The Deepal S05 is probably familiar to anyone following new-energy SUVs. Since its launch at the end of 2024, it has been Deepal's sales workhorse, with monthly sales frequently exceeding 10,000 units. In March this year, it climbed to over 16,000 units, and cumulative global deliveries have surpassed 250,000 units. In the 150,000-yuan-class pure electric SUV segment, its presence is indeed strong.
But strong sales don't mean there are no complaints. Open the owner forums, and there has been no shortage of gripes about the chassis—too much bouncing over speed bumps, floaty at highway speeds, excessive body roll in corners. These issues turned away quite a few people who had already been tempted.
Not long ago, the new Deepal S05 was officially launched, with five models priced at an official guide price of 119,900 to 151,900 yuan. This facelift clearly listened to the market's voice. Not only was the chassis given targeted upgrades, but the driver assistance, cabin, range, and space all received considerable adjustments.
Which upgrades are genuinely sincere? Where are there still compromises? Let's go through them one by one.
Chassis upgrade: This time they really took the advice
Let's start with the area with the biggest changes—the chassis.
The new model comes standard across the entire lineup with FSD variable damping shock absorbers + HRS hydraulic rebound buffer system, with a suspension structure of front MacPherson + rear five-link independent suspension.
What does this combination mean? In plain terms, the FSD shock absorbers can automatically adjust damping firmness based on road conditions. On rough roads, the damping softens to absorb vibrations more thoroughly; at highway speeds or through corners, the damping firms up for better support, so the body doesn't sway back and forth.
The HRS hydraulic rebound buffer system provides additional cushioning when the suspension compresses to the end of its travel, avoiding that "clunk" feeling of bottoming out.
Put into real-world scenarios: when going over speed bumps in your neighborhood, your rear no longer gets launched out of the seat; when changing lanes and overtaking at highway speeds, the body settles faster without that "boat-like" feel; body roll in mountain corners is also better controlled.
Honestly, this is one of the most valuable upgrades this time, and it's standard across all trims regardless of high or low spec. Compared to some cars that only give you generous equipment on the top trim, this is indeed much more substantial.
Driver assistance upgrade: LiDAR under 150,000 yuan, but there's a catch
Now let's talk about another high-interest point—driver assistance.
The new Deepal S05 introduced two LiDAR versions, equipped with Hesai 128-line LiDAR, 27 sensors in total across the vehicle, paired with dual Horizon J6M chips, supporting urban NOA, highway NOA, full-scenario roaming, and memory parking.
What does 128-line LiDAR mean? Currently, many cars on the market priced above 200,000 yuan still use 80-line or 128-line mechanical LiDAR, and the Deepal S05 LiDAR version uses the same spec product. Combined with the perceptual redundancy of 27 sensors, the driver assistance capability in complex urban road conditions indeed has solid backing.
But here's a controversial point many people care about: LiDAR is not standard across the entire lineup—only the two LiDAR versions have it. The entry-level 520 Smart Drive Edition and 520 Smart Premium Edition still use a conventional solution for driver assistance hardware, without LiDAR.
How to view this trade-off? Simply put, it's about cost. To make LiDAR standard across the lineup, the price would likely need to go up by 10,000-20,000 yuan. Deepal chose to let those willing to pay for driver assistance pay more, while those who don't want to spend that money aren't forced into it.
In terms of price, the 520 Smart Premium LiDAR Edition has a guide price of 141,900 yuan, with a limited-time discounted price of 134,900 yuan. Getting LiDAR + urban driver assistance for just over 130,000 yuan—compared horizontally with competitors in the same class, this price is indeed competitive.
If your daily commute involves complex road conditions, with urban traffic jams and highway ramp merges being the norm, spending the extra 12,000 yuan for the LiDAR version delivers a noticeably better experience. If you mainly drive in suburban areas or places with simple road conditions, the entry version's driver assistance is sufficient.
Cabin upgrade: Some pleasant surprises, some compromises
In terms of the cabin, the new Deepal S05's upgrades also fall into two tiers.
The LiDAR versions are equipped with a 3nm process chip (8678), and the infotainment smoothness, voice response speed, and multi-task switching all show noticeable improvement over the 8155 chip. Combined with the 15.6-inch 2.5K resolution sunflower screen (supporting left-right rotation) and 50-inch AR-HUD head-up display, daily navigation, reading lyrics, and switching apps are all very handy.
Non-LiDAR versions continue to use the 8155 chip.
Some might ask: Is the 8155 still sufficient in 2026? Honestly, for basic functions like daily navigation, listening to music, and voice control, it's not a big problem. But if you're used to running several apps simultaneously, or have high demands for infotainment smoothness, the 3nm chip experience is indeed a notch better.
This depends on individual needs—it's not a dealbreaker, but it can serve as a reference dimension when choosing a car.
Range + space: The practical essentials are all covered
For range, the new S05 offers two versions: 520km and 620km, with 3C ultra-fast charging standard across the lineup, taking 15 minutes to charge from 30% to 80%.
What does 3C ultra-fast charging mean? If there's a 3C charging station near your home or office, you can charge from 30% to 80% in the time it takes to eat lunch. For people who don't have home charging and mainly rely on public charging, this replenishment efficiency is quite friendly.
In terms of space, the 2880mm wheelbase is a class-above performance in the compact SUV segment. This figure directly translates to rear legroom—a person 1.8 meters tall sitting in the back still has two to three fists of distance from their knees to the front seats, without feeling cramped.
The trunk is 492L, the front trunk is 159L, and there are 37 storage spaces throughout the vehicle. For a weekend family camping trip, tents, folding chairs, snack bags, and a child's stroller can basically all fit. The front trunk can hold smelly items (like durian or seafood) without the smell drifting into the cabin.
However, one thing to mention upfront: the new Deepal S05 uses a frameless door design. It looks good, but at highway speeds, wind noise and tire noise will be more noticeable than traditional framed doors. For those with high NVH requirements, it's recommended to specifically drive a stretch of expressway during a test drive at the 4S dealership to feel it out.
How to choose among the 5 models?
After all these upgrades, when it comes to choosing:
520 Smart Drive Edition, guide price 119,900 yuan (limited-time discount 115,900 yuan): Entry version. Chassis, space, and range are the same as higher trims. No LiDAR and no 3nm chip. For those with limited budget but wanting this car, this is the one to look at.
520 Smart Premium Edition, guide price 129,900 yuan (limited-time discount 122,900 yuan): Adds some comfort features over the entry version. Sufficient for city commuting.
520 Smart Premium LiDAR Edition, guide price 141,900 yuan (limited-time discount 134,900 yuan): Has LiDAR + urban driver assistance + 3nm chip. This is the standout value pick after this upgrade. If you value driver assistance experience, this one deserves close attention.
620 Smart Premium Edition, guide price 139,900 yuan (limited-time discount 132,900 yuan): The 620km range version, suitable for those with long commutes or inconvenient charging conditions.
620 Smart Premium LiDAR Edition, guide price 151,900 yuan (limited-time discount 144,900 yuan): The version with both range and driver assistance maxed out. If your budget allows, go straight for it.
To sum up
The new Deepal S05's facelift this time—the chassis upgrade is a genuine response to feedback, and making FSD+HRS standard across the lineup itself says a lot about their attitude. On the driver assistance front, bringing LiDAR down to under 150,000 yuan is also sincere; it just wasn't made standard across the entire lineup, which is a trade-off.
With a starting price of 119,900 yuan, plus standard chassis upgrades across the lineup and good space performance, it still has a certain competitiveness in this price bracket.
Do you think spending an extra 12,000 yuan for the LiDAR version is worth it? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.
