Best for: All-round ability
China’s oldest domestic car maker has arrived in the UK under its tech-focused Deepal sub-brand. And its first offering is genuinely impressive.
In some respects it is unlike other cars on this list, in that its battery tech is merely okay, but its chassis and the way it gets down the road is genuinely impressive.
The Deepal S07 is a mid-sized electric crossover pitched directly against heavyweights like the Tesla Model Y and Skoda Enyaq. It was designed in Turin and developed in Birmingham, and that European flavour is evident in both its broad-hipped styling and its well-polished on-road manners.
Power comes from a single 215bhp motor driving the rear wheels. While a 0-62mph time of 7.9sec means it lacks the aggressive, up-and-at-’em thrust of some EV rivals, its chassis provides a remarkably mature blend of settled ride comfort, credible isolation, and low-speed agility.
Inside, the cabin is roomy, solid-feeling and discreetly upmarket. It is dominated by a 15.6in ‘sunflower’ infotainment screen that can physically pivot to face the driver or passenger. Changan has also cleverly circumvented the usual touchscreen usability woes with a highly customisable shortcut bar that puts your favourite controls at your fingertips.
Its 445-litre boot is slightly small for the class and its 240-mile real-world touring range is merely average – but as an overall package it is a highly compelling, gripe-free package.
