New Chinese hybrid SUV launched in South Africa – Pricing and features

China’s oldest carmaker, Changan, has launched the all-new Deepal S05 range-extended electric vehicle (REEV) SUV in South Africa.

Imported and distributed locally by Jameel Motors South Africa, the S05 is the brand’s second REEV, arriving as a single derivative with a R699,000 price tag.

“South Africans are increasingly interested in electric vehicles, but charging availability and long-distance travel remain important considerations,” said Chelsy Pinto, General Manager: Marketing & Product of Jameel Motors.

“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.”

It will be available at Changan dealers nationwide from this week, and 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.

Long-range powertrain

The Deepal S05 is fitted with a single, rear-mounted electric motor producing 160kW and 320Nm, driving the rear wheels exclusively.

Feeding the motor is a 27.28kWh lithium-iron-phosphate battery, which affords an electric-only range of 175km.

The 1.5-litre petrol engine, producing 72kW and 125 Nm, extends the total range to more than 1,000km, but only by acting as a generator for the electric motor and the batteries.

This combined system claims a standstill to 100km/h acceleration time of under eight seconds, while the S05 can reach 175km/h.

According to Changan, the battery’s preheating function allows it to support AC charging, as well as DC fast charging of 30 to 80% in 20 minutes.

The SUV also supports Vehicle-To-Load (V2L), allowing owners to use the high-voltage battery to power or charge external electrical devices or appliances.

Features

The Deepal S05 measures 4,620mm long and 1,900mm wide, with a 2,880mm wheelbase, a 1,847kg kerb weight and 464 litres of luggage space.

Buyers have a choice of five exterior colours – Moonlight White, Ganymede Grey, Mercury Silver, Deep Space Black and Starry Blue – and two interior finishes – black and orange.

Inside, the SUV features a premium-feel cabin with a 15.4-inch touchscreen infotainment screen that rotates like a “Sunflower” towards either the driver or front passenger.

It is equipped with Navigation and Intelligent Voice Interaction, Bluetooth connectivity and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and linked to a 14-speaker audio system.

The driver’s display features a Snapdragon 8155-powered augmented-reality head-up display that projects a 50-inch image showing driving information and controls.

All seats are finished in microfiber leather, with the front seats being heated and ventilated, while the driver’s seat has six-way electric adjustment plus two-way electric lumbar support. The front passenger’s seat has four-way adjustment with leg support.

Other cabin features include a fixed 1.9m panoramic sunroof with electric sunshade, ambient lighting, front and rear reading lamps, automatic single-zone air-conditioning, a 50W wireless phone charging pad with cooling function, a front USB-A port, and rear USB-A and USB-C ports.

The S05’s driving modes include Standard/Comfort, Sport, Eco and Custom, with the SUV also fitted with a full Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) suite.

This 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.

Added safety features include Face Recognition and Fatigue Detection monitor, 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 anchors, a 540-degree camera, and front and rear parking sensors.

Changan Deepal S05 REEV