2025 Deepal S07 Review

The 2025 Deepal S07 marks the Australian debut of Chang’an’s new EV-focused sub-brand, and it's the latest Chinese contribution to capture our attention in the mid-size electric SUV market. With a sleek - albeit uninspiring - exterior design, interesting colour options, premium interior touches, and competitive pricing, the S07 brings a unique value proposition to a segment that is, admittedly, becoming quite saturated.

However, some SERIOUS issues must be discussed, mostly revolving around infotainment and safety systems that make this car harder to live with than it needs to be.

So does it deliver enough to stand out, or do its drawbacks outweigh its strengths? Let’s dive in.

How much does the Deepal S07 cost?

Priced at $53,900 before on-road costs, the Deepal S07 comes in a single trim level with a standard rear-wheel-drive configuration, a single electric motor, and an 80kWh battery. While competitive, it faces stiff competition from the Tesla Model Y Juniper ($63,400 for RWD) and the new XPeng G6 ($54,800 for Standard Range), which offer much faster charging options, more refined technology, and others including the BYD Atto 3 and Leapmotor C10.

2025 Deepal S07 Pricing:

• S07 Base - $53,900 (before on-road costs)

Note: Prices exclude on-road costs.

What’s the exterior like of the Deepal S07?

While mid-size electric SUVs are starting to get a little repetitive with their designs, the Deepal S07 does just enough to stand out. Firstly, the colourways on offer such as Sunset Orange and Cosmic Yellow will appeal to 'look at me' types of people. Adding to the flair is a unique sense of brand identity when it comes to the lighting. Both the headlights and taillights get a unique split lighting design, shared by other models in the Deepal lineup in China.

The grille-less design and sharp nose enhance its aerodynamic efficiency and brushed metal-looking accents on the lower bumper provide a contrasting pop of silver. There are also functional aero slots to push air along the sides of the wheels, trying to squeeze more efficiency out of the platform.

The car sits on 19-inch alloy wheels with aero covers designed to improve efficiency, with optional 20-inch wheels available. On the side, the darkly tinted rear windows flow seamlessly into the rear, creating a coupe-like shape.

Standout features are the pop-out door handles and auto-folding mirrors, which are activated by the proximity sensing key.

At the rear, the lighting theme continues with a full-width decorative LED light bar. The illuminated “Deepal” badge is a great touch, while the triple-element tail lights mirror the design seen on the front.

Something that I noticed and didn't like was the asymmetry of the 'Deepal' and 'S07' badges at the rear, and the fact that the Deepal badge had letters not appearing perfectly straight.

Overall it is a fairly cookie-cutter design that is different enough to be slightly appealing.

What’s the interior like of the Deepal S07?

Similar to the exterior, the interior layout will be familiar to many mid-sized electric SUV fans, with a few notable exceptions. This is particularly the case with the centre console, which has a single wireless charger, flanked by a couple of cupholders and a soft faux-leather armrest that opens up to expose a massive storage area. Underneath is an open storage area that contains USB-C ports and a 12V socket. This is a tried and true formula, with rivals such as the Xpeng G6 using a similar layout and even forgoing a glove compartment in favour of a more spacious central storage area.

Soft-touch materials cover most surfaces, with almost all the high-touch areas feeling quite premium and quilted faux leather accents on the seats and door panels.

The dashboard takes a minimalist approach with no driver display, instead, you get an augmented reality (AR) heads-up display that shows enough information.

The pièce de résistance of the interior is the 'Sunflower' infotainment display. This unique feature allows the screen to angle towards either the driver or passenger, improving visibility and usability depending on who needs it. While some may question the point, I applaud it for being a novel feature and I found some use in having the screen oriented towards me.

The seats are well-cushioned with some bolstering, providing good support for long journeys. You get power adjustment including lumbar support, and heating and ventilation functions are included, a great pickup at this price point.

However, there are a few quirks that detract from the otherwise well-thought-out interior. The window controls aren't 'down or up' they are 'forward or back' and oddly 'forward' means down, which seems unintuitive. Additionally, the driver attention monitoring system is overly sensitive, often reacting unnecessarily and causing much frustration.

The sound system is great, with 14 Sony speakers delivering rich and deep audio quality. The panoramic sunroof, extending over both rows, adds an airy and open feel to the cabin. I am glad for the inclusion of a power sunshade, especially during sunny Australian summers.

What will appeal most to buyers of the Deepal S07 is the software and technology on offer. Powering the 15.6-inch infotainment screen is a Qualcomm 8155 chip, there is also 128GB of internal storage which can be used to store dashcam footage from the built-in cameras, as well as a range of media. You can even take selfies using the cabin camera system and store them on the infotainment.

There are also several ‘scenes’ that can be switched on from the screen, funnily including a ‘smoking’ option that will open the windows and turn on recirculation - an interesting Chinese domestic market inclusion. There is a ‘bonfire’ mode that displays a fire on the display and blows hot air from the climate system.

Speaking of climate controls, they are well laid out and shortcuts are permanently displayed on the screen for temperature, fan, and seat climate options.

Overall the interior impresses when it comes to material choices and comfort, though some buyers may find the technology on offer overwhelming at first, while certain features feel completely unrefined compared to the competition.

What about back seats?

‍The rear seats of the Deepal S07 offer good legroom, toe room and headroom for adults. The seats are soft and comfortable just like up front, though the fact that you only get a single air vent in the rear indicates some cost-cutting. 

You get a fold-down centre armrest with cupholders, and some folio pockets behind the front seats, though oddly any sort of storage or connectivity has been omitted in the rear.

The materials are nice just like up front, and I appreciate that they have kept the faux leather on the door panels rather than opting for hard scratchy plastic like some others.

What’s boot space like in the Deepal S07?

‍The Deepal S07 provides 445 litres of boot space with the rear seats in place, expanding to 1,385 litres with the second row folded down. While practical for most daily needs, it falls short of class leaders like the Kia EV5. The additional 125-litre frunk adds useful storage for items like charging cables. Overall, storage is good without blowing the competition out of the water.

What’s under the bonnet of the 2025 Deepal S07?

‍The Deepal S07 is powered by a single rear-mounted electric motor producing 160kW and 320Nm of torque. Paired with an 80kWh battery, it achieves a WLTP-rated range of 475km. Real-world consumption ranges from 16 kWh/100km in urban settings to 18-19 kWh/100km on highways, aligning well with its official claim.

Charging options include 11kW AC charging and a maximum DC fast-charging speed of 92kW, which significantly lags behind competitors like the Tesla Model Y Juniper (250kW), Xpeng G6 with 280kW peak charging, or the Kia EV5 with 350kW. A full AC charge takes approximately 8 hours, while DC charging from 10-80% takes around 45 minutes.

How does the Deepal S07 Drive?

‍The driving experience of the Deepal S07 presents a mixed bag of strengths and weaknesses. The 160kW single electric motor provides adequate acceleration for most scenarios, without being particularly exciting. During testing, the S07 achieved a 0-100km/h time of 7.5 seconds, slightly better than the claimed 7.9 seconds.

In Sport mode, the throttle response becomes noticeably sharper, offering a more engaging experience. However, Eco and Comfort modes prioritise efficiency, resulting in a more subdued driving feel that may not appeal to those seeking dynamic performance. This variability in throttle response is a defining feature of the car’s character.

The ride quality is on the firmer side, which enhances road feel but compromises comfort over uneven surfaces. The suspension struggles to absorb sharper bumps, making it less suited for poorly maintained Australian roads. The stiffness of the ride does aid in stability while cornering, however, combined with relatively light steering, it leads to a less engaging drive overall.

Around corners, the rear-wheel-drive configuration provides good stability, though a particularly sensitive traction control system will limit potential fun. For everyday urban driving, the S07 performs adequately, but spirited driving reveals its limitations.

A major issue in terms of the driving experience is the overly intrusive driver attention monitoring system. This system frequently issues over-the-top warnings, even under normal conditions, and fails to accommodate common scenarios such as wearing sunglasses, which causes unnecessary alerts. If I can’t even turn my eyeballs to check my map without receiving a cascade of alarms from the attention monitoring system, then it defeats the purpose of having such an advanced infotainment system that tilts in my direction. The inability to permanently disable this feature in its current state is annoying.

On the highway, the S07 feels stable and composed, with some wind and road noise intruding into the cabin, though overall noise, vibration and harshness are quite good for the price. However, adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist are only moderately effective, with occasional inconsistencies in speed and lane detection. These issues, combined with that god-awful attention monitoring system highlight the need for further refinement in the car’s safety systems.

Overall, the Deepal S07 offers a competent and predictable driving experience in urban settings but struggles to provide the refinement and engagement that you get from its competitors. Its focus on efficiency and range comes at the expense of dynamic driving appeal, leaving it best suited for buyers prioritising practicality and safety over performance.

What do you get with the Deepal S07 as standard?

• 19-inch alloy wheels (optional 20-inch alloy wheels)
• Automatic LED headlights with auto high beam
• LED tail lights
• Proximity-sensing key with keyless entry and start
• Six-way power adjustable drivers seat with memory function
• Four-way power adjustable passenger seat
• Heating and cooling for front seats
• Heated steering wheel
• Faux-leather seats and upholstery
• 14-speaker Sony sound system
• Panoramic glass roof with sunshade
• LED ambient lighting
• Power-operated tailgate
• Power folding side mirrors with heating
• 360 surround camera
• Front and rear sensors
• Dual-zone climate control
• Wireless smartphone charger
• USB-C connectivity
• 15.6-inch infotainment ‘Sunflower’ display with tilting function
• Wireless Android Auto and Apple Carplay
• Qualcomm 8155 chip, 128GB storage
• Cabin camera system and built-in dashcam
• Rear privacy glass

Exterior colour options:

• Comet White (NCO)
• Lunar Grey (NCO)
• Eclipse Black (NCO)
• Nebula Green (NCO)
• Celestial Blue (NCO)
• Cosmic Yellow (cost)
• Sunset Orange (cost)

Is the Deepal S07 safe?

‍The Deepal S07 is yet to be tested by ANCAP, though it received a five-star rating from Euro NCAP last year.

Standard safety equipment includes:

• Seven airbags
• Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist detection
• Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go
• Lane-keeping assist
• Lane departure warning
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Speed limit recognition and warning
• Driver attention warning 
• Driver fatigue monitoring
• 360 degree camera with front and rear parking sensors

How much does it cost to run the Deepal S07?

‍The S07 is covered by a 7-year, 160,000km vehicle warranty, and an 8 year, 240,000km battery warranty.

12 months roadside assistance is complimentary, and the service intervals are every 12 months, or 10,000km (after an initial 6 month or 5000km service).

Deepal has partnered with Evie to provide a 12-month complimentary public charging subscription.

Capped-priced servicing is available for the following intervals:

• 15,000km / 18 months - $230.64
• 25,000km / 30 months - $710.06
• 35,000km / 42 months - $230.64
• 45,000km / 54 months - $686.89
• 55,000km / 66 months - $462.62
• 65,000km / 78 months - $454.83
• 75,000km / 90 months - $205.75

For a total cost of $2984.43, making it one of the more expensive EVs in terms of servicing costs.

Final thoughts on the Deepal S07‍

The 2025 Deepal S07 offers an intriguing package with its unique design, premium interior materials,  and competitive range. However, it is severely let down by poorly calibrated safety systems and subpar fast-charging capabilities, which detract from its appeal. While it’s a promising first attempt from Chang’an’s Deepal brand, further refinement is needed to make it a true competitor in the Australian EV market.

The S07 is ideal for buyers seeking a stylish, tech-laden electric SUV at a competitive price, provided they can overlook its shortcomings in ride comfort and safety calibration.