Changan CS75 2017 Review

The Changan CS75 is the newest midsize 4x4 that Changan offer. This is the sportiest midsize 4x4 Changan make with the CS35 following closely behind. I was welcomed into the showroom and was soon led to the car in question. Dressed in all black, she looked very clean and immediately a smile grew on my face. There's something about this car, even though it's not overly expensive and isn't the fastest 4x4 you'll find. It is very good looking and oozes cool. I jumped in and pressed the start/stop button, a smooth little rumble ensued.

Key Features:

Engine:             Turbocharged 1.8L / 2.0L 

Transmission:     6 speed automatic / 6 speed manual

Power:              155 BHP / 230 Nm

Top Speed:        180 km/h

Price:               AED 75,000 - 85,000

Exterior

Changan has done a superb job with the styling. The car looks sporty and modern with aggressive bonnet grills, a small spoiler and their iconic blue headlamps, it's certainly not for the “quiet’ type. The CS75 is very well proportioned and has a great stance, as well as some great lines throughout the bodywork. My only downside is the rims look a little small on the car and could do with being an inch or two larger. Nothing that can't be changed though. 

Interior and Safety

The cabin of the Changan CS75 is a very comfortable place to be. You get 5 large seats and plenty of legroom for all, and the boot will comfortably house a large dog and beach day supplies. The seats look and feel luxurious and the red stitching everywhere adds a splash of sportiness to the equation. The centre console is equipped with a 7 inch screen connected to a 6 speaker system, which I can assure you does not distort at high levels with Designer’s Panda playing. So it's pretty good. The only downside I could think of was the lack of Sat-Nav.

Lets get to the safety features of which there are a lot more than you would think. The CS75 passed the China New Car Assessment Program (C-NCAP) with flying colours, 59 out of 62 to be exact. This means, dual front airbags, front side airbags, side curtain airbags, every stability assist you can fit into a car, 6-way radar parking assist, a rear facing camera and blind spot assist. The CS75 also comes with cruise control and the steering wheel is packed with buttons allowing you to control the stereo volume, radio channels and cruise speeds. 

Also see: Emgrand GT Launch

Drive 

I'll be honest, I wasn't expecting a lot from the engine. A small 1.8L and I assumed a very small turbo, now I wasn't completely wrong. The CS75 doesnt get off line quickly by any means with lots of turbo lag from 1500-3000 rpm but when the turbo kicks in at around 3000-3500rpm it screams to 5500 rpm and it all happens fairly quickly. The car feels nimble, it certainly does not feel as big as it looks. The suspension provides a very comfortable ride and has very little body roll while cornering. The vehicle also comes stock with high performance tires which gift you as much grip as you need for daily driving. As for the steering, it's light and direct, everything you want from a 4x4. It just makes it easy and effortless. 

Verdict

I actually really like this car and feel like this is a big step forward for the mid size 4x4 market. Its packed with tech, comfortable, the engine is great and it doesn't drain through fuel. Best of all it's very reasonably priced. I’d give the Changan CS75 a well deserved 4/5. 

Check out Car Prices and Specs for Changan CS75 and Competitors  

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