Another Chinese manufacturer has entered the UK market with an SUV. But, as John Challen explains, this one is a bit different.

WHAT IS IT? Compact SUV   HOW MUCH? From £39,900   RANGE? 295 miles  How long to charge 10-80%? 48 minutes (100kW DC charger)

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We know that it can be difficult to keep up with the ever-increasing number of car companies arriving on these shores from China, but we also realise we have to be prepared for others to follow. In the case of Changan, the company has actually had a UK base since 2010, largely concerned with powertrain development for models on sale in the domestic market.

But now, the company has raised the stakes somewhat with the launch of its first model, the Changan Deepal S07 – the car coming with the tagline ‘Fun should be easy’.

We’ll come onto how much fun the car is shortly, but it’s worth digging a bit deeper into Changan, which claims to be China’s first passenger car company, having been established in 1984. It has big plans – worldwide sales are expected to reach three million in 2025 and, by the end of this year, Changan hopes to have 60 UK dealer sites up and running.

The Deepal S07 is designed in Italy and the UK featured heavily for onroad development, representing a commitment to Europe. More than 60 models – a mix of EVs and hybrids – are coming down the line, but (thankfully, maybe?) not all of them are destined for these shores. Only the ones that make sense, with the most likely cars to join the Deepal S07 being smaller models than the C-SUV.

The exterior styling is described as having “timeless and sleek proportions”, with flush door handles and a panoramic sunroof giving a premium feel to the sub-£40k car. Inside, there is a good spread of high-quality materials – including vegan leather – and Changan says that inspiration for the surroundings were taken from the yachting world.

The powertrain in the Deepal S07 comprises a 218hp electric motor with 320Nm, which works with a 79.97kWh battery pack. The WLTP figure is 295 miles and charging from 10% to 80% is timed at 48 minutes. These aren’t the type of numbers to trouble some competitors, nor is the peak charging speed of 93kW – but they will be sufficient for many drivers and scenarios. It also gets vehicle-to-load capabilities built in, while a heat pump aims to maximise efficiency and range during colder weather.

If you’re wondering which version is right for you, it’s a nice and easy decision, with one model and one model only. There is one option – an electrically operated towbar (costing £800) – otherwise, the £39,999 car comes fully loaded with essentially everything you need. That means head-up display, voice and gesture control, a 15.6-inch rotating touchscreen, wireless connectivity with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and ambient LED lighting. There’s also a 14-speaker audio system (including ones in the driver’s headrest), 360-degree camera technology, privacy glass and vegan leather seats – and much more.

Safety-wise, there’s the now-usual complement of ADAS technologies, including adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, automatic emergency braking and blind spot monitoring.

The Verdict

The days of us being surprised by the quality, performance and capabilities of Chinese cars are firmly consigned to the past and models such as the Deepal S07 reinforce that opinion. We’re not completely sold on the ‘fun’ element in the ‘fun should be easy’ tagline, but it is certainly a comfortable and spacious car to be in. The seats are supportive, the screen and menus are easy to use and there is plenty of room in the rear. But the ride isn’t the smoothest and it’s not the fastest SUV on the market, which might be understandable, given the proportions (4,750mm-long and 1,930mm-wide) and overall mass of the car.

But it will certainly be a contender and the fact that this is just one option will most likely be seen as a positive for fleets, for a number of reasons. Changan has ensured that the Deepal 07 does stand out, even if it might be seen to fall a bit short in a few areas.

The Lowdown

Changan Deepal S07

Key fleet model: There is just one

Thumbs up: Specification, value, interior

Thumbs down: Charging capabilities, ride quality

Seven-word summary: Value for money and automotive simplicity personified

Also consider: Hyundai Ioniq 5, Škoda Enyaq, Tesla Model Y