Deepal S07 battery electric SUV recently scored a 5-Star ANCAP safety rating, but a car is more than the sum of its parts – a car is a feeling. It is a feeling of freedom, space, and happiness, but it can as easily be a feeling of deep frustration instead.
We’ll get to that later.
After a few days of city driving. Deepal’s S07 had used hardly any battery (see specs HERE:deepal_s07_specification_sheet_2 ), and the audio system was a charming companion who always knew exactly what to play.
Deepal is owned by Changan, a state-owned Chinese company, and is imported by Inchcape which also brings Subaru, Peugeot and Foton into Australia. Inchcape recently axed Citroen after many years of falling sales, as sign of tbings to come.
At $53,900, the S07 comes with a 79.97kwh ternary Lithium battery that is good for 475km, and the design has a Tesla/Polestar feeling to it.
Deepal S07 looks the part.
The LED lights, sans Matrix adaptive function, illuminate the face with technological mastery, something lost at the rear end with its garish red DEEPAL insignia.
The profile is a success, made smooth by concealed door handles and a low roof. We once complained about SUVs with low roofs and sloping back windows, but no more. It gives the silhouette a lower centre of gravity, eschewing the boxy brick block of flats for a chic and classy high-set limo look. Passenger cars, sitting low to the ground, are so last week. SUVs are the new black, and electric SUVs are the vanguard of future motoring.
There is ample space for a gaggle of large humans and all of their flotsam.
Overall, the exterior has a quality look and feel, yet little evidence of being designed in Turin, Italy.
The Cabin
The interior leaves a favourble impression at first glance – a gorgeous concept created entirely in plastic. From the quilted vinyl seats, wood-look trim, and metalised plastic, the cabin looks great
There are one or two chinks in the armour; The padded plastic feels thin, backed by foam, and the motor that rotates the centre screen is noisy and sounds cheap. It would have been better to manually tilt the screen as needed.
The rear control screen does the front passenger seat, overhead shade, and climate, but is difficult to see even with the overhead shade closed. The airy cabin is topped by a fixed glass roof whose shade has to be closed on a 42c day, with the glass being too hot to touch. The climate control struggled to cope – even with the seat cooling at full rip.
Rear seat room is extremely generous, but the raised centre position would probably limit its use to a lit’lun.
The flat floor aids to the spacious feeling.
Above: This Week’s VIDEO Review –Deepal S07 Electric SUV REVIEW THE GOOD AND THE BAD- Alan Zurvas
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ABOVE: Deepal S07 could be fixed with a simple OTA update, but as it stands, the ADAS is too intrusive. The warnings are far too frequent and the gongs far too annoying.
The Tech
S07 has walk away locking. It will also unlock as you approach, and the door handles will extend if you’ve programmed them to do so. Otherwise, can be operated manually.
The fabulous sound system also has a speaker in the driver’s headrest. It provides a more discrete way to hear phone calls and messages – a clever way of giving some privacy in a small space.
The pivoting main screen is aided by a large HUD with clear crisp graphics. The main screen is a very crowded place with some of the icons and messages a far too small to see while on the move.
The AI voice system was limited in use, and far too chatty.
The extensive menu system could use simplification. The Tesla-esque feeling continued with the climate and vent controls within the main screen. Vents can be set to move left to right, up and down, wafting air in all directions.
The ADAS was extremely intrusive. Its sounds and messages came thick and fast. First, the over-active system distracts you with warnings, then chides you for trying to read the barrage of messages. While some of it can be silenced, the harassment continued.
The smart cruise slowed for no good reason, frequently disengaging with yet another gong. Reengaging the cruise using the resume button only restarts the standard smart cruise. A double tap on the side stalk is required to bring the full system back online. Lane change assist doesn’t appear to assist.
The inbuilt dashcam is excellent but does not default to “record”, which has to be started in the menu system.
Regenerative braking should be turned off when at speed otherwise the car will brake when the cruise disengages (intentionally or otherwise).
S07 can be used as an emergency battery during a blackout. As with most VTL (vehicle to load) models the output is modest, but a fridge should be fine
Charging
Disappointingly, DC fast charging is limited to 92kw which is inadequate for an 80kwh battery. Free charging is available for 12 months as a sweetener.
Driving
You start the S07 by sitting in the driver’s seat. (this switch has been a problem for Tesla)
160kw is good for a 0-100 of 7.9 seconds. Around town, Deepal S07 is blissfully quiet with the gongs less frequent. The sound deadening does a good job of making city chores a zen-like experience.
The faster you go, the more intense the gongs. Even on the least sensitive settings, the lane warnings sound and the steering wheel vibrates if the driver deviates off the centre line even a few centimetres.
A double tap of the gear lever (right hand stalk) turns on the fully-active cruise and lane control system. We found the S07 frequently slowed even with no other traffic in the vicinity. The system would often disengage, and if regenerative braking was still turn on, the S07 would brake.
The ADAS may have earned S07 a 5-star rating, but it has ruined the drive experience.
Ride is average for this kind of vehicle, and the power/torque adequate for most needs. Handling in corners is a little squidgy and the electronic nannies often need to tap in.
Drive modes always start in “ECO”, another control that needs fettling each trip.
Extras
10,000km/12month service intervals apply after the first 6-month free service, and there is 12 months roadside assist and 12 months free DC charging. The service intervals are closer than for some ICE vehicles, and 10,000km limits do not bode well for drivers with a busy lifestyle.
There is a 7yr/160,000km warranty, with an 8yr/240,000km warranty for the battery. However, the battery warranty excludes “fair wear and tear battery related degradation” issues, bad news for those unable to charge at home. The warranty and free charging do not apply to commercial and fleet vehicles, as is common in the industry.
The short 12 month warranty for commercial use will not appeal to UBER drivers and their ilk.
There are 2 years of connected services included, after which you need a subscription, whose price has not been revealed
Wrap-up
Deepal S07 could be fixed with a simple OTA update, but as it stands, the ADAS is too intrusive. The warnings are far too frequent and the gongs far too annoying. The Cruise/Lane Control system is unpredictable, and the driver attention warning too sensitive. Needless to say, the over-speed warning is the first thing to go.
While much of the assistance can be turned off, it isn’t a case of flicking a single switch. What’s the point of assistants being so annoying that they need deactivating every time.
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