Changan Deepal S05 review

If the Changan Deepal S05 took a DNA test, it would produce some interesting results. You see, the brand is Chinese, but the S05 was styled in Italy, some of the R&D work was carried out in the UK, and production takes place in Thailand. 

That’s quite the mix. But then again, Changan wants to become a globally recognised car maker and, as such, it’s expanding far and wide.

This is its second model to arrive in the UK – following hot on the heals of the bigger Changan Deepal S07. And while the S05 is closest in size and price to SUVs like the Renault Scenic and Skoda Elroq, it also faces tough competition from the  Citroën e-C5 Aircross, Kia EV5 and Smart #5.

So, let's see how the S05 compares in all the key areas, including comfort, range, practicality and costs.

What’s new

- June 2026: We pit the Changan Deepal S05 against key rivals in a group test

- March 2026: The Deepal S05 goes on sale in the UK and we drive it for the first time

- February 2026: Changan’s second model, the Deepal S05, is confirmed to be headed to the UK. It has an official range of up to 301 miles, and comes in both rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive variants

How fast is it and which motor is best?

There are two versions of the Changan Deepal S05, but even the the entry-level RWD (rear-wheel drive) model is more than fast enough.

It surges forward eagerly when you put your foot down. And while the Skoda Elroq 85 is officially even quicker – as are all versions of the Smart #5 – a 0-62mph time of 7.5 seconds would still have been worthy of a hot hatch not so long ago.

In fact, if anything, the S05 is even faster than claimed; at our private test track we managed 0-60mph in 6.4 seconds.

We’re yet to drive the S05 AWD (all-wheel drive), but on paper that's a rival to the Skoda Elroq vRS.

Is it agile and is the ride comfortable?

Changan has given the Deepal S05 a very soft suspension set-up, so around town it's great at taking the initial sting out of bumps and divots in the road surface. However, it's not as good at damping out the after effects of impacts; larger potholes can send twangs through the car's body, while aggressive speed bumps cause its back end to rear up dramatically.

Things are similarly mixed on the motorway, where the S05 doesn't feel overly bouncy, but there is a gentle swaying sensation that might upset passengers who are particularly prone to motion sickness.

It's on country roads, though, that the S05's lack of control is most frustrating, with the car hopping and lurching in a way that's neither comfortable nor reassuring.

Even on A-roads, there's a lot of body lean in bends, plus the steering is pretty remote and can weight up rather inconsistently. As a result, the S05 is a car that best suits a slower, more relaxed driving style, although the Citroën e-C5 Aircross and Smart #5 also reward this while displaying superior control.

Is it quiet and how easy is it to drive smoothly?

You don't hear much road or motor noise inside the S05. And even though it has frameless side windows, wind noise is also kept to a minimum, so this is a very quiet motorway cruiser.

Sadly, the brakes are less impressive; there's no shortage of stopping power, but they bite suddenly, meaning it can be difficult to come to a smooth stop until you've adjusted your driving style to compensate.

True, this is an issue in a lot of electric cars, but some of those have a one-pedal driving mode in which you hardly have to brake at all, whereas the S05 doesn't.

What’s the range and efficiency like, and how quickly can it charge?

Not so long ago, the S05’s official range would have been excellent, but these days 301 miles (or 278 miles for the AWD) is nothing special.

Some versions of the Renault Scenic, Skoda Elroq and Smart #5 can officially manage more than 360 miles on a charge. Meanwhile, the Citroën e-C5 Aircross Long Range can do around 420 miles.

On the plus side, Changan fits a heat pump as standard, allowing you to efficiently warm the interior of the S05. And even when that's not needed – as was the case on the hot day when we took the car to our test track – we found it to be more efficient than the Scenic and Kia EV5 that were tested in the same conditions.

As a bonus, the maximum charging rate of 200kW betters the 150kW of the Scenic, the 160kW of the e-C5 and the 175kW of the Elroq.

“I saw an efficiency figure of 3.68mi/kWh when I drove the Deepal S05, which is good considering the temperature was north of 30 degrees C, and the climate control was having to work seriously hard.” – John Howell, Deputy Reviews Editor

What does the interior look like and is it well made?

Like most Chinese cars, the Changan Deepal S05 has a minimalist interior design that's dominated by a large central touchscreen. However, quality is above average – and not just compared with Chinese rivals.

Almost everything feels solidly assembled, the plastics are pleasingly tactile and there's lots of faux leather and contrast stitching to add some extra class.

True, the lightweight action of the steering wheel joystick controls slightly blots its copybook, and the Smart #5 is even plusher, but you're certainly not going to feel shortchanged in the S05.

Is the driving position comfortable and is it easy to see out?

There's a wide range of seat adjustment, including for lumbar to help keep back ache at bay on long trips. However, the seat could do with more side support. Plus, some of our testers felt the S05’s steering wheel doesn’t extend far enough out.

Your view out the back of the car is somewhat restricted by a fairly slim rear window. But every S05 gets parking sensors and a 360-degree camera to make manoeuvring easier, and forward visibility is decent. 

Are the dashboard and infotainment system easy to use?

Most functions are controlled through the central touchscreen, meaning you have to look away from the road to operate them.

There is at least a row of permanently displayed shortcut buttons – plus some physical controls on the steering wheel. However, you still have to get to grips with a lot of menus, and some of the icons are on the small side.

For a more user-friendly experience, check out the Renault Scenic. Its Google-based infotainment system is better laid out. Plus, unlike Changan, Renault provides separate buttons and switches for adjusting the climate control, door mirrors and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).

“The interior of the Deepal S05 looks a lot like those of the Aion V and XPeng G6. But the robustness of details like the air vents makes the S05 a cut above for me” – Steve Huntingford, Editor

How much space does it have for people?

It’s not often we say space is in short supply in the front seats of a car, but that is the case in the Changan Deepal S05. True, there's loads of head room, but you're likely to find leg room a little tight if you’re much over six feet tall.

Similarly, really tall adults might feel a bit cramped in the back of the car, although here it's head room that's the issue. By contrast, rear leg room is comparable with the Renault Scenic – which means there's plenty. Plus, the S05's rear seats are mounted higher up than the Renault's, so adults under six-foot can sit more comfortably, and passengers of all ages get a better view out.

As a bonus, the interior is fairly wide and there's no hump in the floor, meaning the S05 copes better than many cars when carrying three abreast in the back

How much room does it have for luggage?

Whether it’s the weekly shop or a short family holiday, the S05’s 492-litre main boot and generous 159-litre (152-litre in the AWD) front boot should meet most people’s needs. We managed to fit eight carry-on suitcases across the pair of them: six in the back; two under the bonnet.

For comparison, the Skoda Elroq makes do with just a 470-litre main boot that can swallow six cases. The Citroen ë-C5 Aircross and Renault Scenic are also limited to just their main boots, although the boots in question are fairly large, at 565 and 545 litres respectively. But the Smart #5 sets the standard here: it can take nine cases across its 630-litre main boot and 110-litre front boot.

“There's no step up to the rear seats when you fold them flat to carry larger loads, but I do think it's disappointing that they fold in a 60/40 split instead of 40/20/40.” – Dan Jones, Senior reviewer

How much does it cost and what equipment do you get?

If you're buying outright, the Changan Deepal S05 isn't especially cheap; the Citroën e-C5 Aircross, Renault Scenic and Skoda Elroq all have lower starting prices. True, you can already save thousand of pounds on a new S05 via our New Car Deals service, but it will still cost you more than all three of those rivals.

On the other hand, if you're planning to take out PCP finance, there are some very tempting offers available on the S05. And it also looks competitive on a lease.

Low running costs, thanks to the good real-world efficiency, add further to its appeal. And every S05 comes with a long list of standard kit, including 20in alloy wheels, heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel and a 14-speaker sound system. 

Is it reliable, and how long is the warranty?

Aside from consulting a fortune teller, we have no way of telling how reliable the S05 is going to be, because no Changan has been on sale in the UK for long enough for the brand to feature in the What Car? Reliability Survey.

If something does go awry, though, you will have a long warranty to fall back on. It runs for seven years or 100,000 miles (whichever comes first), with eight years or 124,000 miles of cover on the battery. Few brands, besides Toyota (up to 10 years), can beat that. 

How safe is it, and is it easy to steal?

The S05 was awarded the full five stars from safety experts Euro NCAP, with it scoring particularly well for adult occupant protection.

Its standard front centre airbag helps, preventing the driver and front passenger from clashing in a side impact. Meanwhile, the list of kit designed to help you avoid an accident in the first place includes automatic emergency braking (AEB), forward collision and lane departure warning systems, and emergency lane-keeping assistance.

As for security, every S05 gets an alarm, and the key will deactivate when not in use to block signal-duplication attacks. 

“I find it a bit strange that Changan’s two models are both electric family SUVs, and that they're priced within about £2000 of each other.” – Oliver Young, Reviewer

Buy it if…

- You value peace and quiet

- You're after an interior that feels luxurious

- You want the reassurance of a long warranty

Don’t buy it if…

- You like precise handling

- You and your family are very tall

- You prefer buttons and knobs to touchscreens

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