electric car buyers now have new choices as Changan introduced the Deepal S05 and Wuling unveiled the 2026 Hongguang Mini EV.
Changan's Deepal S05 is a compact SUV that begins at £37,990 in the UK and was styled at the brand's European design centre.
The Deepal cabin uses vegan leather and soft touch materials with orange stitching or full orange trim highlighted by ambient LED lighting.
An augmented reality heads-up display is standard, projecting key information into the driver's line of sight and described as equivalent to a 50-inch display.
The central interface is a 15.4-inch 2.5k touchscreen that tilts horizontally by 15 degrees toward driver or passenger for easier control.
The system supports voice control activated by saying "hey Deepal", Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and includes wireless phone charging up to 50W.
The Deepal offers convenience features such as games for when stationary, a rest mode that reclines seats and a pet mode to keep animals safe.
A notable external speaker in the wheel arch can play pedestrian alerts, arrival chimes, and project a voice through a microphone, a feature the reviewer warned could be misused.
The Deepal is available in rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive variants, with RWD offering longer range and AWD delivering quicker acceleration.
The AWD Deepal manages 0-62mph in 5.5 seconds while the RWD version does 0-62mph in 7.5 seconds, as reported in the review.
Both Deepal variants share a 68.8 kWh battery with 200 kW maximum DC charging and 11 kW AC charging, and V2L output up to 6 kW.
The reviewer noted European suspension tuning made the Deepal firmer but observed the car can feel light and bouncy above 50mph.
The 2026 Wuling Hongguang Mini EV arrives with a redesigned "sweet square" look and price points roughly between $6,200 and $7,600 before subsidies.
The Mini EV interior places a 10.1-inch touchscreen over a dashboard with many storage compartments, and uses a column-mounted gear selector to free center space.
Wuling's top-spec Mini EV offers up to 187 miles on China's CLTC cycle, with the article suggesting that may equate to about 130 miles on EPA estimates.
Market Implications And Risks
Changan positions the Deepal S05 against rivals like the Kia EV3, Volvo EX30 and Skoda Elroq in a competitive compact SUV segment.
The Deepal emphasizes cabin tech and conventional SUV utility while Wuling targets extreme affordability and urban range for commuters at lower price points.
Wuling's nameplate finished 2025 as China's second-best-selling battery EV, with sales rising 55 percent to 427,000 units and cumulative sales above 1.8 million, as reported by Wuling Cars.
The Hongguang's fast charge from 30 to 80 percent in 35 minutes and fold-flat rear seats yielding 838 liters of cargo space aim to broaden appeal to city drivers.
The Deepal's external speaker offers practical pedestrian alerts, but the reviewer flagged its ability to broadcast voice as a potential misuse risk in public settings.
Together the launches show divergent strategies within electric car offerings, from tech-focused compact SUVs to ultra-affordable city EVs aimed at mass adoption.
