Deepal S05

The S05 PLUS wears Deepal's clean, modern EV design — a closed aerodynamic nose, full-width LED "Star Wing" through-taillights, frameless door windows and a fastback-influenced roofline that gives it a more athletic stance than most boxy SUVs in this class. At 4,620 mm long on a 2,880 mm wheelbase, it's right-sized for Nepal: substantial enough to seat five in comfort, but manageable in the tight lanes of older Kathmandu neighbourhoods.

The PLUS gets LED daytime running lights, auto on/off LED headlights, heated and auto-folding mirrors, a rear spoiler with high-mount brake light, and a rain sensor. It uses conventional door handles and a fixed roof — tidy and well-finished, just without the panoramic glass roof and flush electric handles that mark out the MAX. There's no power tailgate on this grade either.

Inside, build quality is a genuine strength for the price. Perforated synthetic leather seats, soft-touch surfaces on the main contact points, and a minimalist dash built around the floating 15.4-inch screen all feel a class above the Rs. 53.99 Lakh sticker. Panel fit is consistent and the doors shut with reassuring weight.

The S05 PLUS is fully electric, and its powertrain is the headline of the value story — because it's identical to the much pricier MAX. A single rear-mounted Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor makes 99 kW (134 PS) and 320 Nm, driving the rear wheels. The 134 PS figure sounds modest, but all 320 Nm of torque arrives instantly from a standstill, so the PLUS feels brisk and responsive exactly where it matters — the stop-start crawl of Kathmandu traffic.

The rear-wheel-drive layout is a rarity at this price and gives the PLUS better weight balance and a more natural steering feel than the nose-heavy front-wheel-drive EVs it competes against. The trade-off is that RWD asks for a little more care on steep, wet hill starts during monsoon, but traction control and hill-hold manage this well.

Power comes from a 56.1 kWh LFP battery — a chemistry chosen for durability and thermal safety over outright density, which suits Nepal's mix of city heat and high-altitude cold. There is no faster version of the S05: the PLUS performs identically to the MAX.

The PLUS rides on McPherson strut front and multi-link independent rear suspension, tuned for comfort over sharpness — the right call for Nepal. Over Kathmandu's broken tarmac, speed breakers and potholes, it absorbs the worst without crashing through, and the long 2,880 mm wheelbase keeps the ride settled rather than fidgety.

On the open highway toward Pokhara, the PLUS comes alive. The low-mounted battery gives a planted, stable feel through the long sweepers of the Prithvi Highway, and the rear-drive balance keeps the steering light and accurate. Body roll is well controlled for a tall SUV, and the cabin stays impressively quiet at cruising speed.

Kathmandu to Pokhara — the real-world drive

The roughly 200 km Kathmandu–Pokhara route is the benchmark every Nepali EV buyer cares about, and the PLUS's 470 km NEDC range handles it comfortably on a single charge with margin to spare, even allowing for AC use and elevation changes. The regenerative braking is a quiet hero on the long descents toward Pokhara, recovering energy on the way down so you arrive with more charge than a pure distance estimate suggests.

If you do arrive low, the 151.5 kW DC fast charging takes you from 30% to 80% in around 15 minutes — about a tea-and-momo stop at a highway pit. And the 6 kW V2L lets you run camping gear, lights or appliances straight from the car at a Pokhara lakeside stay. Note that the PLUS does without the ventilated seats and head-up display of the MAX, which are the touches that make the longest drives a little more comfortable.

The PLUS uses ventilated front discs and solid rear discs, backed by ABS, EBD and brake assist. It stops confidently, and the blended regenerative braking is smooth and natural — no grabbing or artificial feel. You can lean on regen for one-pedal-style city driving, which extends range and reduces brake wear.

Suspension is McPherson strut front and multi-link independent rear — a comfort-biased balance that genuinely suits Nepal: compliant for rough city surfaces yet controlled on the highway. Electronic stability programme, traction control, hill-hold and hill-descent control are all standard, which is reassuring on the steep, sometimes-slippery gradients of routes like the Mugling–Pokhara stretch.

For an EV, "mileage" means range and running cost — and the PLUS shares the range champion's hardware. The 56.1 kWh LFP battery delivers 470 km on the NEDC cycle. NEDC figures run optimistic, so plan around a sensible lower real-world number; even so, the PLUS covers several days of Kathmandu commuting on one charge, or a one-shot Pokhara run.

The running-cost advantage over a petrol SUV is dramatic — home charging on a 7 kW AC supply costs a fraction of fuel per kilometre, and LFP chemistry tolerates frequent charging and holds capacity well over the years.

Note: the S05's range is quoted on the NEDC cycle (470 km), which reads higher than the WLTP figures some rivals advertise for the same battery. Compare like-for-like.

The PLUS centres on a 15.4-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, navigation, WiFi hotspot, 4G/5G connectivity, smart-app control and intelligent voice control (2 zones). It also gets keyless smart entry, a multi-function tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel, automatic A/C with rear vents and a PM2.5 filter, an 8-speaker audio system, and USB-A and USB-C ports.

What the PLUS does without — and where the MAX pulls ahead — is the AR head-up display, the 14-speaker upgrade, the 50W wireless charger, 64-colour ambient lighting, auto-dimming mirror, online entertainment apps, OTA updates and mobile-app remote control. None of these affect the core driving or media experience, which is why the PLUS still feels modern and well-equipped. But if those premium-tech touches matter to you, that's the case for stepping up to MAX.

The PLUS is a sensible family SUV underneath. The 2,880 mm wheelbase gives genuinely good rear-seat legroom for two adults (three at a squeeze), and the flat floor from the dedicated EV platform means the middle passenger isn't straddling a tunnel. The 60:40 split-folding rear seat adds cargo flexibility, and there's a useful 159-litre front trunk for storing charging cables out of the main boot.

The PLUS does without the MAX's power tailgate, so loading is manual, and the panoramic roof is absent. Cabin storage — door bins, console, cupholders — is well thought out, and the RWD layout with decent clearance handles typical urban and highway conditions fine, though rough off-tarmac tracks call for care with any low-battery EV.

EVs win decisively on maintenance, and the PLUS is no exception. With no engine oil, spark plugs, timing belts, fuel filters or exhaust, routine servicing is far cheaper and less frequent than a petrol SUV. Main wear items are tyres, brake fluid, cabin filter and the AC system — and since regen does much of the slowing, brake pads last longer too.

In Nepal the S05 is backed by MAW Vriddhi, Changan's official distributor, for sales and after-sales. Confirm the exact battery and vehicle warranty terms with the dealer at purchase. (Specific warranty duration and service intervals were not published on the official spec sheet at the time of writing — verify with the showroom before relying on exact figures.)

At Rs. 53.99 Lakh, the S05 PLUS is the value champion of the range. You get the full 470 km range, 151.5 kW fast charging, the RWD chassis and the 15.4-inch tech suite — nothing held back on the parts that matter mechanically — for Rs. 6 Lakh less than the MAX. The only things you give up are comfort and safety extras (curtain airbags, blind-spot ADAS, panoramic roof, HUD, ventilated seats, bigger audio).

How it compares to rivals

In Nepal, the S05 PLUS competes with the BYD Atto 3, MG ZS EV and other Chinese electric SUVs in the Rs. 45–55 Lakh band. Its standout advantages are the rear-wheel-drive chassis (most rivals are front-wheel drive), strong 151.5 kW DC fast charging (faster than several competitors), and a strong feature-per-rupee count for the price. Rivals like the Atto 3 counter with a more established service network and brand familiarity in Nepal. On range, the PLUS's 470 km NEDC figure is competitive — just remember it's a more generous cycle than WLTP, so compare carefully.

Pros

• Same powertrain, 470 km range and 151.5 kW fast charging as the top MAX, for Rs. 6 Lakh less
• Rear-wheel-drive chassis — more balanced and engaging than FWD rivals
• 15.4-inch touchscreen with wireless CarPlay & Android Auto
• 360° camera with transparent chassis view, standard
• 159L frunk plus 60:40 folding rear seats
• Strong perceived build quality for the price
• LFP battery: durable and thermally safe

Cons

• No side curtain airbags (front + front-side only); no blind-spot ADAS suite
• No panoramic roof, head-up display, wireless charger or ventilated seats
• 8 speakers and 3 colour choices only
• No OTA updates or mobile-app remote control
• Real-world range will be below the optimistic NEDC figure
• Changan/Deepal service network in Nepal is newer than some rivals — verify support and warranty

The Deepal S05 PLUS is the value-buyer's electric SUV in Nepal for 2026. Because it shares its motor, battery, range and chassis with the flagship MAX, it gives up nothing in how it drives or how far it goes — yet it costs Rs. 6 Lakh less. You still get the genuinely usable 470 km range, properly fast 151.5 kW charging, the balanced rear-wheel-drive feel and the 15.4-inch tech suite, all for Rs. 53.99 Lakh.

The PLUS makes most sense if you want a modern, well-equipped EV and don't need the MAX's comfort-and-safety upgrades. If side curtain airbags and the full blind-spot ADAS suite are priorities for you, look at the MAX — but if you're focused on range, charging and value, the PLUS is one of the smartest electric SUV buys in its price bracket. Just confirm the warranty terms with MAW Vriddhi before you sign.