The Changan Deepal S05 has arrived in South Africa at an incredible value price of R 699,000 including VAT, brought in by Jameel Motors South Africa, the official importer and distributor of Changan. The Deepal S05 is the brand’s second range-extended electric vehicle (REEV) to hit the local market.
Designed in Changan’s dedicated studio in Turin, Italy, the five-door S05 has an athletic stance, narrow LED headlamps, frameless door pillars and hidden rectangular door handles. It sits below the larger Deepal S07 in size and price but is regarded globally as a sensibly priced Halo vehicle.
Chelsy Pinto, General Manager: Marketing & Product of Jameel Motors, says “South Africans are increasingly interested in electric vehicles, but charging availability and long-distance travel remain important considerations. The Deepal S05 brings together the appeal of electric driving and the reassurance of a petrol-powered range extender, making it a practical proposition for our market.”
Powertrain and Range
The S05 is driven by a single rear electric motor producing 160 kW and 320 Nm, sent to the rear wheels only. A 27.28 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery gives an electric-only range of 175 km, and a 1.5-litre petrol engine extends the total range to more than 1 000 km. The engine produces 72 kW and 125 Nm but acts only as a generator for the electric motor and the batteries. Claimed performance is 0-100 km/h in under eight seconds with a top speed of 175 km/h. The battery has a preheating function and supports AC charging and DC fast charging of 30–80% in 20 minutes. The Deepal S05 also has Vehicle-To-Load (V2L) capabilities, allowing you to use its high-voltage battery to power or charge external electrical devices.
Technology
The premium feel cabin has a 15.4-inch “Sunflower” rotating touchscreen with Navigation and Intelligent Voice Interaction, Bluetooth connectivity and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, linked to a 14-speaker audio system. Ahead of the driver, a Snapdragon 8155-powered augmented-reality head-up display (AR-HUD) projects a 50-inch image showing driving information and controls. Driver modes are Standard/Comfort, Sport, Eco and Custom, whilst the suspension is typical for a European vehicle, McPherson struts upfront mated to a multi-link rear, making for an engaging driving experience.
Safety
The S05 comes with a full Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) suite that includes Forward Collision Warning, Integrated Adaptive Cruise Control with Lane Centring and Traffic Jam Assist, Lane Keep Assist, Automatic Emergency Braking, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert and Blind-Spot Detection. Face Recognition and Fatigue Detection monitor the driver. Front, side and curtain airbags, Force-Limiting and Pre-Tensioning seatbelts, ESP with TSC and Dynamic Braking Function, ABS with EBD and BA, ISOFIX child seat anchorage points, 540-degree camera, and Front and Rear parking sensors are also fitted.
Comfort and space
The seats are trimmed in microfiber leather, with the front seats being heated and ventilated. The driver’s seat has six-way electric adjustment plus two-way electric lumbar support, and the passenger’s seat has four-way adjustment with leg support. Other features include a fixed 1.9m panoramic sunroof with electric sunshade, ambient lighting, front and rear reading lamps, automatic single-zone air-conditioning, a 50 W wireless phone charging pad with cooling function, a front USB-A port and rear USB-A and USB-C ports.
The S05 measures 4 620 mm long, 1 900 mm wide and 1 600 mm high with a 2 880 mm wheelbase and a kerb weight of 1 847 kg. Luggage space is 464 litres.
Colours and ownership
Exterior colours are Moonlight White, Ganymede Grey, Mercury Silver, Deep Space Black and Starry Blue, with black and orange interior options. The Changan Deepal S05 comes with a five-year/90 000 km service plan, a five-year/150 000 km warranty and an eight-year/150 000 km battery warranty. An optional maintenance plan is available. The Changan Deepal S05 will be available at Changan dealers from the first week of November.