The development race in the once calm home car market has accelerated. The number of new cars and the speed of model updates have both increased. Brand creation has also sped up. Car companies are seeking new market breakthroughs in the era of new energy. Changan Automobile exemplifies this trend. After its rebranding as a “new central enterprise,” it has taken frequent actions with unprecedented scale. Changan Qiyuan aims at the new energy market. Its name reflects its direction toward smart evolution. It represents Changan’s shift to the smart car era, responding swiftly. A highly anticipated small SUV has undergone a complete transformation. Today, we will experience the all-new Changan Qiyuan Q05. Appearance: A major makeover with a fresh image.
The new Changan Q05 looks different from any current Changan model. Its design has changed dramatically compared to the classic Q05. Klaus leads the design team. The Qiyuan brand continues to evolve with its “Fuguang Design Aesthetics.” Unlike many cars in this class that have rigid designs or overly flashy elements, this model balances style for all ages. Its updated appearance integrates technology and new energy more seamlessly.
The all-new Q05 features sharp lines and numerous facets on its front. The sporty design stands out. The car is fully electric and represents a new generation of vehicles. It retains the common closed front design typical of electric cars. The front has a slightly smiling appearance. The face remains simple. The bumper includes polygonal main light group trim. The lower surround features a trapezoidal air intake. This intake can open and close actively, enhancing its sporty feel.
The overall outline of the headlights is distinctive. The split design features a slender upper light eyebrow that extends to the end of the hood. The LED daytime running lights have long lines and a dot matrix light source. The lower part houses the main light group. This design creates a highly recognizable visual effect. The light source combines all-LED technology with a lens for both high and low beams, providing better illumination.
The new Q05 features a classic home design on the sides. It uses the four-wheel, four-corner ratio common in new energy vehicles to enhance space. This design does not compromise the car’s sporty feel. The smooth waistline extends from the front headlights to the taillights. The sharp lines at the bottom create a strong three-dimensional effect. The semi-hidden door handles and layered side skirts add to the sporty vibe. The dimensions are 4435 mm in length, 1855 mm in width, and 1600 mm in height. The wheelbase measures 2735 mm, providing a compact SUV experience in a small SUV size.
The rear design emphasizes sportiness. Strong lines shape a three-dimensional midsection. The rear bumper feels robust. The three-dimensional dual roof spoiler with brake lights adds flair. The smooth curve of the rear window enhances the sporty look. The upward-sweeping ducktail also contributes to the design. The sleek, blacked-out LED taillights have a sharp shape. Inside, they feature Changan’s signature bracket-style side lights. The central logo lights up, creating a distinct style from the front.
Our test car features five-spoke turbine-style wheels. The design looks sporty and aggressive, not like a typical new energy vehicle. The car uses Chaoyang brand RADIAL RP76+ tires, size 225/55R18. These tires emphasize comfort and offer clear value for money. Interior: Smart yet mainstream cabin.
The new Q05 interior follows a minimalist style. The design remains mainstream and does not emphasize innovation. It exudes a strong sense of new energy. The center console features layered, straight lines. The high-definition digital instrument panel and touch screen, commonly used in Changan vehicles, create a strong tech feel. For materials, the IP has soft plastic, fine leather, and metal accents. The extensive use of soft materials enhances the luxury feel. Although the car is affordable, it definitely has a high-end vibe.
The 10.17-inch full LCD instrument panel is narrow. The overall UI is simple and clean. It displays comprehensive vehicle data. However, the font is slightly small.
The steering wheel features a mainstream flat-bottom design. The central floating design and dual-tone colors add a sense of luxury not typical for this class. Functionally, it integrates quick multimedia and driving control hotkeys at the 3 and 9 o’clock positions. The buttons are large, making them easy to use while driving.
The 15.6-inch 2.5K floating central control screen features a horizontal layout. This screen comes standard across the entire lineup. Notably, it uses the advanced 4nm automotive-grade MT8676 cockpit chip, ensuring strong processing power. Its RAM reaches 24GB, allowing for smooth multitasking. Users experience consistent fluidity in operation.
The car’s UI design is mature. The bottom tray clearly divides functions. Users can quickly access the shortcut panel. The system includes many built-in apps. Besides basic online navigation, it offers Changan’s entertainment, multimedia, and gaming apps. Users can also download apps online. I particularly like the driver connectivity feature. It supports Apple CarPlay, Huawei HiCar, ICCOACarLife, and Honor Car Link. Any phone can connect without issues. The options are truly abundant.
The all-new Q05 features Changan’s own Tian Shu driving assistance system. The high-end version includes one LiDAR, eleven high-definition cameras, three millimeter-wave radars, and twelve ultrasonic radars. This setup enables navigation assistance in high-speed and urban elevated scenarios. It also has an auxiliary driving external prompt light. This driving assistance system aligns with mainstream high-end configurations and fits common scenarios for family cars.
Our test car has dual-zone automatic air conditioning. The air conditioning interface and controls integrate into the central screen. The interface is very simple. The Q05 also features an air purification system. It meets the demand for high air quality inside the car.
The traditional gear shift and lever are gone. In front of the armrest, there is a phone storage area with a non-slip mat. It features a fan and fast wireless charging. The armrest combines plastic panels, leather, and metal trim. Space: Passenger storage is not cramped at all!
The new car features ergonomic “SPA-level comfort seats.” These seats include a rare aviation headrest design for this class. The overall foam filling feels firm. The lateral support is effective, and the wrapping performance is impressive. The leather covering offers a nice touch and includes fine stitching to highlight its luxury style. Functionally, the front driver’s seat supports multiple electric adjustments. It also provides ventilation, heating, and an 8-point massage. The passenger seat even has an electric leg rest with a wide reclining angle, which is certainly above expectations.
The professional pure electric architecture provides a high axle length ratio. The second-row seats offer a comparable comfort and space. The Q05 seats differ slightly in design from the front seats. Overall, they remain very comfortable. Even the middle seat padding is decent, and it includes a small independent headrest. The raised section in the middle aisle is minimal, nearly negligible. Thus, larger passengers find the seating experience quite comfortable.
The rear features basic air conditioning vents, a Type-C charging port, and a small storage compartment. No additional features are provided. However, the central armrest folds down with a damped lock. This adds a touch of luxury unexpectedly.
The test drive car features a large panoramic sunroof. Its light area is standard for this type of sunroof. It includes an electric physical sunshade with a good light-blocking rate, which deserves praise. The storage capacity impresses with its exaggerated size. The central armrest, the armrest box, and the glove compartment in front of the passenger all have deep spaces. Each can fit a whole box of water bottles.
The electric trunk has a good opening size. It maintains excellent flatness and depth. The regular capacity reaches 540 liters. Notably, there is a large recessed storage space under the floor cover. The cover itself supports two height placements.
When you need maximum load, fold down the rear seats. This increases the trunk space to 1,380 liters. However, the folded seats create an angle with the floor. Be aware of this. Test drive: A more friendly electric power.
The Tian Shu architecture features a mature pure electric platform from Changan. The Changan Qiyuan Q05 was born from this platform. All versions use a single motor for drive. The motor delivers a maximum power of 120 kW. For reference, the previous Changan Qiyuan Q05 Classic had a plug-in hybrid system with a 1.5L engine and a motor. It offered a pure electric range of 125 kilometers under CLTC conditions.
The power battery packs use cells from CATL. They offer two capacity options: 40.29 kWh and 51.91 kWh. The corresponding CLTC range is 405 km and 506 km. The fast and slow charging ports are integrated into the front fenders. Besides supercharging, they also support external discharging, expanding user scenarios.
After full electrification, the Q05 responds better during acceleration. The car feels lighter. This is a consistent advantage of pure electric compared to the classic hybrid version. The power system enhances low-speed responsiveness and boosts acceleration at mid to high speeds. Driving at high speeds feels effortless and relaxed.
The Q05 offers various driving modes. It even features AI self-learning. In comfort mode, the power output feels relaxed. This mode suits a calm driving style. However, if you press the accelerator, the vehicle responds with the power you want. In sport mode, the accelerator response becomes much sharper. Even slight pressure delivers stronger power. There is no significant difference between eco and sport modes at high speeds. The main difference lies in how quickly the vehicle responds to the accelerator. Overall performance remains the same.
The energy recovery intensity adjusts infinitely. You can switch it through the car’s options. In the weak setting, you barely feel any drag from energy recovery. The medium setting increases the deceleration feel. Releasing the accelerator pedal remains comfortable. In the strong setting, you notice a slight drag when you lift your foot, but it does not bring the car to a complete stop. This setup is friendly for most drivers.
The front MacPherson and rear torsion beam suspension is standard for this compact electric SUV. The FSD is rare. The suspension tuning is neutral overall. It performs well on smooth roads. It filters out small bumps effectively. On rough gravel roads, it absorbs excess vibrations well. It also handles quick impacts, like speed bumps, effectively. The quality feels solid.
The chassis quality upgrades enhance the vehicle’s NVH performance. The overall performance is commendable. The electric drive system’s current noise and the motor’s high-frequency whine are nearly undetectable. At high speeds, the wind noise from the chassis remains well controlled. However, tire noise still requires improvement. The tires are sensitive to road surfaces, and noise from large particles and rough concrete is noticeable.
The damping for returning to center adjusts smoothly. The all-new Q05 offers handling that is rare for an SUV. Its steering wheel has linear damping and just the right amount of return force. The overall feel is soft, enhancing the subjective driving experience. The layout of the battery also lowers the center of gravity and improves body control. In the past six months, consumers increasingly recognize pure electric vehicles. This trend puts pressure on hybrid cars. Users appreciate lower operating costs, convenient charging, and policy benefits for green plates. These factors drive the decision to buy electric. Sales and consumer feedback show that the mainstream market is rapidly moving toward electrification. The Q05’s steering is spot on. If you are looking for a reliable electric SUV in the 100,000 yuan (14040$) range, I recommend checking out the new Q05.