Deep Blue S7 Buying Guide Long-range extended version is the most worthwhile purchase, but the pure electric cost performance is not high

The Deep Blue S7 Long-range extended version is the best buy, but the pure electric version is not cost-effective

【PhoneAuto】On the evening of June 25th, the long-awaited Changan Shenlan S7 finally went on sale. Although more than a month has passed since the start of pre-orders, as the saying goes, good things come to those who wait. The starting price of 149,900 yuan is 20,000 yuan lower than the pre-order price of 169,900 yuan. This is partly due to the crazy competition in China’s new energy vehicle market and also reflects Changan Shenlan’s hope to create another hot-selling model for the Shenlan brand by making concessions on price.

Changan Shenlan S7

This time, Changan Shenlan has brought five models including two different power modes, hybrid and pure electric, to the market. Among them, the hybrid version includes three models: 121Pro, 121Max, and 200Max, with prices of 149,900 yuan, 159,900 yuan, and 169,900 yuan, respectively. The pure electric models are 520Max and 620Max, priced at 189,900 yuan and 202,900 yuan, respectively. So what are the differences between these different models? Which one is the most worth buying? Let PhoneAuto show you.

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Prices of different versions of Changan Shenlan S7

Before comparing and suggesting which version to buy, let’s first roughly understand this new car, the Changan Shenlan S7. From the appearance, it still adopts a similar design to the Shenlan SL03. The front face still uses a closed grille and split-type headlights, and the large ventilation grille is still retained below. Although it is an SUV, the car still has a good sense of sportiness when viewed from the side, and the frameless doors, together with the maximum 21-inch wheels, further enhance the vehicle’s appearance. In addition, the car also uses hidden door handles, and the 0.258Cd drag coefficient can make it more energy-efficient when driving at high speeds. The new car’s tail still retains the family features with the through-type taillights, and is also equipped with a diffuser and spoiler, which looks very imposing. In terms of size, the vehicle’s length, width, and height are 4750mm/1930mm/1625mm, and the wheelbase is 2900mm, positioning it as a mid-size SUV.

Changan Shenlan S7

Regarding the interior, Shenlan S7 adopts a similar approach to the Ideal L9, and is not equipped with common LCD instrument panels. Instead, it is equipped with an AR-HUD holographic augmented reality system, which can display common information such as speed and navigation on the front windshield. The vehicle is also equipped with a 15.6-inch large screen. Except for the entry-level model, this large screen can also support a maximum rotation of 15° to the left and right, to meet the needs of both the driver and the passenger. Of course, the vehicle can also be equipped with a 12.3-inch co-pilot screen. However, unlike ordinary vehicles placed on the center console, the co-pilot screen of Shenlan S7 is located above the makeup mirror, making it more convenient for passengers to watch while leaning on the seat.

Changan Shenlan S7 AR-HUD holographic augmented reality system

Changan Shenlan S7 co-pilot screen

Regarding the power system, the extended range version is composed of a 1.5L naturally aspirated engine and a single motor. The total power of the system is 175 kW, and the total torque is 320 N·m. The battery is equipped with a 18.99 kWh and a 31.73 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery, corresponding to a CLTC pure electric range of 121 km and 200 km, respectively. The pure electric version is equipped with a rear-mounted single motor, with two versions of 190 kW and 160 kW, and two different specifications of battery packs with 66.8 kWh and 79.97 kWh, corresponding to CLTC pure electric ranges of 520 km and 620 km, respectively, both with fast charging function.

After introducing the general situation of the vehicle, let’s start analyzing the differences of each version in detail. In the extended range version, the entry-level 121Pro extended range version costs 149,900 yuan, and the corresponding configuration is already quite good. LED headlights, 1.9 square meters panoramic sunroof, electric sun visors, etc. are all standard equipment. In terms of comfort, the main and co-pilot seats are electrically adjustable, the entire car has automatic air conditioning, 8155 car chip, Bluetooth/NFC smart car key, etc. are also provided. The above configurations are already relatively user-friendly in entry-level models of the same level. If your budget is really limited, it can be considered as a target.

If you choose to add another 10,000 yuan to upgrade to 121Max extended range version, the biggest difference is that it adds L2-level auxiliary driving functions. The version is equipped with up to 15 sensors, and can achieve a full range of auxiliary driving functions including integrated adaptive IACC, speed limit recognition (TSR), blind spot monitoring (BSD), lane change assistance (LCA), lane keeping assistance (LKA), lane departure warning (LDW), and front collision warning (FCW), which can greatly improve the safety of daily driving and make long-distance driving easier. In addition to the auxiliary driving function, the 10,000 yuan price increase can also bring many improvements in the driving experience, such as electric tailgate, front seat ventilation and heating, interior atmosphere lights, intelligent scene recognition of the car machine, and 14-brand speakers, etc. It can be said that this 10,000 yuan upgrade is definitely worth it.

The Max extended range version is equipped with L2-level auxiliary driving.

However, speaking of a relatively sufficient budget, the most recommended is still the 200Max extended range version, which costs 169,900 yuan. Compared with the 121Max extended range version, which costs 159,900 yuan, the money is mainly spent on the battery pack capacity. Although the configuration of the 121Max extended range version is already very good, it also has a drawback, that is, the 18.99kWh battery is still a bit small.

It is believed that those who purchase extended-range models actually use the vehicle as an electric car, with the range extender only used to avoid the hassle of charging for long-distance driving. However, the CLTC pure electric range of the 121Max extended-range version is only 121km, which is even worse than the 150km of the BYD Song PLUS DM-i Champion Edition, which was recently launched. Under the WLTC standard, which is closer to actual driving scenarios, the pure electric range of the 121Max extended-range version is only 90km. If you factor in the discount in range due to winter conditions and the impact of using air conditioning in the summer, the pure electric range will be further reduced and the pure electric driving experience will be greatly discounted.

Comparison of extended-range versions’ range

On the other hand, the pure electric range of the 200Max extended-range version is more sufficient, achieving 160km even under the WLTC standard. For daily commuting to work within a reasonable distance, you only need to charge once a week. At the same time, it can also meet the demand for weekend city tours with family in pure electric mode. For extended-range models, it is necessary to equip them with a large-capacity battery. Therefore, for a better driving experience, the long-range extended-range version should be the most worthwhile model to purchase. Of course, if you live close to your workplace, within a round trip distance of 10-15km, the 121Max extended-range version can indeed meet your needs for a week of pure electric driving.

Changan Blue S7

After discussing the extended-range version, let’s take a look at the pure electric versions, the 520Max and 620Max. In terms of configuration, the two models are the same as the Max extended-range version, with the main difference being the size of the battery. Although the 520Max has a smaller battery (66.8kWh) and shorter range (520km under CLTC), it has slightly stronger power (190kW), while the 620Max is equipped with a larger battery (79.97kWh) and longer range (620km under CLTC), but its power level is slightly lower.

The reason why the pure electric version of the car has a low cost-effectiveness is, on the one hand, compared with other domestic pure electric SUVs under brands such as the ZS EV and BYD Song PLUS, the Deep Blue S7 does not have a price advantage, and is even more expensive. On the other hand, even compared with its own extended-range version, the price of 189,900 yuan is 20,000 yuan more expensive than the long-range extended-range version. However, for most people, the pure electric range of the 200Max extended-range version is already sufficient for daily use scenarios, and even if oil is needed to generate electricity from time to time, the 20,000 yuan of fuel costs can be used for a long time. In addition, the extended-range version will not encounter the range anxiety problem of the pure electric version during long-distance driving, so the pure electric version of the Deep Blue S7 has no strong competitiveness both internally and compared with other models. Of course, considering that some cities no longer give green license plate indicators to extended-range models, in these places, the pure electric version of the Deep Blue S7 may still have some appeal to people who like this model.

The ZS EV extended-range version with a higher pure electric range

Overall, in the fiercely competitive domestic new energy SUV market today, facing the competition from a group of new players such as BYD Song PLUS, Haval Xilong, and Geely Galaxy L7, Changan Deep Blue S7 still relies on its extended-range power mode, which is outdated but practical, to attract some users. If you are interested in this new car but are hesitant about which version to choose, PhoneAuto still recommends the version priced at 169,900 yuan.

Of course, considering the “trick operation” of a 42,000 yuan price cut for the Deep Blue SL03 in the previous half year, who knows if Deep Blue will play it again on the S7. However, since the price of the extended-range version has already been fixed, the possibility and extent of its later price cuts should not be great, but the pure electric version may be different, and the possibility of improving product competitiveness through price cuts cannot be ruled out.

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