tariff. Company car drivers will also benefit from low Benefit-in-Kind tax rates.

Design

The Deepal S07 was designed in Turin, and it shows. It's a sleek-looking SUV with a sloping fastback roofline, and there are hints of the Tesla Model Y and Cupra Tavascan in its shape, with perhaps a dash of Lamborghini Urus thrown in for good measure. Like many of its Chinese rivals, it features a full-width LED light bar, a panoramic glass roof with an electric sunshade and flush-fitting electric door handles. The handles look smart, but they can be a nuisance in freezing weather, as they're one more thing to defrost before you can get in. It's available with either 19-inch or 20-inch alloy wheels and in a choice of five exterior colours.

Inside, it's every bit the tech-heavy cabin we've come to expect from Chinese EVs. A 15.6-inch rotating touchscreen dominates the dashboard, and there's ambient lighting, a speaker built into the driver's headrest and plenty of vegan leather. It all looks and feels good quality, and you can choose between white, black or orange upholstery. We particularly like the wraparound centre console, which gives the front of the cabin a cosy, cocooning feel.

Comfort and practicality

The 15.6-inch touchscreen is sharp and responsive, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come as standard. However, the software isn't perfect. Some menus are poorly translated, and odd bits of Chinese occasionally appear in the system. There are also very few physical buttons, so you'll need to use the touchscreen for many basic functions, which can be distracting on the move. The voice assistant is genuinely useful, though, and handles a good range of commands.

Rather than a traditional instrument cluster behind the steering wheel, the S07 uses an augmented reality head-up display that projects key information onto the windscreen. If you like having everything in your eyeline, you'll love it, but it may take some getting used to.

Front seats are comfortable and supportive, and there's plenty of room in the back thanks to the flat floor, which frees up generous legroom. Headroom is decent too, despite the sloping roofline. There's plenty of storage dotted around the cabin, but the cup and bottle holders are on the small side and awkwardly placed, as is the wireless phone charger.

Boot space stands at 445 litres, which is decent for the class, but the shape and high loading lip make lifting in bulky items harder than it needs to be. The powered tailgate is also frustratingly slow and noisy. On the plus side, the retractable tow bar comes as standard and can tow up to 1,500kg, so bike racks, trailers or even a small caravan are all possible.

Verdict

The Changan Deepal S07 is a seriously well-equipped, good-looking electric SUV for under £40,000. It's comfortable, quiet and refined for everyday driving, and the long warranty, single fully-loaded trim and standard tow bar make it strong value.

It's not perfect, though. Charging speeds lag behind rivals, the reliance on the touchscreen is frustrating, and the driver assistance systems need refining. We'd also like to see more battery and powertrain options. And as a brand new name in the UK, Changan will need to earn buyers' trust, while resale values are an unknown. That said, the brand has launched with 20 UK dealers, has plans to expand to 50, and has a UK parts warehouse, so you shouldn't be left waiting months for replacement parts.

If you value tech, comfort and plenty of kit for your money, and you'd like something a little different from the usual suspects, the Deepal S07 is well worth a look.

Key Specs

Changan Deepal S07

Price (RRP OTR): From £39,990
Top speed: 112mph
0-62mph: 7.9 seconds
Power: 160kW (215bhp)
Torque: 236lb-ft
Driving range (combined): 295 miles
Charging time: 8hrs (11kW, 0-100%), 35min (93kW, 30-80%)
Insurance group: 45
Vehicle warranty: 7 years / 100,000 miles
Battery warranty: 8 years / 100,000 miles