Deepal S05 News

This budget electric SUV was supposed to launch in Australia last year, but we still haven’t seen it yet.The Deepal S05 is a Toyota RAV4-sized electric Chinese SUV has just received a big update.  Deepal is a subsidiary of giant Chinese car manufacturer Changan that has joint ventures with Ford and Mazda.It previously confirmed the S05 would hit Aussie shores in the second half of 2025, but it still hasn’t launched as we head into the second half of 2026.It rivals other affordable electrified SUVs like the Leapmotor B10 and BYD Atto 3.It is closely related to its bigger S07 sibling that has been on sale in Australia since late 2024. So, where is it?The Deepal S05’s upgrades include a more powerful EV model, featuring a single rear-mounted electric motor, producing 200kW, compared to 175kW. Acceleration from 0-100km/h now takes as little as 6.3 seconds. From the outside, there is a new more flowing body, more chrome trim pieces, frameless windows and re-designed 18-inch wheels.It also gains a new 15.6-inch central touchscreen and 256-colour ambient lighting, with wood-grain panels featuring throughout. The EV continues to be offered with a 56kWh battery, with a 10km boost to driving range at 520km, according to lenient CLTC standards, as well as a 69kWh unit with 620km.DC charging from 30 to 80 per cent continues to take around 15 minutes. The brand has also made significant changes to the driver assistance systems in the car, with 26 high-perception sensors and more than 90 driving functions like automated parking.Deepal has not provided any official reasons for why the SO5’s launch has been delayed, but the brand is likely hoping for a better market introduction than the S07.The S07 was plagued by frustrating and invasive active safety technology that forced the brand to make wholesale software changes just months after it went on sale. The car’s driver attention monitor function, lane keep assist and adaptive cruise control all came under serious scrutiny.Deepal has stated the S05 is being subject to extensive testing, hinting that this could be the reason behind its delayed arrival. The brand worked swiftly to rectify these issues with a spokesperson telling CarsGuide in 2025 it would undertake more extensive local testing. “We will do more real-world tests in Australia and will make Australian driving scenarios entries into our software data bank and adjust to those live scenarios,” they said. “And that will test all of the system set-ups and that gives us time before we bring the car to market to launch to make sure that sensitivities, system set ups and everything is conditioned to the expectation of the Australian consumer.”The Deepal S05’s original planned launch date is long in the rearview mirror, but the brand remains adamant the car will hit showrooms soon. The S05 launched in the United Kingdom in March 2026, a fellow right-hand drive market. It was also cleared for sale by the Australian government regulator in February this year.A spokesperson for Deepal Australia could not confirm whether the car would arrive in 2026 or 2027, but did reveal the car is undergoing extensive testing in Sydney, with more details coming "very soon". "We're incredibly excited about the Deepal S05, with planning now in its final stages ahead of its Australian launch,” they said."We've already completed more than 100,000km of local testing using engineering vehicles, including extensive software validation and calibration work, to ensure the S05 delivers the best driving experience for our market.”With the car in its final stages of preparation, there is scope for it to go on sale before the end of the year or early 2027. There is no indication of Australian pricing yet, but the new model will be available from 120,000 yuan in China, which is roughly $25,000.Chinese cars usually cop a 20 per cent hike when put on sale in Australia, so it is more likely to start around the $30,000-plus mark.

China’s Deepal hasn’t launched the S05 small SUV in Australia yet but a new super long-range electric version is reportedly set to be revealed in China tomorrow.

Hot on the heels of its recently introduced mid-size S07 EV SUV, Deepal Australia has confirmed it will be joined by two new models in the second half of this year - the smaller S05 SUV and category-bending E07, the latter combining key attributes of a five-seat SUV with a convertible ute rear end.

Following its global debut less than two months ago at the Chengdu Motor Show, Changan subsidiary Deepal has announced domestic pricing for its S05 small, coupe-style five-seat SUV.