MOTORING life by Christopher Tan
The Deepal S07 is replete with warning beeps and messages
Studies have shown that nagging is largely ineffective. Often, it is even counterproductive. But you do not need a psychologist to tell you that.
Then, why do carmakers – especially Chinese ones – equip their vehicles with features which I collectively call “nagging devices”?
Go over a speed limit by just a tad, a chime goes off. Get too close to a white line, another bell rings. Glance at the infotainment screen a split second too long, another ding comes on. Negotiate a tight multi-storey carpark ramp, and you have a percussion band going.
Some reminders are rightly called for. The seatbelt warning, which gets increasingly loud and intolerable, is one. Another which detects driver fatigue is a good thing, although it can have false readings if the driver has droopy eyelids.
A couple of Chinese brands have pared down these nagging devices. But not Deepal.
The newcomer’s first model, the S07 electric sport utility vehicle (SUV), is replete with them. On one occasion, its speed warning keeps sounding because the system mistakes a 70kmh limit for 40kmh.
The model is also equipped with human/pet detection, which blasts the car’s horn should you lock the doors with Rocky or granny still in the back seat. In the test car, which is said to be a pre-production unit, the detector is a little wonky.
The car’s infotainment touchscreen will also flash a small-print message telling you not to open the door should it detect another vehicle approaching. A little strange, since most people will not be looking at the screen when they are about to exit a car.
These aside, the rear-wheeldrive S07 is quite a competent and pleasing car. First off, it has a sporty missilhouette. In fact, measuring 4,750mm long, 1,930mm wide and 1,625mm tall with a 165mm ground clearance, it is a tad too sporty and low-slung to fit the SUV bill.
That also means it is easy to get in and out of the car. Contributing to this is a relatively long wheelbase of 2,900mm, which makes for a spacious cabin. This is evident for rear passengers. Besides plenty of stretching room, these occupants have access to switches which control air-conditioning blower speed and the left front seat’s position.
All occupants have access to a glass roof which spans almost the entire ceiling. This comes with a sunshade, which can be controlled by voice.
Voice control works well in the car. A virtual assistant with a chirpy voice greets you with a range of upbeat phrases each time you get behind the wheel, while the car’s 15.6-inch infotainment touchscreen automatically pivots towards you.
The cabin feels decidedly premium, with fit and finish that will outshine that of several other cars, including those from branded European marques. But compared with fellow Chinese brands, the Deepal is not extraordinarily well equipped.
On the go, the S07 is accomplished but not outstanding. Its performance is adequate, with acceleration often appearing quicker than its 7.9-second century sprint suggests. This restraint translates to commendable power consumption, with the test car averaging 18.5kWh/100km. This includes power used up for non-driving tasks.
This is better than Deepal’s declared 19kWh/100km. Based on its 80kWh battery, the car should offer a range of just over 430km if driven in Singapore. A non-stop drive to Kuala Lumpur is feasible if you hover around the highway limit of 110kmh.
The S07’s 445-litre boot and 125- litre frunk offer enough luggage space for a family driving holiday. But carrying bulkier items will not be possible without collapsing at least one rear seat. The journey will be comfortable, given the car’s pliant suspension and measured brake recuperation (an uncommon combo among electric cars).
The mid-sized carrier is agile and well suited to a built-up city like Singapore. Once you learn to ignore its nagging, it is not an overly difficult car to live with. Its particulate filter-equipped air-con is powerful, although I would have preferred physical controls instead of the screen-based ones. Ditto the wipers.
In closing, I would like to say something in defence of nagging, which – if you come to think of it – is a sign of caring. In which case, will the decision to buy the S07 be based on how Deepal is your love? Corny, I know. But so is the name Deepal. While that may be an Indian name, it is, in this case, a corrupted version of “deep blue”, which is a translation of the Changan Automobile-owned company’s previous name Shenlan. And using Deep Blue might pose an issue, as that is the name of a chess-playing supercomputer from IBM.
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Source: [The Straits Times] © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction.