Changan CS75 Pro Review - Quirky design at an affordable price!
- Dylan Naidoo
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
By: Dylan Naidoo
If there is one thing that I can say that separates Changan’s from other brands on the road, it comes down to their road presence. Bold, futuristic styles with surprisingly no universal design language across the range is a rather unique choice. Looking at their partnership with Mazda and Ford in China, many of the design elements I’ve noticed have begun to show up in their cars, and I think it's proving to make their cars look good. Grant Adlam and I got the opportunity to review Changan’s 7-seater family SUV, the CS75 Pro, and oh my did it wow us in more ways than just design.
Engineering & Technology
Before getting to the design, let's get some specifications out of the way. The CS75 Pro has a 1.5l turbocharged, 4-cylinder petrol engine capable of 138kW or power and 300nm of torque. In our testing, the Changan truly pulled considering its weight. On top of a rather efficient choice of engine, the car has multiple driving modes, including a sport mode, but just with our testing of the standard mode, the Changan proved decent. All trims of the CS75 Pro come in an automatic transmission only and achieve an estimated fuel efficiency of 7.5L/100km from a 55L fuel tank. Overall, I think the engine is decent. I’d like, however, to see Changan use their 2L turbo engine found in their Hunter K50 for this trim.
Changan continues to well-equip their cars, and the CS75 Pro is no different. In our highest trim, you got a 10.25inch infotainment screen using Changan’s proprietary “Car Auto” for controls. I do believe that Changan should continue to use CarPlay and Android Auto for their cars, but for what it is worth, the application does work decently. It is also wireless, which is also a nice touch. Other than that, you got the usual features for any new Chinese vehicles around this price point: keyless entry, 360-degree backup camera, panoramic sunroof, a slew of safety tech and a proper speaker set up. Air conditioning is great (although considering the weather recently, the heater is also quite lekker) and the speakers are loud, punchy yet contain detailed clarity. It’s well-equipped in the tech department, and for the price-point it is hitting, you are getting a decent number of features.
Design
The CS75 Pro truly stands out with its design. It really is a gorgeous-looking SUV, the design elements blend quite elegantly together, shaping together a rather handsome SUV with a bold road presence that suits its rather large nature. The SUV features 19-inch rims and a single-bar taillight design. Really, the design is a true highlight of the CS75 Pro.
Interior & Space
Changan once again proves to be quite competent with their interiors, showcasing a luxurious interior that truly is something else, especially at this price point. Our trim used the microfibre leather upholstery, making the seats comfortable and breathable. I do quite like the pattern Changan is going for here, and the microfibre leather feels quite premium. In fact, the interior in general feels very premium. Paired with good ride quality, ridding in the Changan CS75 Pro is great.
As for space, it is quite a large vehicle, so both headroom and legroom are more than enough. Although if you choose to use all seven seats, the end seats may be slightly cramped, but overall okay for this vehicle. According to David Taylor from Cars.co.za, Changan claims that the CS75 Pro has a 620L boot with the rear seats down, and 230L with the seats raised, which I think is okay.
Pricing and Overall Thoughts
The Changan does have a lot going for it considering the price tag. At just a starting price of R449,900, this car truly pulls above its weight. I will say though that competition is ramping up, especially with the Mitsubishi Destinator in this same segment at R489,900. The Changan CS75 Pro is, however, a pretty solid deal, and at the price point, undercuts its competitors.
