A NEW electric vehicle from China is set to shake up the UK market — and it’s over £5,000 cheaper than the Tesla Model Y.
The electric SUV, the Changan Deepal S07, promises style, technology, and value — and it’s set to arrive on British roads in just a few months.
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The Italian-designed Deepal S07 starts from £39,950, putting it in direct competition with the Skoda Enyaq and Hyundai Ioniq 5, and narrowly undercutting fellow Chinese challenger XPeng G6.
Only the Renault Scenic beats it on price, starting at just under £37,000.
While the Deepal S07 grabs attention on price, its 295-mile claimed range falls short compared to rivals.
Tesla’s Model Y leads the pack with up to 387 miles, and even the base version offers 311 miles.
This makes the S07 less appealing to drivers worried about long trips between charges.
Charging is another area where the S07 struggles to keep up.
With a maximum charge speed of 92kW, it takes 48 minutes to go from 10 per cent to 80 per cent battery.
Many rivals, like the Hyundai Ioniq 5, can manage that in under 20 minutes, meaning less time spent waiting around at public chargers.
Where the Deepal S07 does shine is in its impressive list of standard equipment.
Buyers get a panoramic glass roof, powered tailgate, a huge 15.6-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a head-up display with augmented reality navigation, and a premium 14-speaker sound system with speakers built into the headrests.
Inside, the car offers heated and ventilated front seats, creating a luxury feel that’s often missing from similarly priced models.
The interior design is minimalist but modern, dominated by the large central touchscreen and clean, flowing lines.
On the outside, the Deepal S07 was styled in Italy to create a sleek, dynamic look.
The S07 has also achieved a maximum five-star Euro NCAP safety rating.
It comes packed with advanced driver assistance systems as standard, including adaptive cruise control, driver fatigue monitoring, and a 360-degree surround-view camera.
Changan may not be a household name in the UK, but it’s one of China’s largest car manufacturers, with a history going back over 40 years.
The company has joint ventures with major brands like Ford and Mazda in China and even runs a UK research centre in Birmingham.
Looking ahead, Changan has ambitious plans for the UK market.
Alongside the S07, it will also bring in the smaller Deepal S05 SUV, which will be offered in both electric and hybrid versions.
An electric pick-up truck, the E07, is also on the cards, though details are still under wraps.
For now, the focus is on the S07, which is expected to go on sale this summer.
The first customer deliveries are planned for September.
Changan plans to work with traditional UK dealerships and has set up a European parts hub in the Netherlands to make sure customers get proper support and aftercare.
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