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, the styling is Italian, the R&D work was carried out in China and 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. Its first model to go on sale in the UK was the Changan Deepal S07 – the S05 is the second. 

Both models are electric family SUVs by our measure, but the S05 is slightly smaller. It’s closer in size (and price) to the Renault Scenic and Skoda Elroq. Still, there’s also the Citroën ë-C5 Aircross and Smart #5 to keep in mind.  

The competition is admittedly tough, so does the Deepal S05 have what it takes? Read on to find out…

What’s new

- March 2026: The Changan Deepal S05 goes on sale 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 in the spring. 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?

The Changan Deepal S05 is more than fast enough. There are two versions to choose from, but even the entry-level RWD (rear-wheel drive) feels fairly sprightly, especially around town. Still, if you want something even quicker, it’s worth considering the Skoda Elroq 85 or any Smart #5. 

We’re yet to drive the S05 AWD (all-wheel drive), but on paper, it’s in closer competition with the the Skoda Elroq vRS than it is the hugely powerful #5 Brabus.

We’ll let you know what the S05 AWD is like once we’ve been behind the wheel. 

Is it agile and is the ride comfortable?

Let’s address the ride first. You see, the S05 has a relatively soft suspension, and you might assume that’s part and parcel of a smooth, comfortable ride. It very well can be; the Citroën ë-C5 Aircross is a prime case in point. 

What the S05 lacks is control. It often bounces around, especially on undulating country roads, giving you ample opportunity to practise your Mick Jagger impression. 

Okay, perhaps that’s a slight exaggeration – Mick is more intense – but still, this lack of control is a real issue. It affects the S05’s handling, too. Through corners, the body leans and mid-corner bumps can upset its composure (or lack thereof). It also doesn’t help that the steering is inconsistently weighted and vague in its sense of connection with the front wheels. 

By contrast, the Skoda Elroq instills a lot more confidence in the corners, feeling precise and planted. It also manages to ride smoothly, being compliant yet (importantly) controlled over uneven surfaces. 

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

The S05 is a bit of a mixed bag for noise. There’s very little wind buffeting, but there is some tyre roar, as well as some suspension noise over bumps and potholes. 

As for driving smoothly, again, the S05 is a bit mixed. The accelerator pedal can feel oversensitive (like an on/off switch) at times, especially in the car’s Sport mode. On the other hand, the brake pedal is progressive, making it easy to come to a smooth stop. 

There are two core modes for the regenerative braking, as well as a custom mode that (perhaps unnecessarily) lets you choose between 100 different degrees of intensity. Unfortunately, there’s no one-pedal drive mode.

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

The S05’s official range would’ve been competitive a few years ago, but 301 miles – 278 miles for the AWD – feels a bit behind the times nowadays. At least a heat pump comes as standard. 

Plenty of rivals, like the Renault Scenic, Skoda Elroq and Smart #5 can officially manage more than 350 miles on a charge (depending on the variant in question). The Citroen ë-C5 Aircross Long Range can actually do closer to 420 miles. 

On the plus side, the S05’s maximum charging rate is 200kW, which is good. The Scenic (150kW), ë-C5 (160kW) and Elroq (175kW) all fall short of the S05 in this respect. Expect a 10-80% charge to take around half an hour, if you hook up to a fast-enough DC charger. 

“I saw an efficiency figure of 3.5mi/kWh during my drive around the Cotswolds. That’s decent, albeit far from exceptional.” – Oliver Young, Reviewer

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

Changan says the Deepal S05’s exterior and interior features design touches inspired by aviation. We’re not sure whether there’s a clear resemblance, but we will say this: the interior looks smart, sophisticated and minimalistic. 

It looks of a high quality, too, with plenty of faux leather all over the place. The thing is, as soon as you start prodding around, you notice that the material is quite thin and cheap-feeling. The Smart #5 feels much plusher and more expensive inside. 

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

The driving position is comfortable, thanks in part to how much adjustment there is in the seat and steering wheel. 

It’s easy to see out of the front and checking your blind spot is easy enough. Your view out the back is restricted by the fairly slim rear window, though. It’s a good thing that every S05 gets 360-degree cameras and sensors. 

Are the dashboard and infotainment system easy to use?

Like the larger Changan Deepal S07, the S05 has a big head-up display and a central touchscreen that controls most of the car’s functions. There are some physical buttons on the steering wheel, plus the screen has a row of permanently displayed shortcut buttons, but that’s about it for easy-to-access features. 

A lot of the time, you’ll be diving through various menus, which isn’t super simple or easy to do. You have to be precise with your button presses (which is easier said than done when you have the S05’s bouncy ride working against you), and the software is quite slow to respond to inputs. 

For a much more intuitive, user-friendly experience, check out the Renault Scenic. It has a Google-enhanced infotainment system, as well as physical buttons and switches for things like the climate controls, wingmirror adjustment and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). 

“I made a phone call over Apple CarPlay, and when I turned the call’s volume up, the CarPlay screen disappeared in favour of a tiny volume scroller. Annoyingly, I then had to reselect CarPlay.” – Oliver Young, Reviewer

How much space does it have for people?

Up front, you’d have to be very tall to struggle for space inside the Deepal S05, but then again, the same can be said for most cars. 

In the back, six-footers have a decent amount of space, just not a lot of room to spare. Most rivals, including the Citroën ë-C5 Aircross, Renault Scenic, Skoda Elroq and Smart #5, are that bit airier. 

If you plan on carrying three abreast in the back, it’s worth noting that there’s no hump in the floor whatsoever. It’s completely flat. Pair that with the fairly wide interior and it’s easy to get comfortable. 

How much room does it have for luggage?

Whether it’s the weekly shop or a short family holiday, we reckon the S05’s 492-litre main boot and generous 159-litre (152-litre in the AWD) front boot will manage most people’s needs. Just know that, if you’re planning on hauling around anything heavy, the load lip and boot floor are both quite high. 

For comparison, the Skoda Elroq’s storage is inferior: it makes do with just a 470-litre main boot. 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. The Smart #5 reigns supreme here: it has a 630-litre main boot, as well as a 110-litre front boot. 

“I usually ignore front boots because they tend to be tiny, but the S05’s actually seems to be a useful size.” – Oliver Young, Reviewer

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

As a cash purchase, the Changan Deepal S05 costs around £38,000, rising by around £2000 for the AWD. That’s not especially competitive, seeing as the Citroën ë-C5 Aircross, Renault Scenic and Skoda Elroq all have lower starting prices. 

You can even get an entry-level Smart #5 for similar money to a S05 AWD – and remember, the #5 is a noticeably larger, comfier and more premium-feeling car. 

Mind you, the S05 does win some points back for how well equipped it is. As standard, every S05 gets 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 indication of how reliable the S05 is going to be. You won’t find a Changan of any kind in our latest What Car? Reliability Survey. 

If something were to go awry, at least the S05 has a fairly 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 at Euro NCAP. It gets a huge suite of standard safety features, too, including automatic emergency braking (AEB), lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and safe exit warning. 

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 bizarre that Changan’s two models are both electric family SUVs within about £2000 of each other.” – Oliver Young, Reviewer

Buy it if… 

- You want lots of standard kit

- You’ve got use for a big frunk

- You’d like a long warranty

Don’t buy it if…

- You’re after a planted, smooth ride

- You like precise handling

- You’re after old-school user friendliness

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