Changan UNI-S Review: Redefining the Luxury Crossover

By: Dylan Naidoo

Changan is a brand that has existed for a long time and has a long history making cars. The brand has existed since the 1860s but pivoted their focus as an automotive brand in the 1950s. Since then, Changan has grown into a juggernaut of a car manufacturer, representing China’s big four car brands, and now operate sub brands such as Deepal and Avatr. Along with this, Changan has major partnerships with Mazda and Ford, operating those brands under “Changan Mazda” and "Changan Ford” and building exclusive models for the Chinese market. With this much backing, it should come to no surprise that Changan has existed long enough in establishing themselves as a reputable brand, and this is further emphasised by the new Changan UNI-S in our review.

First Impressions and Design

The Changan UNI-S gives a bold first impression with its strikingly gorgeous appearance reminiscent of American car designs, giving the car a tough and “I’m quite capable” look, and it certainly is. The pattern on the grill is another great design choice, and, as always, I really appreciate a subdued and flowing design language, which is present in the UNI-S. The car is also quite big, a tad larger than many other crossovers at its price range and has quite a tall ground clearance offering the driver a great view of the road.

Inside the interior is truly the star of the show. If you are into the whole minimalist lifestyle, this car definitely has you covered. Also reminiscent of modern American car designs, the interior features a restrained cabin with a beautiful, burgundy colour scheme, with a large infotainment screen acting as the central hub for all of the car’s settings. It truly looks stunning and certainly gave me that “wow” factor when I first saw it. Overall, in terms of first impressions and design, the Changan UNI-S did not disappoint. It really made me understand how Changan is truly taking on the larger players in the market.

Technology and Engineering

The car features Changan’s tried and tested “BlueWhale” engine, a turbocharged 1.5l 4-cylinder petrol engine producing a very impressive 138kW of power and 300Nm of torque. The car also includes multiple driving modes, with the sport mode delivering quick power delivery that sometimes took us by surprise in many instances. As reported by Cars.co.za, the engine is paired with a 7-speed automatic dual-clutch transmission offering smooth shifting that you won’t even feel. The engine is also nice and quiet, surprising considering the power it outputs. The ride was excellent, with most instances having me forgetting I was even in the car. Also reported by Cars.co.za, the fuel economy is rated at 7.0L/100km, a very good result for its segment.

In terms of technology, the car is jam-packed with cool features. With its large infotainment system supporting wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, delivering impactful sound through the finely tuned speaker system, to the many cool driver assist features such as lane assist, blind spot indicators and not only a reverse camera, but side cameras that activate as you turn the car. Our model also had quite a large sunroof.

Interior and Spacing

The interior, as previously mentioned, looked gorgeous, and the car felt very premium on the inside. With no rattling or cheap feeling plastics to speak of, the car felt solid and capable. The seating was nice and soft, and paired with the excellent ride quality, gave a very memorable experience. Changan mentions that the seat is made from a microfibre that gives the car that comfortable feel, and I couldn’t agree more!

Space is also a huge plus. Both front and rear passengers are given a good amount of legroom, and the roof height can comfortably seat taller passengers. The boot is rated at a 475L capacity, and in both the figures and our experience, we found the boot to be quite large and spacious. As a whole, the interior and spacing is very solid!

Pricing and Overall Thoughts

Pricing of the Changan UNI-S starts at R389 900, with our trim at a price of R469 900. With everything that you are getting, the Changan UNI-S is a strong option in its segment, offering a great balance of speed, efficiency and technology bundled together in a great looking, cost-effective package.

The Changan UNI-S