Hot on the heels of September’s SMMT figures showing Chinese manufacturers taking a growing share of UK new car registrations, I decided to take a closer look at another of the names entering the market.
This time it was the Changan Deepal S05, courtesy of the marvellous team at Nathaniel Car Sales in Bridgend.
Deepal is Changan’s electric vehicle brand, and the S05 joins an increasingly competitive electric SUV segment. The badge may still be unfamiliar to many UK drivers, but my first impressions were very positive.
The S05 is a good-looking car, and it made a positive impression before I had even set off.
Keyless entry was followed by a neat welcome from the central touchscreen, which automatically tilted towards me as I settled into the driver’s seat. It is a small touch, but one that immediately gives the cabin some character.
Inside, the S05 felt more premium than a number of rivals in this segment. Black vegan leather with contrasting orange stitching gave the cabin an upmarket feel, while the spacious interior and plush seats made it a comfortable place to sit. Heated and ventilated front seats added to the appeal.
One of my favourite features was the head-up display. Alongside speed, it showed information on regenerative braking, battery level, overtaking and the indicators. The blue lettering was also easier for me to read than the usual white displays I have encountered in other cars.
That indicator display proved particularly useful because the indicators themselves had an annoying habit of staying on after I had completed a turn. A small grumble, but one I noticed during the drive.
I was relieved to find that, on the car I drove, I could save my preferred driver-assistance settings to a profile, including switching off the features I found intrusive. That saved the familiar routine of having to work through them individually each time.
Judging by conversations with other drivers, I am far from alone in finding some of these systems irritating. If we are still arguing with our cars over the assistance they provide, I suspect driverless cars may need a little more time to win everyone over, however capable the technology becomes.
The single-motor, rear-wheel-drive S05 offers an official WLTP range of up to 303 miles. My test loop suggested something closer to 250–260 miles in real-world use.
With a starting price below £40,000 and a generous standard equipment list, the S05 also makes a strong case on value. The cabin quality and comfort features were particular highlights for me.
It has earned a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating and comes with a seven-year/100,000-mile vehicle warranty, offering some reassurance for anyone considering a brand they may not yet know well.
The Changan Deepal S05 left me with a very positive impression. The interior felt premium, the equipment list was generous and the head-up display was a particular highlight. The indicator behaviour was an irritation, but it did not overshadow what I liked about the car.
Changan may not yet have the recognition of MG or BYD in the UK, but I saw enough to think it could join Jaecoo, Chery and Omoda among the Chinese brands making a big splash here.
If you are considering an electric SUV, the S05 deserves a place on your shortlist.
For a tailored quote on the Changan Deepal S05, get in touch with me at Fleet Alliance.
Hot on the heels of September’s SMMT figures showing Chinese manufacturers taking a growing share of UK new car registrations, I decided to take a closer look at another of the names entering the market. This time it was the Changan Deepal S05, courtesy of the marvellous team at Nathaniel Car Sales in Bridgend. Deepal … Continued
For years, the argument against electric cars has been fairly simple: they are good in theory, expensive in practice. This week, that argument became a little harder to make. Dacia has cut the price of its Spring electric car to £11,990, making it the cheapest new car on sale in the UK. Not the cheapest … Continued
BYD’s growth in the UK has been nothing short of explosive. Having entered the market as a relative newcomer in 2023, the brand has rapidly become one of the country’s fastest-rising car manufacturers by 2025–2026. That growth has been driven by aggressive retail expansion, competitive pricing and a rapidly widening model range. In Q1 2026, … Continued
First impressions: Macan vibes, minus the Stuttgart invoice There’s a very specific kind of double-take the Genesis Electrified GV70 provokes. Park it up, glance over your shoulder, squint slightly, and you could be forgiven for thinking it had rolled straight out of a Porsche Macan design studio. The proportions, the stance, the way it hunkers … Continued
Why it matters The Chery Tiggo 8 is one of the most talked-about new arrivals in the UK. In just four months, the brand has carved out just over 1% market share with 5,500+ units sold – remarkable for a newcomer taking on established European and Asian players. The Summit PHEV pairs a 1.5-litre turbo … Continued
As 2025 draws to a close, it feels like the right time to pause, take stock, and look back on my first year as an Appointed Representative of Fleet Alliance. It’s been fast-paced, coffee-fuelled and full of conversations about how businesses can use vehicles more smartly, sustainably and affordably. The Numbers That Tell the Story … Continued
I didn’t want to love it. I did. The new-shape Model Y fixes the looks, elevates the drive, and makes a strong case on practicality and cost of ownership Dealer Experience Pontprennau, Cardiff did the basics right: easy parking, swift check-in, straight to the keys. Bonus points for Tesla’s online booking—choose venue, date, time and … Continued
6 Months as a Fleet Alliance Appointed Representative Six months on from gaining my FCA authorisation to act as an Appointed Representative of Fleet Alliance, it feels right to pause and look back—at the highs and lows, the achievements and the many learning moments. Fleet Alliance has given me an outstanding platform, and my peer … Continued
Why it matters Fresh from scooping both ‘Car of the Year’ and ‘Best Mainstream Electric Car’ at the 2025 AutoTrader Drivers’ Choice Awards, Kia’s baby EV became an easy choice for my next test drive, made possible by the excellent team at Snow’s Kia Basingstoke. The EV3 arrives with headline stats fleet managers love: up … Continued
The Company Car Sweet Spot for future-proofing your Fleet An Audi badge says professional without drifting into show-off territory, and the fully-electric Q4 adds a Benefit-in-Kind (BIK) bill that’s closer to a super-mini than a Q5. With up to 331 miles of WLTP range on the Sportback 45 e-tron, zero-emission access to city centres and … Continued