Here it is, the new Changan Uni-S 1.5T in CE spec for just R469 900. And we can confirm it is a lot of car for the money. Genuinely, a full-size family SUV with all the premium bells and whistles for less than R500k. Okay, you’ve got our attention …
Next, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so your automotive equivalent of handsome might be something different to ours. But we reckon the Changan Uni-S 1.5T CE is one of the best-looking new SUVs on sale in South Africa currently. Seriously, it has a commanding presence on the road. This comes courtesy of that wide grille and sharply detailed LED lights front and rear. And don’t forget the 19-inch alloys that fill the wheel arches convincingly.
CHANGAN UNI-S 1.5T CE REVIEW
Right oh, so passers-by will need a chiro appointment if they spend any more time swivelling their heads at the Changan Uni-S. But how well does the keenly priced SUV go down a road? Well, from behind the wheel, there is little hardship to be found in the comfort of this climate-controlled, semi-autonomous SUV.
It’s not exactly bank-vault quiet, due to the at times uncultured murmur from the 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine. However, 138 kW and 300 Nm of torque means its performance is at least sprightly. Try zero to 100 km/h claims in the 8.5-second range. However, at the same time, a hat must be doffed to the Changan Uni-S interior. For sub-R500k remember, it is minimalist, tech-laden and brilliantly put together. Twin high-definition digital screens mesh seamlessly with the cabin’s horizontal lines. A great place to spend time.
LESS COMPLICATED THAN MOST
A typical trait of this era of Chinese vehicles is over-complication of most basic functions. However, the Changan Uni-S 1.5T CE cleverly takes a less-is-more approach instead. There’s actually very little the driver can override from the helm. There’s no manual control over the gearbox. No explicit controls to turn the headlamps on or off. You cannot even check the fuel economy while on the move (it displays only a lifetime figure at the end of every drive). This feature – or lack thereof – might grate at times. But after a while it simply forces you to relax and forget about the minutia.
Instead, you revel in what a large family SUV it is compared to the others in this segment. And yet, it’s innovative in its practicality, thanks to a host of different storage spaces, like the floating centre console with wireless charging. The boot offers 475 litres of storage space, expanded to a massive 1 450-litres plus with the 60/40 split rear seats folded flat. That’s more than enough to do the active-lifestyle thing with bicycles, surfboards, etc …
HOW DOES THE CHANGAN UNI-S STACK UP?
Its turbocharged 1.5-litre engine is responsive enough under foot, if a bit too ‘there’ for a smooth drive. The gearbox loves to hunt up and down the ratios, when it could just as easily settle and pull from low in a single gear. As mentioned, there is no way to manually override the dual-clutch transmission. So that’s a level of driver control we’d like to see added in future. Plus, its semi-autonomous adaptive cruise control does a fair, if somewhat reluctant, job of keeping pacing with the cars around. Once again, still a cool feature for less than R500k.
To avoid the over-speeding sensation of Sport mode, we defaulted to the less-stressed realm of Eco. Here the Changan Uni-S 1.5T’s power delivery is more measured, with a lifetime fuel consumption claim within the 7.0 to 8.0 l/100 km range. Once again, we’re just used to keeping track of such a figure per trip, so we’d like to see that added to future models. It has ample ground clearance of 176 mm, so it easily sidesteps the more severe potholes exposed by Cape Town’s extreme weather. And on a winding slice of bitumen, it carries itself with surprising alacrity. Of course, there’s multi-link rear suspension doing its thing, and a well-oiled steering feel to egg the driver on.
CHANGAN UNI-S VERDICT
Not knowing what to really expect from the new Changan Uni-S 1.5T CE allowed us to approach the review in a totally unbiased fashion. While not perfect, we came away thoroughly impressed by this handsome new family SUV. Most especially by the thoroughly premium interior in the top-spec offering. Handsomely styled, spacious and practical, it boasts a lot of ticks in the win column. The best one being an affordable asking price below the psychological R500k mark.
THE FIGURES
- Engine: 1.5-litre turbo petrol
- Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto
- Power: 138 kW
- Torque: 300 Nm
- 0-100 km/h: 8.50 seconds
- Fuel consumption: 7.5 l/100 km (claimed/combined)
- Price: R469 900
