Changan Vehicle Directory

Chassis calibration is the brand's weakest link rather than its hardware: the S07 'patters and fidgets no matter how smooth the road looks' and crashes into potholes (Parkers), while the S05 'loped and lumbered', wallowed on smooth tarmac and steered unnaturally heavily (Auto Express, Carwow).

Screen-first cockpits with almost no physical switchgear: mirrors, climate, regeneration and drive settings sit in deep menus, the driver's display has been replaced by an AR head-up unit, and the 'Hey Deepal' voice assistant was called 'infuriating' and 'unreliable at the best of times' by Carwow and Auto Express.

Energy management is middling for the class. The S07 peaks at roughly 90-93kW for a 10-80% charge in about 48 minutes and returns 3.1 to 3.5 miles/kWh in UK testing, so real winter range falls well short of the 295 miles claimed; the S05 charges far faster at 200kW but its 303-mile WLTP figure measured 245 to 280 miles.

Driver aids are intrusive rather than absent - Parkers singled out over-active driver monitoring and lane keep assist on the S07 and Carwow found the cruise control lets the car drift toward the lane edge - although both models do remember your switched-off preferences, which many rivals get wrong.

Ownership unknowns: no long-term reliability data, no Driver Power or MotorEasy rating, no MOT history before autumn 2028, 19 UK registrations in 2025 and steep early depreciation, so the seven-year warranty, 48-hour parts promise and dealer proximity are the real mitigations when you inspect a used Changan.