Changan Deepal S05 Review: Testing the New PHEV and EV Variants

We put the new Changan Deepal S05 through its paces, sampling both the rear-wheel-drive and dual-motor four-wheel-drive variants, alongside the plug-in hybrid version.

The rear-wheel-drive model pushes 268bhp and 213lb ft of torque to the back wheels, hitting 0-62mph in 7.5 seconds and topping out at 112mph.

For those wanting more grip and shove, the 4WD version bumps output to 429bhp and 370lb ft, slashing the 0-62mph sprint to 5.5 seconds.

Meanwhile, the front-wheel-drive PHEV delivers 255bhp and 221lb ft, completing the 0-62mph run in 7.9 seconds while sharing the same 112mph top speed.

On the road, power delivery is smooth, with plenty of punch for motorway overtakes and country lanes, while switching between electric and hybrid modes is near-imperceptible.

Sport mode sharpens throttle response nicely, though regenerative braking controls draw mixed feedback.

There are no physical toggles for regen; instead, each drive mode features preset levels, or you can use a touchscreen slider ranging from zero to 100% in Custom mode, making quick on-the-fly adjustments tricky.

On the tech front, the S05 comes equipped with adaptive cruise control featuring full stop-and-go traffic jam assist, autonomous emergency braking, lane keeping assist, lane departure warning, and mandatory speed limit detection.

While shortcut buttons on the steering wheel and a swipe-down menu help navigate these systems, unlike the larger S07 tested in 2025, the S05’s driver assistance systems reset to ‘on’ with every ignition cycle and cannot be pinned permanently to the lower touchscreen nav bar.