Car review: Deepal S05 and E07 bound for Singapore later in 2025
CHONGQING – As a brand under Chinese state-owned automotive giant Changan, Deepal is positioning itself as a label that focuses on digital technology.
It made its foray into Singapore in March with the S07, a mid-sized electric sport utility vehicle (SUV).
During a visit to the motor show in Shanghai in April, The Straits Times test-drove two models slated to join the Singapore line-up in the coming months, the S05 compact SUV and the E07, an unusual SUV-meets-truck concept.
Deepal S05
The sporty-looking S05 is slightly bigger than the BYD Atto 3, measuring 4,620mm in length, 1,900mm in width and 1,660mm in height .
Its distinctive features are its slim headlights and sweeping rear LED strip integrated into the tail lights, similar to the Porsche Macan. The overall design is tasteful but conventional, making it challenging to differentiate it from the already crowded compact SUV space.
Like many new electric vehicles (EVs), the cabin is designed with minimalism that gives the feeling of spaciousness. A 14.5-inch centre-mounted touchscreen dominates the dashboard with no instrument cluster. Like Deepal's S07 sold in Singapore, the screen swivels towards the driver when the car is started.
The cabin has a high-quality feel, with most surfaces clad in soft synthetic leather. The seats are comfortable and adjust easily to provide good driving posture. What I find interesting on the steering wheel are the thumb toggle switches that look uncannily like those on other Chinese EVs, including the Zeekr X. Are the manufacturers sharing parts to save on cost?
The back of the S05 is roomy and seats three people comfortably. Creature comforts include two USB ports, air-conditioning vents and a fold-down centre armrest with cupholders. The boot space is nothing to shout about at 492 litres, which is class-competitive. It is big and accessible enough for weekend groceries.
Based on the short drive on the test track in Changan's facility in Chongqing , the S05 leaves a good first impression.
It is not overwhelmingly powerful, but the pick-up is brisk. The 177kW motor powering the rear wheels delivers a 0-100kmh timing of around 7.5 seconds. Slamming on the light-feeling brake pedal from 70kmh or so brings the 1.6-tonne car to a halt confidently . Around corners, the car feels nimble with some body roll.
The S05 will be in Singapore by the last quarter of 2025 . It will likely come with 99kW of power to join the already crowded space of EVs that qualify for the Category A certificate of entitlement (COE). Take it as a win for consumer choice.
Deepal S05
Price: Sub-$190,000 with COE before rebates (estimated for 99kW version)
Motor: Permanent magnet synchronous with a 68.8kWh lithium-ion battery
Transmission: Single-speed, automatic rear-wheel drive
Power: 177kW (as tested)
Torque: 320Nm
0-100kmh: 7.5 seconds
Top speed: 180kmh
Power consumption: 12.5kWh/100km
Charging capacity: 168kW DC; 7kW AC
Agent: DPL Premium Automobiles
Deepal E07
Hybrid concept: The Deepal E07 combines the idea of a premium SUV with an open-deck pick-up.
PHOTO: JONATHAN NG
The Deepal E07 is a fine example of how Chinese auto manufacturers are experimenting with hybrid-use vehicles. This car's headline feature is that it is a cross between an SUV and a utility vehicle, or what the Australians affectionately refer to as an 'ute', with a loading deck that can be left open.
Especially when viewed from the side, the E07 gives off Tesla Cybertruck vibes, with its heavily raked and flat rear glass panel – which serves as the tonneau cover – that meets a vertical tailgate. Pushing a sequence of buttons on the side of the cargo area will electrically retract the glass panel and open the tailgate, converting the E07 into its ute configuration.
There are 638 litres of boot space. To maximise capacity to a more than respectable 1,860 litres, the rear seats can be folded and the glass separating the cabin from the boot retracted.
The maximum payload weight in the boot is 300kg, which is quite low for a car designed to haul cargo, but the option to have an open deck makes it convenient to carry bulky items such as bicycles and furniture.
Apart from the unusual cargo area arrangement, the area between the headlights on the car in China is actually a customisable digital message board. I am not confident the authorities in Singapore will allow such a feature.
The overall design is reminiscent of a coupe-inspired SUV, with muscular wheel arches and flared bumpers, so it looks sophisticated yet rugged . It is a big car, comparable with large seven-seater SUVs like the Mazda CX-90, with a length of 5,045mm, width of 1,996mm and height of 1,680mm.
Minimalist design: Funky colour aside, the E07's interior is elegantly simple with a screen that tilts towards the driver on start-up.
PHOTO: JONATHAN NG
The E07 tested is fitted with orange and black soft plastics across the cockpit and panels. The comfortable seats are wrapped in a matching synthetic leather.
Apart from the steering-mounted gear selector stalk and indicators, the car functions are controlled and displayed on a large 15.4-inch infotainment screen mounted in the centre of the dashboard.
Acceleration is punchy on the rear-wheel drive, single-motor 252kW version tested. This is enough to propel the car from 0-100kmh in 6.7 seconds – not bad for a ute.
Steering is precise and not too overly assisted, and the ride is plush. The E07 comes with air suspension with height-adjustable air springs, which soak up the jarring bumps on the test track's metal grating obstacle.
The Deepal E07 has two variants. The rear-wheel drive model has a 252kW motor with 342Nm of torque, while the all-wheel drive version adds an extra motor, raising the total power output to 440kW and 645Nm of torque.
Deepal E07
Price: Just over $200,000 with COE before rebates (estimated)
Motor: Permanent magnet synchronous with a 70.6kWh lithium-ion battery
Transmission: Single-speed, automatic rear-wheel drive
Power: 252kW
Torque: 342Nm
0-100kmh: 6.7 seconds
Top speed: 201kmh
Power consumption: 14.2 kWh/100km
Charging capacity: 240kW DC; 7kW AC
Agent: DPL Premium Automobiles
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