Deepal S05 facelift launches ahead of Australian arrival

Australia will receive the newly refreshed version of the Deepal S05, similar to the one that has just launched globally in China, with local sales expected to begin in the second half of 2026. This will mark the Deepal S05’s Australian sales launch.

Deepal Australia originally planned to introduce the compact SUV in late 2025, but pushed the launch back. Instead of getting the original version released in 2024, Australian buyers will receive the newly refreshed model that Changan, its parent company, has just unveiled.

The refreshed Deepal S05 comes with limited-time promotional pricing ranging from 115,900 yuan (about A$24,400) to 144,900 yuan (about A$30,500) in China.

The updated Deepal S05 is similar in dimensions to the BYD Atto 3 and Hyundai Tucson and will compete with the Atto 3, Geely EX5 and the MG S5 EV when it arrives Down Under.

Australian release date and variants for the Deepal S05

Deepal Australia has confirmed that physical validation Deepal S05 examples are already in Sydney undergoing extensive local testing, and the Australian Government approved the S05 for sale in February 2026.

The S05 will become Deepal Australia’s smallest SUV as it sits below the existing Deepal S07 mid-size SUV and Deepal E07 electric multitruck, and both these models are larger, more powerful and compete in different market segments.

Expected powertrain variants of the Deepal S05

Government approval documents show Australia will receive:

• Single-motor rear-wheel drive EV producing 200kW and 320Nm
• Dual-motor all-wheel drive EV producing 320kW

A range-extender (EREV) version is also sold in China, although its availability in Australia remains unconfirmed.

Battery, charging, and performance

The Chinese-market Deepal S05 uses CATL lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries in two sizes, and the battery-electric versions support 3C fast charging, which allows 30% to 80% charging in 15 minutes or less. The single-motor version produces 200kW and accelerates from 0-100km/h in 6.28 seconds.

Exterior and design updates

The facelifted Deepal S05 adopts Deepal’s “Interstellar Wing” design theme. Its exterior changes include:

• New flowing silver exterior accents
• “Smart Wing” headlights
• Frameless doors
• Semi-hidden mechanical door handles
• New 18-inch wheels

Buyers can choose from four colours: Moonlight White, Flowing Silver, Sky Black, and Lunar Grey.

The Deepal S05 sits in the compact SUV segment, with dimensions that put it broadly in the same market as models such as the BYD Atto 3, Geely EX5 and MG S5 EV. The S05 is 4,620mm long, 1,900mm wide, 1,600mm tall, and has a wheelbase of 2,880mm, which means it has a long wheelbase paired with relatively short front and rear overhangs.

Interior features and technology upgrades

The cabin gains several technology upgrades, and the highlights include:

• 15.6-inch 2.5K rotating Sunflower Screen, which swivels up to 15 degrees left or right
• 50-inch augmented reality head-up display with adjustable layouts for navigation, mini maps and song lyrics
• 3nm automotive-grade processor
• Deepal OS 4.2

Storage also improves, with 37 storage locations provided throughout the cabin, a 492-litre rear boot and a 159-litre front storage or frunk. It also comes with an optional 18-speaker 7.1.4 surround sound system that delivers up to 1,280W of power.

Safety and driver assistance features

The updated S05 introduces a much more advanced sensor package, and it includes:

• One LiDAR sensor
• 3 millimetre-wave radars
• 12 ultrasonic radars
• 11 HD cameras, including two 8-megapixel front cameras

Two Horizon J6M processors provide 256 TOPS (trillions of operations per second) of computing power, and the system supports more than 90 assisted-driving functions across city driving, highways and parking.