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Today, I’m behind the wheel of the Deepal S07, a sleek and properly stylish mid-size electric SUV from China and a relatively new entrant here in Australia.
Now before you scroll past thinking “not another EV”, hold up – because what you’re looking at here is something genuinely interesting.
Deepal might be a new brand to most Australians, but it’s been around a while overseas and is part of a serious operation. Backed by Changan Auto – one of China’s largest automakers – and supported locally by Subaru and Peugeot importer Inchcape, Deepal is a serious automotive industry player and the S07 is built to take on the world’s best-selling mid-size electric SUVs.
And after a few days with it, I can tell you it’s no gimmick. Let’s take a closer look.
A whole lot of car for the money
At $53,900 before on-road costs, the 2025 Deepal S07 undercuts everything from the popular Tesla Model Y to the Kia EV5 and the BYD Sealion 7.
It’s only available as a single variant in Australia right now, and that’s actually a good thing – because it comes fully loaded.
But if you want the EV bargain of year, a brand-new 2024 model-year (MY24) Deepal S07 can be had for as little as $49,900 drive-away in certain paint colours, and from $50,790 drive-away in others. Those deals are of course available while stocks last.
And with just one well-equipped variant available, you don’t have to sift through option packs or worry about features you may miss out on with an entry-level variants. Deepal’s offering is one of the most generously equipped EVs I’ve tested in this price bracket.
Throw in a seven-year, 160,000km vehicle warranty (whichever comes first), an eight-year/240,000km (whichever comes first) battery warranty and 12 months of complimentary roadside assistance, and the value proposition starts to look genuinely exciting.
Italian style with real presence
The Deepal S07 is a good looking thing from any angle. If my time behind the wheel is any indication of public sentiment, it’s a genuine head-turner.
Penned at Changan’s European design centre in Turin, Italy, the design is crisp, futuristic and cohesive.
With standout design cues including everything from frameless doors and flush door handles to a coupe-style roofline and full-width lighting signature, it wouldn’t look out of place parked next to a Porsche Macan or Polestar 2, but also has its own unique styling launguage.
The fastback silhouette gives it a strong visual presence, and the fit and finish is impressive. Panel gaps are minimal and consistent, interior materials feel solid and well assembled, and the front and rear lighting signatures are trick.
Tech overload, but in a good way
Step inside and you’re met with a cabin that feels like it belongs in a car twice the price.
Seriously, there’s nothing entry-level about this EV. It’s a proper luxury play from a look and feel perspective, never mind the cool tech on display.
Your eye is immediately drawn to the 15.6-inch ‘Sunflower’ touchscreen, named for its ability to pivot 15 degrees in either direction, including towards the driver from the moment the driver’s door is closed. It’s also fast, super sharp, and powered by Qualcomm’s ultra-rapid 8155 chipset, so everything from navigation to gesture control is buttery smooth.
You’ve got wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring, an augmented reality head-up display, customisable ambient lighting, and a panoramic glass roof that floods the cabin with light. The instrument cluster and head-up display are clean and minimalist, and everything feels thoughtfully laid out.
Build quality is excellent – luxurious soft-touch surfaces are everywhere and well assembled together, and the cabin insulation is outstanding thanks to double-glazed windows and active noise cancellation. On the move, it’s whisper-quiet.
Comfort that rivals the premium brands
Deepal’s engineers clearly understand what buyers want in this segment: comfort.
The front seats are heated and ventilated, offer 10-way electric adjustment to deliver personalised comfort, and the driver’s seat even remembers your perfect position via a memory function.
There’s a lot of plush-like comfort built into these quilted pews, which also look the part thanks to contrast stitching and piping. The steering wheel is heated too – not something you expect in a $50k EV.
Dual-zone climate control keeps both the driver and front passenger comfortable, while rear seat occupants get their own dedicated climate control and a plush rear bench offering heaps of knee and toe room, thanks to the flat floor.
Actually, there’s a stack of rear legroom, and boot space is plentiful too.
There’s also an impressive small frunk under the bonnet, which adds 125 litres of useable luggage capacity. Otherwise, there’s 445L of storage behind the rear seats, expanding to nearly 1400L when they’re folded flat.
Even the Sony-branded premium sound system with 14 speakers impresses. It’s punchy, clean, and genuinely immersive.
This is a car designed to make daily driving – or longer road trips – feel effortless.
EV with the lot
To say the Deepal S07 is well equipped is an understatement, since after a week behind the wheel I’m still discovering new features.
2025 Deepal S07 standard equipment highlights:
- 19-inch alloy wheels
- 235/55 R19 tyres
- Tyre repair kit
- 4 x drive modes
- Heated, power-folding side mirrors
- Panoramic glass roof
- Electric sunshade
- Privacy glass
- LED headlights with high-beam assist
- LED rear fog light combination
- 64-colour ambient interior lighting
- Dual-zone climate control
- Air purification system
- Heated steering wheel
- 15.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system with sunflower tilt
- Augmented reality head-up display (AR HUD)
- Wireless smartphone mirroring
- 14-speaker Sony sound system
- USB-A ports x 1, USB-C ports x 2
- 12V power socket
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Power tailgate
- Keyless entry and start
- Panoramic-view dash cam
- 40W wireless charging pad with ventilation
- Gesture control
- Multiple Scenario modes
- Black synthetic leather upholstery
- 6-way powered driver seat with lumbar
- 4-way powered passenger seat
- Heated and ventilated front seats
Options:
- 20-inch alloy wheels ($NCO)
- Black/orange seat trim with orange stitching ($NCO)
- Metallic paint ($800)
Drivetrain: Smooth, efficient, quiet
Underneath, the S07 is rear-wheel drive and powered by an electric motor that produces 160kW of power and 320Nm of torque. It’s not Ludicrous-fast, but it’s brisk – think 0-100km/h acceleration in the low sevens.
Power delivery is linear and responsive, and there’s no learning curve – just select D and go.
Drive modes are easily accessed via the touchscreen (Eco, Normal and Sport, and Custom) and while you’ll still pull away more rapidly than in most ICE cars in those more relaxed modes, I tended to leave the car in Sport (and yes, it stays in that mode until changed) for quicker getaways and less overall frustration.
It also sits relatively flat through corners and feels well balanced, but I can’t help feel there’s room for a quicker, more performance-focused version of the S07 with a dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain.
All the driver assistance systems are nicely calibrated to prevent them from being a nuisance during the daily commute – Deepal is better than most in this regard after making over-the-air software changes based on consumer feedback. Ultimately, it’s convenient and impressive here too.
Range is strong for this price point, too. There’s up to 475km (WLTP) available from a 79.97kWh lithium-ion battery. I saw real-world range figures hovering around 420-450km in mixed urban and freeway use, which is very respectable.
DC fast-charging is capped at 92kW, which means a 30-80 per cent charge in around 35 minutes. It won’t win drag races at the supercharger, but it’s still perfectly useable for road trips.
There’s also intelligent battery thermal management, so cold-weather charging loss is minimised – handy if you’re in the southern states or planning a winter getaway.
Safety you can trust
Safety is well covered. The S07 has a five-star Euro NCAP rating, and the spec list reads like a luxury SUV’s.
Standard safety features include:
- 7 airbags
- Adaptive cruise control
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Driver monitoring system
- Lane centring assist
- Lane-keep assist
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Safe exit warning
- Surround-view camera
- Front and rear parking sensors
- Overspeed warning
- Hill descent control
- Traffic sign recognition
- Traffic jam assist
- Tyre pressure monitoring
And here’s the best bit – it’s all standard. No premium add-on packs, no monthly subscriptions, no frustrating exclusions.
Ownership that’s straightforward
Service intervals are 12 months or 10,000km, and capped servicing for seven years totals just under $3000.
That’s decent value, especially when you consider how much tech is crammed into the car.
Initially, Deepal dealerships are located in Sydney and Melbourne, with further outlets planned for Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia in the coming months.
Home charging support is available via EVSE Australia, too.
Verdict: A serious wake-up call for the establishment
Let’s be real – we’ve seen plenty of new EVs come and go, especially from up-and-coming Chinese brands. But the Deepal S07 is different, this is a car with real depth.
It’s beautifully styled, incredibly well equipped, supremely refined and, most importantly, it offers real-world useability with the kind of tech and comfort you’d normally expect to pay $80k for.
Sure, it’s not perfect. There’s no all-wheel drive option yet, and fast-charging speeds could be higher. But for the money? There’s nothing else that touches it.
If you’re shopping for a Model Y, EV5 or even something like a Volvo EX30 — do yourself a favour and take a look at the Deepal S07. It’s guaranteed to surprise you in a good way.
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