Deepal S07 Electric Review

Do cars sell themselves, or must they be backed by a compelling narrative to captivate buyers? The answer, typically, is a bit of both. Established products like the Toyota Corolla and BYD Atto 3 practically sell themselves while others, like the Deepal S07, need further introduction.

Deepal is a relatively new player in the automotive world, and its name is often mispronounced - it's "dee-ple," not "dee-pal." Some may assume it's an Indian brand, perhaps because of its phonetic similarity to "Deepavali," but in fact, Deepal's parent company, Changan Automobile, hails from China.

The S07, the focus of this review, is Deepal's first foray into the Singapore market. It's a well-equipped, refined SUV with a smooth, comfortable ride. But is it distinctive enough to stand out in a crowded market?

The petal-shaped daytime running lights and 'etchings' add interesting details to the S07's design

Italian fashion

Consumers don't solely rely on looks to make a buying decision, but a swanky styling that draws glances always helps. The S07 was designed in Turin, Italy, and the process was overseen by Bertrand Bach, Changan's global design director who brings over two decades of experience designing for global car manufacturers.

Deepal claims the S07's design follows the 'golden ratio,' a principle that's typically used in art and architecture for balanced proportions. In the case of the S07, it means a higher window line and reduced glass area, giving the vehicle a sportier, more dynamic profile - like that of luxury brands like Aston Martin.

Sharp, angular lines throughout the exterior, from the front bumper to the rear end, enhance the car's athletic look. Notably, the S07 features a roof spoiler and a unique vertical third brake light, shaped like a coffin, which adds a touch of distinctiveness.

The C-pillar section looks particularly sporty, thanks to the swooping roofline and roof spoiler

While the exterior is interesting, the interior, on the other hand, held no surprises. Following the trend of minimalist design seen in many modern EVs, most physical controls are relegated to the steering wheel, with the rest of the functionality integrated into a large touchscreen or accessible via voice commands.

However, the cabin is well-built, with soft-touch materials and several interesting features. Highlights include a deep centre storage area, an in-car camera for monitoring the backseat, gesture controls, and a 15.6-inch swivelling 'Sunflower' touchscreen that can be adjusted to face the driver, front passenger, or centre. It's a feature that might seem unnecessary at first but proves surprisingly useful over time.

Clearly, 'Italian flair' gave way to the expectations of modern buyers, who not only prefer touchscreens over physical controls, but a cockpit that's as 'blank' as possible. It's a design philosophy seen in countless EVs, and I expected to see something different instead.

The aesthetic may be 'blank' but there's tech aplenty, like the in-car camera that lets you monitor the backseat and captures gestures

The S07's gesture controls, which are captured by an in-car camera, can come in handy. For instance, putting finger to your lips will mute the audio, while putting up a horizontal fist pauses a song. Flashing the V sign with your index and middle fingers for two seconds tells the camera to take a photo.

Will drivers actually use these features? It depends on whether they're keen to learn the gesture language first. The voice commands, on the other hand, are easier to get the hang of because they're more natural. For instance, I could say, "Hi Deepal, turn the screen towards me" and the system immediately understands.

However, there is some lag between the spoken instructions and execution of said commands. Aion's voice assistant, in particular, is quicker and more responsive.

Out of 26 functions, you can choose four to be saved under 'Heart 1' and 'Heart 2'

Practical considerations

Thanks to the 2,900mm wheelbase, backseat space is commodious and made even more comfortable with a flat rear floor, although foot room beneath the front seats is limited for occupants who prefer chunky footwear.

If only two passengers are present, they can avail of a pull-down armrest with a pair of cupholders. With the sunshade open and the panoramic sunroof revealed, the backseat feels very airy indeed.

The backseat is very cushy, and the 'frunk' offers a surprising 125 litres of storage volume

Meanwhile, the boot capacity of 445 litres should be enough for a week's worth of groceries for a family of four. Folding down the rear seats enlarges this to 1,385 litres, thereby enabling it to take on bulky items.

In terms of driving range, the S07's 79.97kWh NMC battery allows the SUV to cover up to 475km when fully charged. LTA tests put the consumption at 5.3km/kWh, but the powertrain is more efficient, because after three days of driving in mostly urban areas, I managed 6.5km/kWh.

Speaking of driving, the S07 comes with an augmented reality heads-up display, which, when utilised with its native navigation programme, has animated arrows to help guide you along the way.

The heads-up display looks cool, and when the navigation system is active, it'll project animated arrows, too

Keen performance

With the practical bits out of the way, we can now focus on the fun part: Performance. The rear motor provides 215bhp and 320Nm of torque, and despite having to push (it is rear-wheel drive) 2,148kg of SUV sans driver, the car feels rather punchy.

It is brisk, too, with the benchmark zero to 100km/h taking place in 7.9 seconds. Pin the right pedal to the floor and the instantaneous torque can push you into the seat, making you feel as if you're going faster.

Deepal never said anything about the S07 being a sporty SUV for keen drivers, but the McPherson struts in front and multi-link setup at the rear ensure its manners are predictable, with understeer setting in as you round a corner too quickly.

Anything below a 100% setting for the energy recuperation level feels tepid - you'll need to use more of the mechanical brakes

Don't expect the car to stop on a dime either, as the brakes are capable, but not miracle-workers. The key point here is the regenerative braking, which is the gentlest I've experienced. With the regen level set to 100%, lifting off the accelerator results in a forgiving slowdown - nobody will get thrown forward.

Indeed, the S07 cossets passengers with its soft and quiet ride, the latter thanks to the use of acoustic glass all around. Despite the frameless windows, wind and road noise are suppressed. However, a quiet cabin means any noisy components are immediately obvious.

The air-con compressor in this test unit was rather loud at times. Vibrations from it also intruded into the cabin every so often, making occupants think that this was an ICE car. However, when it's not noisy, the silence lets you enjoy the Sony speakers, which sounded great.

Telling a story

Overall, the S07 presents a compelling package, with the top features being an attractive design, plenty of standard convenience and safety functions, a spacious cabin, and a smooth drive.

However, many of the S07's competitors offer a similar proposition. It's not that the car isn't good; it's the fact that there are rivals such as the Xpeng G6 that are comparably priced, while offering even more features and greater performance.

For a newcomer like the Deepal S07, telling a unique story is the key to standing out. What it currently offers may captivate buyers, but it may not win over ones seeking an electric SUV with a fresh perspective.

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