Deepal S05 First-Look Review: The Futuristic SUV That Demands a Second Look

The Pakistani electric vehicle landscape is expanding rapidly, but very few newcomers manage to get your attention like the new Deepal S05. Positioned as a sleek, tech-focused smaller sibling of the larger S07, the Deepal S05 does not ask for your attention. Rather, it demands a second look. From its futuristic and sporty exterior to a tech-filled and minimalistic interior, the Deepal S05 is a solid addition to Pakistan’s EV market. Here is our exclusive first-look review of the Deepal S05, offering a look into its exterior, interior, tech, and cabin practicality. Our long-term comprehensive review covering everyday driving, efficiency, comfort, and ownership will follow after extended use.

Key Specifications of the Deepal S05 REEV Launched in Pakistan

Exterior Design

The Deepal S05 boasts a futuristic design, and it can be easily recognized from afar due to its signature body style and features. On the front, it adopts a striking split-headlight setup. At the top, each side has long slits that act as Daytime running lights, or DRLs, while the main high- and low-beam lights are mounted in the lower section, inside the bumper. These headlights are framed by an aerospace-inspired ‘Delta Wing’ black graphic. This unique design prevents the front bumper from looking like a flat, boring block of white plastic.

The headlights are standard High-Output LED projectors, with intelligent high-beam assist. On the bottom of the bumper, you have a wide black grille that houses automatic fins that open and close when the radiator for the generator needs fresh air to cool it down. These three fins open and close on their own and are part of the front bumper. The front is not made aggressive on purpose by adding aero and diffusers, but it naturally becomes aggressive with the help of the headlight design cutting into the fascia sharply, and giving it a much wider, aggressive, and planted road presence.

You will find the cameras and sensors throughout the front of the car. There are three cameras and sensors in the front bumper, with an additional set of cameras mounted higher on the windscreen. The hood is not curvy in the middle but has two distinctive curves on either edge that go all the way towards the front pillars. The windscreen wipers are tucked away behind the slightly raised top end of the hood, and the side mirrors along with the roof are black in all color options.

Moving to the side of the vehicle, you will notice that due to the long wheelbase, the rear wheels are located right at the edge. This gives the S05 a hunkered-down, sporty look that many SUVs in the same category lack. This also manages to hide its compact profile. In the arches, you will find beautifully designed 20-inch alloy wheels which come in a two-tone color. The side profile is clean and has a plastic, black skirt on its bottom that provides character to its side profile. The roofline is slightly slanting at the rear, but it remains high throughout, thus offering plenty of headroom for rear passengers.

Other important details include motorized flush door handles that pop out on unlocking and frameless side doors that give the S05 a sporty coupe luxury look. The body-to-wheel proportions are one of the best that you will ever find on a Chinese vehicle. The wheels and the body do not feel out of balance by even a slight inch. Visually, it looks a little compromised when it comes to ground clearance, but its actual clearance is pretty decent, as we found out in our initial drive.

The rear of the Deepal S05 is our favourite side of the vehicle. Similar to the front and sides, the rear is also all about visual width and minimalism; however, a few key features really bring out its personality. At the back hatch, you will see an interstellar through-type taillight, which is a simple light bar that extends to both sides, but instead of a basic red strip, this is a highly detailed, 3D crystalline structure inside the lens. When illuminated at light, this gives a wide, premium, and planted stance.

Apart from this, Deepal S05 also features a high-mounted Formula 1-style brake light. This is located above the rear spoiler and feels like a very distinct, vertically oriented light. This is inspired by the rear rain lights of a Formula 1 car. It not only gives an aggressive look to the S05, but it also has a performance character for its rear profile. At the bottom of the windscreen, you will find a small rear window wiper which sits on the side of the windscreen when not in use. At the bottom, you will find a generic diffuser, where two red reflectors are present on either side, along with four sensors and a small reverse LED in the middle of the bumper. The reverse camera pops up right under the hatch.

Another important aspect to note about the Deepal S05 is that its branding is also very minimalistic. At the front, you will find the company’s logo at the top of the bumper. There is no branding on the sides, and on the rear hatch, you get a company logo integrated into the light bar, which illuminates at night, and a simple Deepal on the left side and S05 on the right side. There are no other technology or feature stickers on the entire vehicle. This is an important detail because traditionally, Pakistani vehicles are filled with brand, technology, variant, and drivetrain stickers. Deepal S05 really keeps it clean when it comes to branding logos and stickers.

Does the design actually work in person?

What we like about Deepal S05’s exterior is that the vehicle looks bulky despite being in the smaller SUV segment. The wheels fit inside the arches perfectly, while the relatively clean side profile makes the S05 appear larger than its dimensions suggest. It gives an excellent, grounded road presence with a sporty look. One of the best aspects of the Deepal S05 is that every body panel perfectly balances the overall look of the car. Not one panel feels like it is out of place, making it one of the prettiest, tech-filled SUVs currently available in Pakistan. The front of the vehicle not only looks good, but it is packed to the teeth with technology, with its movable radiator vents and smart interactive headlights.

Interior Design

Dashboard

As soon as you get inside the Deepal S05, the most prominent thing that you will notice inside is the huge Sunflower screen, which features a 15.4-inch 2.5K panel. As the driver gets in the vehicle, this screen swivels 15 degrees, making it easier for them to see it. Depending on which side enters first, the screen either swivels towards the passenger or the driver. This gives a highly cinematic, premium welcome sequence.

The second thing you will notice is that Deepal has eliminated the gauge cluster behind the steering wheel. Instead, the driver now gets a wide AR-HUD windshield projection display for speed, navigation, and other important information. You will instantly see that this is very easy to read and does not make you feel that a physical gauge cluster is missing inside. Both the AR-HUD and the middle screen have allowed Deepal S05 to go nearly button-free apart from the window button and door handles. Even the 1.9-meter-square panoramic sunroof operates through the middle panel.

We did notice that the wireless charging tray is slanting a little; it was causing our mobile to slide down occasionally. It does have sticky material, but it does not offer the same grip as that of a sticky surface on a flat surface. The steering wheel is beautiful as well, with a sunset orange inner rim and a black outline. The silver accents and buttons look beautiful. The interior is one of the S05’s strongest aspects, combining a minimalist layout with a technology-heavy cabin without feeling excessively cluttered.

The front is where all of the magic happens, and both the driver and the passenger have a lot to play around with. The driver’s seat is 6-way adjustable with 2-way power lumbar and memory access. It will welcome the driver on entry and will remember the exact settings. The front passenger seat comes with its own bells and whistles. It is something called a ‘Queen’s Seat’, and it is 4-way adjustable with a 2-way extending leg rest and a 124-degree zero-gravity recline. This offers the best comfort level for longer journeys, and even on smaller city commutes.

Seating Position

The seating position in the Deepal S05 is a little low, just like you expect from most modern crossovers and SUVs. You feel properly tucked in, thanks to its seats that offer lumbar support and have excellent back and seat fit. It is high enough for you to look ahead, but naturally, it is not so high that you can see the bonnet of the car. The cushioning is enough to make it soft, but it maintains a little bit of sturdiness to ensure that the passengers are not moving around too much in turns.

Entering and exiting the vehicle is fairly easy. Despite it being an SUV, it is much closer to the road than traditional 4×4 vehicles, thus eliminating the need for a footboard to climb inside it. The welcome seat moves back enough to let the driver in, and once seated, it comes back to the driving position. Visibility for the driver and passengers is quite good through large side windows, and the rear windscreen itself is quite big to allow ample visibility to the driver.

Material Quality

The materials used in the S05 are leather mixed with plastic. The seats are ventilated and feel a little stiff. They are not very soft like most fabric seats. It is too early to make any judgment about long-term durability, but the materials and construction give a positive first impression. The center console is all black and plastic, with the armrest in sunset orange, made of leather.

The long-term durability of the plastic components remains to be seen. The buttons feel solid; the side doors feel heavy and meaty when you close the doors. However, you might need a little bit of time to get used to its door-opening handles. They feel premium, but they are on armrests, unlike the doors in traditional vehicles that we have in Pakistan. Overall, the interior does not feel cheap at all and gives a rather premium feel when it comes to materials.

The mix of plastic and leather is found throughout the interior, the dashboard, and the side door panels. The window buttons are also plastic, but they have a premium finish, thanks to a silver coating on them. The only buttons inside the cabin are for windows, and it marks a bold step by Deepal for its brand-new entrant in Pakistan.

Rear Seats

Moving to the back, the environment is much more minimalist. The rear cabin features big, cushy seats, but tech-wise, it feels a bit bare compared to the front. Deepal S05 only has one rear vent, and while it is a big vent, it can only throw air in one direction. It also offers two USB charging slots here. Compared to the front of the vehicle, the rear does feel like it misses out a lot when it comes to tech. A single AC vent and two USB slots are the only things that rear passengers get. However, the rear seats are fairly comfortable and offer ample space for two adults and a teenager or child in the middle. Adding a third adult makes the rear bench noticeably tighter.

Deepal S05 offers a much bigger wheelbase, which results in ample space for the rear passengers. Their legs do not get cramped like in most SUVs of its size. The completely flat rear floor also contributes to this comfort, as the person sitting in the middle does not have to sit uncomfortably. It is perfect for two adults, but adding in a third adult will make things tight.

Does it feel like a premium car or simply a well-equipped car?

The interior is the most critical section of any vehicle review because you will be spending more time inside it, and less time looking at it from the outside. What we like about the Deepal S05 is that its interior is very minimalistic. Nothing feels cluttered, and the placement of the screen, hidden air vents, and center console is exceptionally well-executed. Deepal S05 successfully ticks both aspects when it comes to its interior. Not only does it look good from the inside, but it is also filled to the brim with tech.

The screen does not overwhelm anything in the interior, and the clean, subtle air vents present a sublime look inside. The stitching is visible, giving it a premium look, and the combination of a sunset orange interior with a black top and silver accents makes it more premium than it should be. It is minimalist and technology-rich while still offering a premium feel, with a few plastic bits here and there. At night, the ambient lighting uses a thin, subtle light strip that creates a sophisticated mood rather than aggressively illuminating the entire cabin

Technology & Infotainment

Deepal is Changan’s technology-oriented brand, so, naturally, it comes loaded with an amazing set of technology, both inside and out. The main infotainment screen is responsive and will perform the command at a single touch. It is fast, offers decent frames for playback, and the interface is seamless. Icons are big and easily visible. This is possible because the main infotainment screen is powered by a heavy-duty Qualcomm Snapdragon SA8155P automotive processor. In use, the infotainment system is quick and responsive, with almost no noticeable delay between touching an icon and the system responding. There are no delays, and as soon as you touch an icon, it is executed nearly instantly. This is very impressive.

The screen also supports Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and complements the use with a 50w wireless charging pad located right below this screen. Up ahead, the Deepal S05 uses its windshield as a gauge cluster, utilizing the standard Augmented Reality Head-Up Display (AR-HUD). This is one of the features of the Deepal S05 that seriously impressed us. This projection remains perfectly readable even in the bright sun because it is exceptionally bright. You do not even need to squint your eyes to read it, whether it is night or day. It works in perfect harmony with the Level 2 ADAS system and displays all of the required information, such as the current speed, road speed, signs, and anything else that needs to be displayed right in the windscreen. It is not too low, and not too high. At any height you may be, it is perfectly visible to everyone.

Space & Practicality

The Deepal S05 features an impressive wheelbase of 2,880 mm, which is relatively high for this category. This allows it to have impressive leg space and overall general space inside the vehicle. This caters to both the front, rear, and the boot. On the front, you have cup holders in the middle, which are joined with a large armrest that can be opened for a big storage compartment. The quality of the armrest matches the rest of the interior. Inside the armrest, you will also find a large 13-litre cool and warm box. Apart from this, the whole cabin has around 35 different storage spaces spread around the entire cabin.

In the back, you have a large 492-litre trunk space, which can be expanded to up to 1,250 liters if you fold the rear seats. The rear seats have a 60:40 split, so you can open up half the seats for adjusting cargo and have an adult sit in the back as well. The Pakistani version is a REEV, which means that it comes with a petrol engine as a generator, so the front of the vehicle houses that engine, thus losing the ‘frunk’ which is normally present in the EV trim of S05. For a small family, the Deepal S05 easily offers a lot of storage options, which makes it practical for daily use in the city and some occasional family trips.

Is this genuinely a family SUV?

The Deepal S05 is an excellent option for a small family. The rear space offers ample space for two adults and a child, or even a teenager. The boot space is slightly compromised due to its slanting rear lining, and the rear seats are not big enough for a full family. If you travel a lot and have a big family, these limitations will certainly come into effect because you cannot fit more than three adults in the back for comfortable seating.

Even two adults and two children will make it difficult. Similarly, the boot is compromised when it comes to vertical stacking. A one-week trip to Northern Areas with a family of around 6- 7 people will require careful luggage planning and seating arrangements.

ADAS & Safety

We have already covered the entire Deepal S05’s complete ADAS features in a separate guide, so if you want to see all features, make sure to check out its dedicated guide. In our review, we will be focusing more on what the actual experience of using the ADAS feels like in S05. S05 is a little on the bigger side when it comes to its size, but with the ADAS complementing your driving, it can make it a lot easier to drive it in the city or on the highway.

Its Level 2 ADAS suite can make city driving and tight maneuvering considerably less demanding. Its lane-keep assist, active collision warning, and 360-degree cameras act as an extra set of eyes, taking the stress out of tight parking spots and unpredictable bumper-to-bumper commutes.

Driving Position & First Drive Impression

Deepal S05 instantly impresses in its first drive with a comfortable driving position. It supports your back properly, thanks to its well-designed and ventilated seats. It is quick, thanks to its powerful electric motor, and despite its bulkiness, it feels quite nimble. Being an RWD, you can easily spin its rear out just like a sports car. The ride is comfortable, and it feels okay on bumps. It does not have the softest suspension that we have tested, but it is certainly on the better spectrum. The S05’s weight is noticeable under braking, so you have to carefully adjust the braking timing, especially at higher speeds. The brakes do tend to feel a little bit on the less effective side.

When it comes to NVH (Noise, Vibration, and Harshness), the Deepal S05 behaves like a high-end luxury car at city speeds, thanks to a slick 0.25 Cd aerodynamic profile and heavy-duty 5mm acoustic front glass. However, out on the highways, it somewhat does make you feel its budget build. As soon as you cross over 100 KM/h, a prominent tire noise begins to enter the rear cabin and the wheel arches. Since its suspension is a little tighter, you also feel a slight cabin toss when you drive over sudden road dips or high-speed expansion joints on bridges or highways.

Pakistani Road Test Perspective

Our initial drive covered a limited selection of Pakistani roads, including highways and urban routes. The S05’s relatively firm suspension is noticeable over repeated bumps and uneven surfaces, although it handles individual road imperfections reasonably well. Its dimensions initially take some getting used to in tighter spaces, but the 360-degree camera system and Level 2 ADAS make maneuvering considerably easier.

The S05 also feels particularly well suited to city driving, where its quiet electric powertrain and responsive acceleration work well in stop-and-go traffic. At higher highway speeds, however, tire noise becomes more noticeable, and the firmer suspension can transmit sharper road imperfections into the cabin.

This is only our initial impression. A longer-term review will allow us to evaluate the S05 across a wider range of Pakistani roads and conditions.

Verdict

The Deepal S05 makes a strong first impression, particularly with its striking design, minimalist and technology-focused cabin, spacious interior, and responsive electric powertrain. It feels well suited to urban driving, while its extensive technology and Level 2 ADAS package give it an advantage in an increasingly competitive SUV market. However, it is not without compromises. The firmer suspension can become noticeable over repeated bumps, tyre noise increases at highway speeds, and the braking feel could be more confidence-inspiring. These are our initial impressions after spending limited time with the S05, and a longer-term review will determine how well it holds up as an everyday vehicle on Pakistani roads.

Disclaimer: This first-look review of the Deepal S05 is based on a vehicle acquired by Motornama.pk on its own behalf. Motornama maintains absolute editorial freedom, and our conclusions are never influenced by external partnerships. Please read our Review Policy and Editorial Standards to learn more about our testing methodologies and core journalism values.