The Changan Deepal S07 Electric Car Lease arrives

The arrival of the Changan Deepal S07 Electric Car Lease

The UK’s electric market is starting to take a new direction and shape as we see the close of 2025. The resounding theme of this year, as we move into 2026, is which manufacturers would flourish and which would falter under the new ZEV mandate and political ambition to go zero-emission.

What we have instead seen is both a diversification of product by many car brands, who are not just going electric but are also utilising the “mixed-fuel” option which a PHEV offers, and an almost constant introduction of new and exciting brands.

Especially Chinese ones! The 2025 era is a breakout year for BYD, Geely, Leapmotors, Xpeng, Jaecoo, Omoda and of course Changan. With the EU and USA approach to tariffs and foreign importation, the move to the free markets of the UK are not surprising.

However, there are still obvious queries around EV uptake, charging infrastructure and used-EV RVs which need addressing. Nevertheless, you only have to look around roads today and see an ambient mix of diverse products from car makers which you will genuinely never even heard of.

But a side-question is how are Tesla dealing with this?

This brand has quickly established itself as a stalwart in the UK leasing market and produces some of the most practical and robust EVs you can access. While we do offer Tesla, the truth is that we don’t sell very many.

This is simply because the brand in 2025 has utilised stricter commitments from its broker partners, meaning you have to offer volume to access better discounts. As a multi-brand agnostic company, our ethos and values do not align to this as we are here primarily to educate personal and business leasing customers on pure electric cars and vans. 

Yet, that doesn’t mean we don’t support Tesla; we do and very much respect the quality and ingenuity. Without Tesla, the boom in 2020 would not have happened, with the Model 3 and subsequent Model Y effectively setting robust standards for other car manufacturers to emulate. The dream of EV was made a reality by Elon Musk and his engineers.

However, the Tesla group cannot fight all of the growing competition. When it was just Audi, Mercedes, BMW and Polestar in the UK, there was a noticeable victory for the US giants. With the Chinese emergence in 2024 / 2025, there was a more obvious challenge.

With battery production and technology essentially being innovated in China, there is a distinct advantage to their more superior functionality. When Chinese car makers finally started creating “European” cars, rather than novel examples, the appetite for their motors suddenly increased. In 2025, the car producers we noted above are now chipping away at the Tesla dominance in the UK. We have seen the BYD Seal and Sealion 7 become a very real alternative to the Model 3 and Y.

Indeed, there is an argument to say these are much more aesthetically-pleasing and attractive car options. So when the BBC reported on the profit reduction recently, many were not so surprised. While revenues were record-hitting for Tesla, the profits on these transaction dropped by 37%.

Although some of this can be attributed to the group’s new focus on AI and robotics, the brand is having to negotiate tariffs and subsidy removals. The revisions of the Model 3 and Y, which will result in better battery technology, is still underwhelming some customers. Plus the absence of cost-effective options, sub-£30,000, is still a point of contention for many UK leasing customers.

The reality is that the market is not getting easier for Tesla, or any other European brands, as swathe after swathe of Chinese products land on UK shores. The latest to arrive is the S07 SUV-Coupe, which is the 1st product from the Changan Automobiles group to reach the UK. However, this will not be the last.

At just under £40,000, this robust and high-specified crossover is aiming to compete with the likes of the BMW iX3, Mercedes GLC EQ, Skoda Enyaq and VW ID.5. While the group will have to push an awareness and marketing campaign there is a quickly growing Changan dealership network already in the UK.

What makes the electric Changan S07 so special? 

As standard, the SUV has LED light signature, aerodynamic efficiency, comfort seats, 4-way lumbar support seats memory function, heated and ventilated seats, sound insulation glass, concealed electric door handles, 15.6” sunflower screen, 3D navigation, 360 degree surround view, 40W wireless phone charging, audio in the driver headrest.

Panoramic sunroof, privacy glass, spoiler with high mount lamp, vegan leather seats, keyless entry, online navigation and music, hill descent and hold control, lane change assist, emergency lane keep, HUD, gesture recognition, smart interactive key and intelligent voice recognition.

Key colours include Lunar Gray, Comet White, Nebula Green, Eclipse Black and Sunset Orange. Inside you can choose between orange, white and black interiors. A mix of 19” and 20” alloys can be chosen. An optional electrically deployable tow bar is available for £800.

How does the new S07 EV perform? Will it be any good?

• Standard Range – from around £39,990 this RWD car has a usable battery of 78 kWh which offers 160 kW (215hp), top speeds of 112 mph and 0-62 times of 7.9 seconds. Real-world ranges suggest a combined 215 miles in colder weather with warmer temperatures to allow for 290 miles (on a full charge) - combined overall at 255 miles. The 11kW AC allows for 0-100% charging times of 8 hours and 30 minutes with the 93 kW DC enabling 10-80% in 49 minutes. It has a 132 mpg equivalent, 510L cargo volume but can tow 750kg (Unbraked) and 1500kg (Braked). There is a heat pump as standard on this EV. There is Bidirectional charging with V2L via the exterior type outlet which is capable of 6kW AC.

Want to know more about going into the Changan?

Head to our dedicated special offers section or speak to our experts directly on 01942 910 001 or by emailing us at [email protected]