Sleeping car: what surprised the Chinese crossover sports car
An updated version of the Changan CS75 Plus crossover has been brought to Russia, which should compete with the popular Chery and Geely models. Why do brand representatives call it a new generation model, why its motor got into the Guinness Book of Records and how the company's engineers overdid it in the search for comfort? The Izvestia correspondent found the answers during a test drive in the Caucasus.
Peripeteia of generations
In the Russian market, Changan has one of the widest assortment among Chinese brands: by the end of 2024, it includes 12 models, including seven crossovers at once. Among them, the CS75 Plus is the most affordable representative of the mid-size class.
Officially, the company calls the new CS75 Plus a model of the third generation, but in fact it is a restyling of the second, and this modernization crossover received in its home country in 2021. And since the fall of 2024 in China is sold already version of the fourth generation, which has changed much stronger, but we will appear hardly soon.
A key element of the CS75 Plus exterior is the new frameless grille, which designers were inspired by the tail of a whale when designing it
Distance between axles and overall dimensions of CS75 Plus with the change of generation have not changed, except that the length has grown by an imperceptible centimeter. The front has acquired a fashionable frameless grille, which is visually united with a redesigned bumper, and new diode lighting. The optics are united by a light "jumper" both at the front and rear.
The most noticeable difference is a new grille with a V-shaped pattern. Designers are said to have been inspired by the shape of the tail of a diving whale. Otherwise, the appearance of the car is rather typical for modern Chinese SUV, in a stream among the same cars CS75 Plus can hardly stand out. And in general, the new "seventy-fifth" looks less aggressive in comparison with its predecessor.
Difficulties of translation
The interior of Changan CS75 Plus has changed with restyling more strongly exterior, but kept continuity. Artificial leather is similar to natural leather, surprisingly soft and pleasant. On the front panel there is a digital panel combining two 12.3-inch screens: the system is fast, but in clear weather it is of no use as the screens glare.
The cabin features an articulated display of two 12.3-inch screens that glare in bright daylight
The positive side of the new CS75 Plus - "multimedia" has received Russification (the digital "dashboard" is still in English). Negative - the names of some icons in the main menu cause bewilderment. For example, the virtual button "Regional Media" hides the item of music playback via Bluetooth. If you click on the icon "Yilan", it opens a program for synchronizing multimedia with a smartphone. The item called "Continuous Duration" brings to mind the depth of space and the meaning of life. The item "Car Clutch" suddenly does not improve "holding", but refers to atmospheric illumination. The localization of the digital system needs refinement.
Modernization of the interior in CS75 Plus came out more design than ergonomically useful. The same block of buttons of quick access above the center console is still touch screen, including the button of "emergency".
It is great that the steering wheel is adjustable not only in height, but also in reach. Seats of the front row are not distinguished by the developed lateral support and are designed for saddlers with dense build and average height (seat cushion is short). Two passengers can be comfortably seated in the back thanks to a large legroom and the presence of a central armrest.
Invisible sports car
Now buyers of the crossover have a choice between power units. In the initial version remained 1.5-liter turbo four, which after reconfiguration received an increase in power and now produces 188 hp instead of 167 hp. In China in 2020, this motor won the prestigious China Heart award and entered the Guinness Book of Records, having worked almost 260 hours at 5500 rpm, which, according to the company's marketers, demonstrates its high reliability.
190 mm of ground clearance helps to cope with dirt roads. All-wheel drive, alas, is absent
A two-liter 226-horsepower turbo engine is available in the "top" configurations, which was equipped with the car on our test. Both engines are combined with a hydromechanical eight-speed "automatic" Aisin, known for its endurance. At the same time, there is still no all-wheel drive even on the PRC market: according to Chinese representatives of Changan, the 4×4 version will appear later, but not in this generation of CS75 Plus.
Against the background of the neighboring crossovers of other brands, whose power of motors rarely approaches to two hundred "horses", CS75 Plus pleases with its dynamics and sharp work of engine-transmission tandem (the manufacturer, however, does not indicate the official acceleration indicators). Parketnik shows itself like a "slipper" - an ordinary looking car, not attracting attention, but able to go fast. Provided that the driver is experienced and fearless enough. And here's why.
Suspension of CS75 Plus has undergone deep revision in comparison with the model of the last generation. At least, so stated the specialists of the brand from China. However, its unpleasant property was found out on country roads: if the cloth begins to go "waves", there is a longitudinal rocking of the car, which passes into resonance and forces to reduce speed. Thus rear passengers feel as if on a deck of the ship during a storm.
Brakes added troubles - after 15 minutes of active driving on picturesque and winding roads of Prielbrusie the left pedal fell to the floor. Together with appreciable rolls in corners, it is obvious that such running gear will not reveal the potential of a powerful motor. In city conditions, on the contrary, the suspension is so soft that will quickly turn passengers to sleep. Though engineers of Changan have overdone in search of comfort, the car allows to drive quickly on a dirt road.
Warming temperatures are expected
The Changan CS75 Plus is offered in three configurations, with the base version including almost all available options. More equipped, in addition to the engine 2.0, differ only in the presence of a double-layer windshield, an assistant to change lanes, a rain sensor, eight speakers of audio system instead of six, as well as the function of air ionization in the climate system. It is surprising, by the way, that the climate control in a medium-sized family crossover is only single-zone.
From winter options there is only heating of front seats and glass washer nozzles. Passengers of the second row will receive heating later, said specialists from Changan. In the future, the crossover is promised to have a heated windshield, but the Russians who bought CS75 Plus this winter will be left without such a useful function.
In the basic configuration CS75 Plus costs from 3.59 million rubles without taking into account special offers. In the "medium" - 3.79 million rubles. The top version will cost 3.85 million rubles
Standard equipment is already rich and includes diode headlights, electric front seat adjustments, ventilated driver's seat, panoramic roof, all-round vision system, adaptive cruise control, wireless charging for a smartphone and much more. Such a car costs from 3.59 million rubles. The most affordable version with a two-liter engine will cost 3.79 million rubles, and the top version will cost 3.95 million rubles.
On the Russian market on the same field with Changan CS75 Plus play, for example, popular Tiggo 8 Pro Max and Geely Atlas. In the top configuration, they cost the same 4 million rubles as the competitor from Changan, although they have an all-wheel drive system and are not inferior to it in terms of equipment, and in some respects even surpass it.
