CS75 defies the cheap stigma in buying Chinese
I’m going to start with something completely offbeat. I’d heard about this, but never first hand. Driving so many Chinese cars, I suppose it would happen to me soon enough…
Returning to another Chinese bakkie I was driving parked in a mall parking lot; some clown in an old Polo Classic yelled ‘stop buying cheap Chinese crap’ as he drove by. Then climbing out of this car in the village main road, another fellow getting into his buggered old Hilux asked how I could lower myself to drive Chinese cars.
This time I approached the guy. I accused him of being xenophobic. He was taken aback. Then I told him how hurt I was that he so slated my car before marching him over to the Changan and showing him around. We were buddies by the time he left. Wouldn’t be surprised if he’ll buy a Chinese bakkie next.
The cheap stigma in buying Chinese
So there’s definitely a growing cheap stigma to buying Chinese. But is it necessary to get nasty about it? This Changan CS75 Pro is just another perfect reason why not. First off, Changan goes 20 years back in South Africa. So it’s by no means just another China Come Lately upstart.
We’ve also been involved with the brand from the very outset. I drove among those first Chana paddy field bakkies down the incredible Tea Road from China through Pakistan on the brand’s grand launch adventure to Cape Town. We also had a hand in the Chana Challenge race series and far more, too.
It may have changed hands and rebranded to its full name by now, but Changan is certainly on the move again in this market. This bargain family mover is just one of the many arrows for its bow.
CX75 boasts a clean Italian design
Designed in Italy, the CS75 Pro steps away from that expected overbearing contemporary Chinese SUV ‘style’ to instead rely on cleaner, classic lines. 19-inch alloys enhance a planted stance. It doesn’t scream for attention. It rather just exudes a sophisticated, premium presence to wholly mask that budget tag.
Step aboard and you’re greeted by a surprisingly upmarket cabin in classic tan hue under a significant, airy power panoramic sunroof. A refreshing departure from that cheap sea of scratchy black plastic. It instead abounds in generous soft-touch dash materials from the seats all the way to the elbow rests.
The microfiber leather power pews are heated and ventilated up front. The sliding and reclining second row bench has a pull-down armrest with dual cupholders. And two small rearmost seats fold impressively into a cavernous and completely flat 620 litre boot floor. It reduces to a usable 230 litres with the seats out.
Sculpted CS75 cabin imperfect in execution
10.25-inch digital instrumentation is backed by 10.25-inch central infotainment. But it’s not perfect. Lacking real buttons for starters, one tends to bump the touch-sensitive climate panel just below when trying to operate the touch screen. So you inadvertently set something you least want off.
The system sadly also lacks CarPlay and Auto. There’s some unknown system in there to connect your phone. Good luck trying to figure that lot out! And just two USB ports up front and a single in the rear just doesn’t quite cut it a family seven seater.
CS75 however stars elsewhere. Changan’s 1.5-liter Blue Whale turbo four-pot for instance pumps a healthy 138 kW and 300 Nm through a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission to the front wheels. Look it’s no record breaker in a market where similar size lumps today make over 200 kW, but the engine is a highlight.
Punchy 1.5-litre Blue Whale
It takes a bit of effort to get rolling on part throttle, but it’s punchy and responsive on the move. Plant it and it pulls well; performance is impressive and overtaking easy. Even with a full complement aboard. Even better, fuel consumption too, breaks away from the thirsty Chinese tradition to deliver on that frugal 7.5 l/100 claim.
One area where CS75 lives up to its artless ancestry is in transmission refinement. We already hinted at its hesitant, all-or-nothing pull away. This launch failure starts with too much lag and switches directly to tyre burning madness before the TC steps in like a bucking bronco. It becomes more frustrating the thicker the stop-go traffic.
While it lolls about a bit too much, handling is surprisingly good thanks to a multi-link rear end. CS75 is manoeuvrable and steering light and effortless. But as dead as in any other Chinese car. Cabin insulation is another plus with minimal wind noise and tyre roar inside to contribute to that serene cruiser feel. But it hates speed bumps.
Impressive CS75 Pro has Cons too
Our CE was also fully loaded with every safety acronym from ACC to FCW, AEB and the rest. As well as an impressive and exceptionally sharp 360-degree camera system with an integrated driving recorder.
So yes, the Changan CS75 Pro 1.5T CE 7-seater has its Pros as much as it has Cons. But when you consider that all this premium kit and safety tech actually comes in at under five hundred grand, the penny drops.
A quick, efficient, practical and comfortable family cruiser, the CS75 however also suffers acute launch failure as much as it lacks connectivity and usable smartphone mirroring among its quirks.
So sure, it’s a compromise. But that’s probably worth every penny of the couple of hundred grand you’re going to save anyway. All while enjoying a hell of a lot more car than you’d normally expect for the price.
As we always say, what this Chinese car lacks, may well be less than the discount. There’s good reason you’re saving, but you need to scratch a little to learn why. So forget the stigma. Don’t ignore this car if you’re looking for proper value family versatility. – Michele Lupini
Images & data: Giordano Lupini
ROAD TESTED: Changan CS75 Pro 7 1.5DCT CE
Engine: 138 kW 300 Nm 1.5-litre turbo petrol I4
Drive: 8-speed automatic AWD
TESTED:
0-60 km/h: 3.66 sec
0-100 km/h: 8.12 sec
0-120 km/h: 11.34 sec
0-160 km/h: 30.85 sec
400m: 15.9 sec @ 143 km/h
80-120 km/h: 5.84 sec
120-160 km/h: 9.51 sec
CLAIMED:
VMax: 200 km/h
Fuel: 7.5 l/100 km
CO2: 177 g/km
Range: 735 km
Warranty/Service: 5y 150K/5Y 90K km
LIST PRICE: R449K
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