Changan Deepal S07 (2025 - )

Surprise, surprise – there’s another fully electric crossover model that’s landed from China with lots of equipment and an attractive asking price. But, like many that have gone before the Changan Deepal S07, when you dig deeper into the overall package, it comes up short with poor ride quality, an average EV driving range and an infotainment set-up that’s anything by user-friendly.
It does, however, deliver on the value front with a very attractive asking price. It’s also practical and generously kitted out with all the mod cons we demand these days.
The Deepal S07’s driving range between charges is a WLTP-tested 295 miles, which is less than the model’s closest rivals, but it has been awarded a maximum five-star Euro NCAP safety rating. Additionally, the asking price of £39,990 will certainly draw attention from would-be buyers looking for a neatly-styled EV that bears remarkable resemblance to a Tesla.
At present, the Deepal S07 is only available in one specification and it was that model we tested on a varied road route.
 

Our rear-wheel drive Changan Deepal S07 featured an 80kWh battery that can deliver up to 295 miles between charges. With 218PS and 320Nm of torque, the five-door crossover can reach 62mph from a standing start in 7.9 seconds and has a top speed of 111mph.

The acceleration through the single-speed transmission is smooth and responsive, and while the Deepal S07 doesn’t feel blisteringly quick, it’s certainly fast enough with instant power to overtake slower-moving vehicles.

It’s agile and easy to manoeuvre around town, but when the pace increases everything becomes a little unsettled. The ride gets fidgety and the steering lacks any real weight, so attempting to tackle twisting country lanes at speed doesn’t exactly fill you with confidence. It also suffers from quite a lot of body sway through tighter bends and, what was a nicely refined cabin environment, gets noisier too with lots of road sound filtering through.

There are drive modes that alter the characteristics of the car and these are called Eco, Comfort and Sport. These also adjust the strength of the regenerative braking, although there is no single-pedal setting which is a shame. To be honest, we would advise Comfort for the best all-round handling, although you will still feel the full force of any potholes you may hit.

One glance in the direction of the Changan Deepal S07 and you will immediately draw comparisons to the Tesla Model Y. It’s a five-door crossover model that boasts sleek styling with a coupe silhouette. Ey-catching features include a sculpted bonnet, LED daytime running lights, full-width LED taillights, flush door handles, a spoiler with brake light, heated door mirrors, rear privacy glass, frameless windows and a 1.9-metre panoramic roof with sunshade.
Moving inside, the cabin is spacious and looks quite high-end with smart vegan-leather upholstery, plus a minimalist design with barely a physical control in sight. Finding a comfortable driving position is made simpler thanks to the powered seats, which can be heated or ventilated. The steering wheel, which offers plenty of manual adjustment, can also be warmed for added coziness.
The main focal point is the centrally-positioned 15.6-inch swiveling touchscreen that turns towards you as you take your seat behind the wheel. This is the access point to the wealth of on-board features, including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity, a 14-speaker sound system, sat nav, a 360-degree surround view camera, dual-zone air conditioning and lots more besides.
Unfortunately, everything is a tad too touchscreen dependent for our liking and, at times, the screen failed to react to prods and pushes and then seemed to catch up all of a sudden, taking you to a menu you had no intention of opening. You can use gesture controls or the voice assistant to minimise distraction slightly, but some physical controls would eradicate any issues completely. 
There is no driver display screen, but vital information such as your current speed is projected onto a head-up display screen.

The Deepal S07 certainly boasts a strong road presence stretching 4,750mm in length, 1,930mm across and 1,625mm tall with a 2,900mm wheelbase. The cabin is truly spacious, especially up front where two six-foot-plus adults can stretch out in comfort. 
And the same can be said of the rear space too, with ample room for another two adults or three at a bit of a squeeze. There will be no complaints about the generous amount of leg space, but taller passengers may find their hair brushes the headliner. This is due to the sporty styling of the vehicle with its tapering roofline.
The boot is accessed via a powered tailgate and can swallow 510 litres of luggage. The wide opening and low loading lip are really handy if carrying heavy or awkwardly-shaped items and the storage capacity can be increased further with the 60:40 split folding rear seats lowered. There is also extra space beneath the bonnet with 125 litres of storage, making it ideal for storing cables. And, additionally, there are numerous practical compartments scattered throughout the vehicle, including a deep central cubby, narrow door bins, seat back pockets, a huge area beneath the centre console, cup holders, some trays and a rather plastic-feeling glovebox.
When it comes to charging, the 80kWh battery is compatible with fast charging meaning a 30 to 80 per cent boost can be achieved in 35 minutes, although it will be more cost-effective to use a 7.4kW home wallbox whenever possible, which will take just over 12 hours to charge from zero to 100 per cent.
The Deepal S07 can tow a trailer weighing up to 1.5 tonnes and also offers Vehicle-to Load capabilities, which means it can be used to power up outside appliances such as laptops, camping lights, an air pump, BBQs and lots more besides. And the car comes with a heat pump as standard, which will improve efficiency in colder weather conditions.

 

The pricing structure for the Changan Deepal S07 could not be simpler with just the one trim level to choose from. It is generously-equipped as standard and costs £39,990. That means it falls just below the government’s Expensive Car Supplement threshold of £40,000, so owners will not need to find an extra £425 from years two to six.
However, EV owners do pay road tax now, albeit just £10 for the first year, increasing to the standard fee of £195 after 12 months. And there will also be changes to the Congestion Charge rules for EV drivers - it is free at the moment, but that will alter from Christmas Day.
Anyone looking at the Deepal S07 as a business car will receive an attractive Benefit in Kind tax rating of just three per cent 
While it is far too early to predict how reliable the Changan Deepal S07 will be, it does come with seven-year, 62,000-mile vehicle warranty, extended to eight years and 74,500 miles for the battery.
There are currently 20 Changan dealerships and the company has announced that number will increase to 50 by the end of this year.

It may seem we have been a little harsh on the Changan Deepal S07 and our comments may have been kinder if the vehicle had arrived two or three years earlier. That’s because, in that time we have experienced a huge influx of Chinese models and some of them have been really good. And for that reason, the Deepal S07 is a little late to the ‘get-lots-for-your-money’ EV party.
However, it does look impressive, is very well equipped, has a decent driving range and boasts a tempting price-tag. Unfortunately for Changan, so do many new cars right now.