Changan Deep Blue S7 Extended-Range Test Drive The Secret to Its Hot Sales Besides Its Appearance

Unlocking the Secrets of Changan Deep Blue S7's Hot Sales Through an Extended-Range Test Drive Experience Beyond Its Striking Appearance

【PhoneAuto Test Drive】With the continuous development of the new energy vehicle market, major car manufacturers have introduced their own new energy products, including some innovative and competitive models. As a new energy brand under Changan Automobile, Changan Blue Auto launched its first model, the Blue SL03, last year. With its unique design, rich configuration, and excellent performance, it has received positive market response and reputation.

In June of this year, Blue Auto launched its second model, the Blue S7, positioned as a new energy medium-sized SUV, offering three power options for consumers to choose from: extended-range hybrid, pure electric, and hydrogen fuel cell. Can the Blue S7 continue the success of the Blue SL03 and become a dark horse in the new energy medium-sized SUV market? Let’s experience it through a test drive.

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The exterior design of the Blue S7 continues the family-style design of Changan Blue Auto, with a high level of similarity to the Blue SL03 in terms of its separated headlights. The center adopts a closed grille, while the lower part still retains the design of a large-sized air vent. Worth mentioning is that the new car is also equipped with intelligent interactive light language, with 696 LED light sources inside, allowing users to customize the light language and increase interaction with the vehicle.

In terms of size, the dimensions of the new car are 4750/1930/1625mm, with a wheelbase of 2900mm, belonging to the wide-body compact SUV specifications. The new car maintains a strong sense of sportiness on the side, and is equipped with frameless doors, hidden door handles, and 21-inch wheels, etc. Its drag coefficient is only 0.258Cd, which is beneficial for improving the vehicle’s efficiency.

Moving to the rear of the car, the new car retains the family characteristics with its through-type taillights design, as well as additional features such as a diffuser and a spoiler, which look very sharp. The extended-range version of the car uses a hidden exhaust design, while the pure electric version does not have an exhaust pipe, giving it a cleaner overall look. Overall, the exterior design of the Blue S7 is sporty, fashionable, and full of technological sense, meeting the aesthetic needs of young consumers nowadays.

Although the interior of the Blue S7 still bears some resemblance to the interior design of the Blue SL03, there are many differences in various details. The center is equipped with a 15.6-inch suspended central control screen, which supports a maximum rotation of 15° to the left and right for convenient operation by the driver and passengers. The interface design of the central control screen is also relatively simple and the response speed is fast. It supports OTA online upgrades and integrates the Blue intelligent ecosystem, which can realize functions such as voice control, intelligent navigation, and online entertainment.

The design of the steering wheel on the Deep Blue S7 is similar to the Deep Blue SL03, but it does not come with a dashboard. Instead, it is equipped with an AR-HUD display screen that can project information such as speed, navigation, and lane assist onto the windshield, improving driving safety.

It is worth mentioning that the car also has a 12.3-inch screen integrated into the passenger sun visor, with its own Bluetooth channel, so it doesn’t interfere with the driver. This screen can be used for video playback, gaming, vehicle information, and more, allowing the passenger to enjoy the fun brought by technology. The car is also equipped with zero-gravity seats (optional), with the driver’s seat offering 16-way electric adjustment, as well as heating, ventilation, massage, and memory functions. The seat material and workmanship are also very good, providing great support and comfort. Additionally, the design of the seatbelt anchor points on the back of the passenger seat is innovative. Of course, a panoramic sunroof is definitely included, and the Deep Blue also comes with an electric sunshade, avoiding the embarrassment of a hot head in the summer. Highly commendable.

In terms of space, a tester with a height of 177 cm has plenty of room in the front seats, with 1 fist and 3 fingers worth of space leftover. In the rear seats, there is 2 fists of legroom and 1 fist of headroom. Additionally, there is ample storage space and a front trunk. The capacity of the rear trunk is 435L and it supports a 4/6 folding ratio. Overall, the interior design of the Deep Blue S7 is simple and stylish, full of technological appeal, and comes with rich features, giving people a sense of luxury.

The Deep Blue S7 will offer various powertrain options, including pure electric and range-extended versions. The pure electric version is equipped with a single motor, with maximum power of 160kW and 190kW respectively, and a range of 520km and 620km (CLTC condition). The range-extended version features a 1.5L naturally aspirated engine with a maximum power of 70kW, a peak power of 175kW for the electric motor, a pure electric range of 121km and 200km, fuel consumption of 4.95L/100km when consuming fuel, and a maximum comprehensive range of 1120km.

The model we test drove this time is the best-selling version, the 200Max range-extended version. Compared to the Pro version, the Max version comes with added comfort features such as an electric tailgate, ventilated and heated front seats, interior ambient lighting, intelligent scene recognition for the infotainment system, and a brand new 14-speaker sound system. It also provides a full set of L2-level driver assistance technology, making high-speed driving more comfortable and relaxed.

Whether it’s power, maneuverability, or comfort, the Deep Blue S7 performs at a high level. The acceleration performance of the Deep Blue S7 200Max version is excellent, with an official 0-100km/h acceleration time of 7.7 seconds, which is almost identical to the tested 7.9 seconds. Considering that this is an SUV weighing close to 2 tons, this performance is quite impressive. During acceleration, the electric motor provides a strong sense of push, giving drivers a certain amount of driving pleasure.

The handling of the Deep Blue S7 is also quite good, with accurate and responsive steering. The body remains stable and agile during turns, without significant body roll, providing a good sensory experience. In terms of comfort, there are some caveats. Due to the chassis tuning leaning towards comfort, the car absorbs shocks well when going over speed bumps and rough roads. However, the suspension calibration may be too soft, causing unnecessary bouncing in the rear when going over continuous uneven surfaces. In extreme cases, it may even result in a hopping sensation, affecting the comfort for rear passengers and their riding experience. In terms of sound insulation, despite the use of frameless windows, the interior sound insulation is still decent. The sound of the extender starting is almost inaudible, and wind and road noise are well controlled, giving a quiet driving and riding environment, which may be related to the double-layer laminated glass used.

Regarding the concern of many people about the lack of a dashboard being inconvenient, we also conducted an experience. Overall, because all models are equipped with AR-HUD, after a short period of adaptation, it can replace the dashboard in most scenarios and display basic information such as vehicle speed, while also integrating navigation and other functions. However, some car owners have also reported that the display effect may decrease significantly in strong sunlight or when wearing sunglasses. During our test drive, such weather conditions did not exist, so this situation did not occur and the specific performance in such conditions is unknown.

Overall, the Deep Blue S7 200Max Extended Range version is a mid-sized SUV that combines innovative technology and elegant design. It has a very handsome appearance and performs well in terms of vehicle configuration and driving experience among vehicles in the same price range. What’s even more important is its affordable price. For only 169,900 yuan, you can have an extended-range mid-sized SUV with a very high cost-performance ratio. If you are interested in new energy vehicles and want a mid-sized SUV with excellent performance, stylish design, and spacious interior, then the Deep Blue S7 is definitely a good choice.

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