Affordable Electric Car Range Breakthrough Arrives

A few months ago we drove the first Deepal on sale in SA. You’re probably wondering: What is a Deepal? Well, it is an NEV range from Chinese automaker Changan. The S07 we reviewed left us with a very favuourable impression (as you can read here). However, it does come with quite a price tag. Changan SA, the local arm of the company is aiming to make buying into the brand with a new product called the Deepal S05, which is now on sale in Msanzi.

Going the distance

One thousand kilometres between refills is a claim normally attached to long-legged diesel wagons. The Deepal S05 promises exactly that with a 27,28 kWh battery pack and a 1,5-litre petrol engine that does not power the wheels. Best of all, it does so with the highly competitive and quite attainable price tag.

The company’s Turin studio penned the design, giving the five-door its narrow LED lamps, frameless glass areas, and flush door handles that keep the flanks clean. The Deepal S05 measures 4 620 mm in length, 1 900 mm across, 1 600 mm tall, riding on a 2 880 mm wheelbase. Kerb weight sits at 1 847 kg, luggage capacity at a family friendly 464 litres. Those numbers place it squarely in the Tucson and RAV4 size class, although it has a lower roofline and a more coupe-like silhouette than either of those family staples.

The range-extended formula

The powertrain layout is straightforward once you accept that the internal combustion engine is merely a generator. A single rear-mounted electric motor sends 160 kW of power and 320 Nm to the rear axle, fed by a 27,28 kWh unit using lithium iron phosphate chemistry and good for 175 km of electric running. That range should more than get you to and from work on the daily.

When charge in the pack drops low, the 1,5-litre petrol engine, which develops 72 kW of output and 125 N.m, recharges the battery. The combined result is a total range claim beyond 1 000 km. Performance is brisk rather than ballistic; the sprint to 100 km/h takes under eight seconds and top speed is capped at 175 km/h. This is fast enough for the highway but clearly tuned for efficiency over outright pace. The battery can preheat before departure, accepts AC charging, and will boost from 30 to 80 percent DC fast charge in 20 minutes.

Cabin

Inside, the S05 runs a 15,4-inch central display that rotates to suit navigation or media, powered by a Snapdragon 8155 chip. An augmented-reality head-up display projects speed, guidance, and ADAS alerts directly onto the windscreen, minimising the need to glance away from the road. Wireless CarPlay and Android mirroring are standard, as is Bluetooth and an intelligent voice interface. Sound comes through 14 speakers. The driver faces four modes: Standard or Comfort, Sport, Eco, and a Custom setting. Underneath, MacPherson struts front and a multi-link rear axle do the road work.

Seats are trimmed in microfiber leather, with heating and ventilation for both front occupants. The driver’s chair adjusts six ways electrically and includes two-way lumbar support, while the passenger makes do with four-way movement and a leg rest. Above them sits a fixed 1,9-metre panoramic roof with an electric blind. Ambient lighting, reading lamps front and rear, automatic single-zone climate control, and a 50-watt wireless charging pad with active cooling fill out the convenience list.

Where it fits

Changan pitches the S05 as an NEV product at sensible money, a description that only sticks if the local pricing undercuts the established hybrid order. In this bracket it faces the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, the Haval H6 hybrid, the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage pair, and a few other rivals from its home country. Whether the Deepal badge carries enough weight to pull buyers away from those established names is the open question. On paper, at least, the S05 seems like an appealing option for those looking to beat the fuel pump squeeze.