Toyota has Lexus, BYD has Denza, and Changan has Deepal. It looks like a simple pairing of car brands where one is for the mass market, and the latter is more premium. However, Deepal is changing trends as they are priced one tier lower than their would-be rivals.
Deepal is a subsidiary of Changan that exclusively makes New Energy Vehicles. The Autohub Group is bringing them to the Philippines and they’re betting on Range Extended Electric Vehicles (REEVs) where the engine’s sole purpose is to charge the batteries. For them, REEVs are not only a transition but a way to secure mobility especially in the ongoing crisis. Aside from the higher fuel price, our fuel supply is also threatened because of the orange man in the west. These cars can still move around even if gas stations run out of fuel.
The first batch of Deepal cars include the S05 REEV priced at P 1,688,000 and the G318 REEV at P 2,600,000. Coming later this year is the BEV version of the S05 with an indicative price of P 1,588,000.
The S05 REEV is a compact crossover that’s in the arena of the BYD Sealion 6. It boasts of a longer 2,880 mm wheelbase and wider 1,900 mm width. What makes it different from others in its class is the S05 REEV is a rear-wheel drive SUV that Deepal says give it better handling and premium driving dynamics.
It has a large 27.28 kWh battery and has a total output of 215 horsepower and 320 Nm of torque. It makes itself stand out in its segment with its pure electric range of 170 kilometers, while the combined range is at 1,234 kilometers. It’s also available with heated and ventilated front seats, a zero-gravity passenger seat, a Qualcomm 8155 chipset, and the Deepal App.
Deepal and Autohub also want to cater to the off-roading market with the G318 REEV. Information is scarce regarding this SUV but they say it’s “purpose-built off-road” with features and technologies like a legendary 4x4 icon. It also comes with Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) function so you can power up appliances while camping.
Lastly, the Deepal S07 BEV is touted as “the pinnacle of electrified luxury” that they will bring later this year. This flagship EV SUV will come with yacht-inspired interior, frameless doors, and augmented-reality windshield display.
The brand has not revealed full specifications of the three cars at the time of writing. However, all three will be showcased at the upcoming 2026 Manila International Auto Show.
Words and Photos by Vincent Villa
Wil luxury Chinese brands succeed in the Philippines? Do they have a loyal fan base?
ReplyDeleteThey're building it up slowly but surely. YEEEEEEAAAAAAHHHHH BAAAAAA!
DeleteWith an ugly name in Deepal, tough to have a loyal crowd with a cheap-sounding brand.
DeleteEven Zeekr or Denza will be tough to have a loyal following especially they’re still Chinese and still expensive.
Will people spend such amount for a luxury Chinese car?
ReplyDeleteExamined the Deepal S05 BEV at the MIAS '26 yesterday, at P1.588M only it appears it is not priced as a luxury Chinese car even with all the upmarket features.
DeleteThe gentleman who showed me the vehicle claims it has a range of 465Km (NEDC if I'm not mistaken), utilizes a 56.12Kw LFP Battery, has an extensive list of ADAS & Safety features, is RWD, has Ventilated Seats, with Driver's Seat Memory, a 156L Frunk, does 0-100Kph in 7.3 seconds, and has a HUD among other things.
It's an upmarket Changan Crossover with interior space & cargo similar to the Sealion 5, and has good styling with Frameless Windows.
Quite good value for money. I was pleasantly surprised !
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May TDS pala writer nitong article! 😜
ReplyDeleteSounds like EPAL😁politicians won’t buy it.
ReplyDeleteYeah like you epal..at walang pambili 🤣
ReplyDeleteJapanese brand pa rin gusto ko kahit medyo pricee.😉
ReplyDeleteFor a car with frameless door windows, Deepal S05 has a very nice sounding and solid door thunk, better than most cars with even with door window frame at MIAS. Heck, its even better than my Mazda 6. A good indication of excellent chassis rigidity and overall build quality. Id buy one in ReeV guise.
ReplyDeleteWill their cars come with Type 2/CCS2 AC/DC charge ports?
ReplyDeleteMore options, customers win!
ReplyDelete