Chinese auto giant Changan is accelerating its UK expansion with the arrival of the Deepal S05. Available to buy from 1 March with prices starting from under £38k,
Chinese auto giant Changan is accelerating its UK expansion with the arrival of the Deepal S05.
Available to buy from 1 March with prices starting from under £38k, it joins the Deepal S07 launched last year and brings a new rival to the Kia EV3.
As with its bigger brother – and the smaller E06 that’s due in 2027 – it’s built around a proposition of European styling, UK engineering expertise and “globally renowned advanced electric vehicle” technology.
While the larger Deepal S07 is only available in one version, the S05 gets two powertrain variants, paired with a single ‘Max’ trim level to keep it simple still.
The lead-in model is the rear-wheel-drive (RWD) version, powered by a 272hp motor with 290Nm of torque, achieving 0-62mph acceleration in 7.5 seconds. It’s priced from £37,990.
Sitting above it, the all-wheel-drive variant is priced from £39,990 and adds a front motor, increasing total output to 435hp and 502Nm of torque, and slashing the 0-62mph acceleration to 5.5 seconds. Both models share a top speed of 112mph.
Powering both versions is a 68.8kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, delivering a WLTP range of up to 303 miles (RWD) and 278 miles (AWD).
DC fast charging is possible at up to 200kW, enabling a 30-80% charge in 15 minutes, while AC charging is supported at up to 11kW. A vehicle-to-load (V2L) function allows the Deepal S05 to supply up to 6kW of power to external devices.
Styled at Changan’s European design centre in Turin, Italy, the Deepal S05 features an aircraft-inspired design language with features already seen in the S07 such as frameless doors, flush door handles and full-width LED lighting.
The interior again turns to the aviation sector for inspiration, with a smart wraparound ‘flight cabin’ design that includes a steering wheel modelled after aircraft controls and a large, augmented reality head-up display.
The cabin also comes with premium soft-touch materials and vegan leather seating. Heated and ventilated front seats are standard and said to provide exceptional support and comfort due to the use of anthropometric data. The front passenger ‘co-pilot’ seat gets a ‘zero-gravity’ reclining function with extendable leg rest.
Equipment also includes a 15.4-inch central rotating touchscreen, paired with a 50-inch projected area augmented reality head-up display, intelligent multi-zone voice control, gesture recognition, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a premium 14-speaker audio system.
Boot space stands at 492 litres or 1,250 litres with flat-folded seats, plus a 159-litre ‘frunk’ and various smart storage solutions throughout the cabin.
Engineered with input from the Changan UK R&D Centre in Birmingham, the Deepal S05 has been tuned specifically for UK roads, and Changan assures us of confident handling, comfort and refined dynamics across a wide range of driving conditions.
The options list comes with just two extras: a panoramic roof with electric sunshade and a manually detachable tow bar allowing towing of up to 1,600kg.
Available now through the brand’s expanding UK dealer network of over 40 sites – expected to reach 60 by the end of March 2026 – the Deepal S05 also comes with a seven-year/100,000-mile vehicle warranty and an eight-year battery warranty.
Nic Thomas, managing director of Changan UK, said: “The Deepal S05 is designed for people who want an electric SUV that fits effortlessly into everyday life. It delivers reassuring performance, thoughtful comfort and technology that simply works, wrapped in a design that feels modern and confident, all without the premium price tag. For drivers looking for an electric C-SUV that feels considered, capable and genuinely good to live with, the Deepal S05 is a compelling option.”
