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More than 40 years of experience

So although Changan is a new name in the Netherlands, the concern is anything but new worldwide. With more than 40 years of experience and over 30 million vehicles produced, Changan is among the major players in the international automotive industry. The brand operates in 117 countries, has dozens of production sites worldwide and has design and R&D centers in Europe, including in Turin and Birmingham. With this background, Changan is now taking the next step with its introduction in Europe and thus also in the Netherlands.

Business class for a PRIKKIE? Review DEEPAL S05 (2026) – AutoRAI TV

Known for collaboration with Mazda

By the way, Changan may already be known from a collaboration with Mazda. Because the electric Mazda6e and Mazda CX-6e are based on electric models from Changan. The automotive world is and remains a small world in which everyone cooperates with each other to reduce costs. Changan has big ambitions in Europe. Until 2030, the group is investing 2 billion euros in this market, there should be more than 1,000 local employees as well as 1,000 sales and service points. Currently, the brand operates in 16 European countries.

Emil Frey Netherlands

To roll out Changan in the Netherlands, the brand is partnering with Emil Frey Netherlands with already several branches throughout the Netherlands. Emil Frey will be the exclusive partner for sales and service of Changan throughout the Netherlands. They have already started recruiting the right people and selecting suitable locations, with the goal of opening the first Changan branches in early 2026. By the way, the first one is already open: in Bunnik.

Changan, Deepal, what about now?

Just to clarify, Changan is the name of the parent company, similar to a Stellantis. But it also says Deepal S05 on the car, huh? Deepal is the specific brand for the so-called new energy cars from Changan. Launched in China in 2022, it targets the mid-range segment. In Europe, you often see the cars appear under the Changan name. So officially, Changan is the name of the group, Deepal the name of the brand and S05 the type name. But in Europe Changan communicates this differently, because there is much more history attached to Changan than to Deepal. So here we may speak of Changan as the brand name and Deepal S05 as the type name, although the car’s logo is really from Deepal. Marketing, in other words. Then you also know how things work. Time for some practical matters.

Dimensions and weight Deepal S05

The Deepal S05 has a length of 4.6 meters, a width of 1.9 meters and a height of 1.6 meters. The wheelbase is on the hefty side at 2.88 meters. There are three variants to choose from: the Pro and Max with rear-wheel drive or the Max AWD. The price range runs from 38,990 to 44,990 euros. The unladen weight of the RWD variant is 1,940 kilograms, versus 2,040 kilograms for the AWD. A detachable tow bar will cost you an extra 790 euros. There is also a choice of Moonlight White, Mercury Silver, Ganymede Grey, Deep Space Black and Andromeda Blue colors. The interior comes in black or orange/black flavors.

Power of electric motor

And how much power does such an S05 have? On the rear axle of the rear-wheel drive variant is a 200 kW (272 hp) strong electric motor with 290 Nm of torque.   Good for a 0-100 sprint of 7.5 seconds and a top speed of 180 km/h. The AWD variant has the same engine at the rear, and on the front axle another electric motor with 120 kW (163 hp) and 212 Nm of torque. All versions of the S05 use a 68.8 kWh LFP battery with 400V on-board power. For the RWD versions, this results in 485 kilometers of range, versus 445 kilometers for the AWD.

fast charging

A 3-phase 11 kW on-board charger and heat pump are standard. Fast charging is possible with a peak of 200 kW. A small note: the car achieves that only at a battery charge of 5 to 10 percent. Between 10 and 80 percent, the peak is 168 kW. Count on just under half an hour (23 minutes) from 10 to 80 percent at a fast charger. The car also has V2L to power external devices. The output for V2L is at 6 kW.

Luggage space and huge frunk

The car’s luggage space comes to 492 liters, but those who fold down the backrest benefit from 1,250 liters. The rear-wheel-drive version has a frunk of 159 liters. Not such a small one either. The AWD variant also has a frunk, but it is a size smaller because of the electric motor on the front axle. You open the frunk with a lever under the dashboard. OK, the suspension. The Deepal S05 has McPherson front suspension and multi-link construction on the rear axle. Solid hardware, in other words. The front brake discs are ventilated, those on the rear axle are not.

What about warranty?

Actually pretty good. On the Deepal S05, you get a basic 7-year or 160,000-kilometer warranty, whichever comes first. On the battery, you get 8 years or 200,000 kilometers warranty. This battery comes from CATL, a seriously big player that also supplies batteries to other European car brands. There are European players that offer less warranty.

How do you like the Deepal S05 in practice?

Our first acquaintance with the Deepal S05 is short but powerful, as the model is currently touring throughout the Netherlands to introduce as many journalists as possible to the car. Still, those first hours with this model already give us a very good idea about the car. We are positively surprised about this Chinese electric SUV. And we honestly didn’t expect that when we saw it on display. It is surprisingly spacious, comfortable and easy to handle.  

Good seating position

The interior finish is excellent and the seating position is above average. You can sit quite low in the car. The A-pillars are too thick though, but thanks to good surround view you still have a good view around the car. The suspension is typically Chinese. Quite soft, but a touch of dynamics on demand. The rear axle is quite soft, but not uncomfortable. The steering feel feels nice and natural. Influence on brake regeneration is non-existent. The car has a system that automatically regenerates stronger below 50% SOC. It feels like a normal car for that reason. The 272-hp electric motor on the rear axle performs just fine. Opting for AWD is not necessarily necessary. This first introduction was too short to say anything meaningful about power consumption, but a glance into the trip computer quickly revealed that consumption from previous trips was between 14 and 18 kWh. That in itself is quite fine.

Conclusion review Deepal S05

Well, we have to be honest about this. The Deepal S05 offers business class for a bargain. It is unprecedented what you get to take home for just under 39,000 euros. Comfort, space, plenty of driving range, more than enough power, an excellent infotainment system with rotatable 15.4-inch touchscreen and wonderful seats. Especially the co-driver gets his money’s worth with the lounge-like seat in the front. And in the rear, too, there is plenty of room for head, knees and feet. Add to that the fine bench seat and the picture is complete. The Deepal S05 is simply a car that does a lot of things right, especially considering its price. You probably won’t buy it with the heart, but with the mind. Whether that’s a bad thing? You decide that, of course.