Shereen Shabnam
Al Tayer Motors’ gleaming new Deepal showroom was buzzing the morning I arrived to test drive the brand-new Deepal S05. The S05 aims for that sweet spot of urban agility, long-range capability, and price accessibility and having a few moments of seat time, I am convinced it hits the brief.
After some pleasant activations at the showroom, I was able to get some time to drive nearby to get a feel of the car. In the metal, the S05 reads fresh and athletic. Hidden door handles, a tapering roofline, and frameless windows lend a premium, almost coupé-like stance, while “Smart Flying Wing” LED headlights give the nose a purposeful glare.
Step inside and you find a 15.4-inch floating display dominates the dash, complemented by an AR head-up display that overlays speed and navigation graphics on the windscreen with impressive clarity. The cabin’s pièce de résistance, however, is its so-called “Queen” front seating: wide cushions with ventilation, multiple electric adjustments, and a lounge-like level of recline that feels indulgent in a compact SUV.
According to the Deepal team on ground, the engineering crew has cleverly future-proofed the S05 with a dual-power strategy. The pure-electric EV variant offers up to 460 kilometres of range, delivered by a 175 kW rear motor that feels sprightly out of the blocks. Alternatively, those still wary of charger availability can opt for the REEV: a range-extended electric model featuring a 1.5-litre petrol generator. With 160 km of electric driving plus more than 900 km combined range, the REEV shrugs off range anxiety entirely.
Deepal calls the S05’s user interface “smart cockpit,” and during my short test drive, it earned the title. Voice commands recognised English-accented prompts with minimal lag, and passengers can enjoy a panoramic glass roof that floods the cabin with natural light.
That practical streak extends to price, which Al Tayer aims to keep keen enough to tempt first-time EV buyers while still offering the accoutrements young tech-savvy owners expect. I so look forward to a much longer drive to get to know this model better given that my first impression and feel of the car is positive.
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