Jameel Motors South Africa, the official importer and distributor of Changan, has launched the Deepal S05 in South Africa at a price of R699 000 including VAT. The vehicle is the brand's second range-extended electric vehicle (REEV) to reach the local market.
Styled at Changan's dedicated studio in Turin, Italy, the five-door S05 features an athletic stance, narrow LED headlamps, frameless door pillars and hidden rectangular door handles. It occupies a slot below the larger Deepal S07 in both size and price, though it is regarded internationally as a sensibly priced halo vehicle.
Chelsy Pinto, General Manager of Marketing and Product at Jameel Motors, said South Africans are increasingly interested in electric vehicles, but charging availability and long-distance travel remain important considerations.
“The Deepal S05 combines the appeal of electric driving with the reassurance of a petrol-powered range extender, making it a practical proposition for the local market.”
A great selection of Changan models and derivatives can be found here
The S05 is driven by a single rear electric motor producing 160 kW and 320 Nm, delivered to the rear wheels only. A 27,28 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery provides an electric-only range of 175 km, while 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 serves only as a generator for the electric motor and the battery.
Changan claims a 0–100 km/h time of under eight seconds and a top speed of 175 km/h. The battery has a preheating function and supports AC charging as well as DC fast charging from 30–80% in 20 minutes. The S05 also offers vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability, allowing its high-voltage battery to power or charge external electrical devices.
The cabin is anchored by a 15,4-inch rotating ‘Sunflower’ 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 projects a 50-inch image showing driving information and controls.
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Driver modes are Standard/Comfort, Sport, Eco and Custom, while the suspension follows a European layout with MacPherson struts up front and a multi-link rear arrangement, making for an engaging driving experience.
Safety equipment includes a full Level 2 advanced driver assistance systems suite with 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 crash bags, force-limiting and pre-tensioning seatbelts, ESP with TSC and dynamic braking function, ABS with EBD and BA, ISOFIX child seat anchorages, a 540-degree camera and front and rear parking sensors are also fitted.
The seats are trimmed in microfibre leather, with the front seats heated and ventilated. The driver's seat has six-way electric adjustment plus two-way electric lumbar support, and the passenger seat has four-way adjustment with leg support.
Other features include a fixed 1,9 m 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.
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 5-year/90 000 km service plan, a 5-year/150 000 km warranty and an 8-year/150 000 km battery warranty. An optional maintenance plan is available.
Colin Windell for Colin-on-Cars in association with
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