Changan CS35 Plus

Upon entering, you’ll notice its nice cabin layout that gives off an expensive sporty vibe. Its interior boasts spacious and generous amounts of leg and headrooms even in the second row. Its leather seats are also well-padded and supportive for entry-level standards. It comes with a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment display that is already dated. Unfortunately, it has no Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and other common features that most modern vehicles already have. It does, however, have wireless charging for added convenience. For its price, its interior surprisingly has an abundance of soft touch materials all around, ensuring that you and all your passengers are comfortable even on longer trips. Younger generation drivers will also enjoy the Luxe variant’s panoramic sunroof.

From the outside, it looks really good for an entry-level SUV. It has a two-tone exterior design that looks premium and assertive. Its facade slightly resembles that of the Honda HR-V’s. It has connected LED lights both at the front and at the rear. It also comes with uniquely-shaped LED DRLs, which gives this vehicle a nice flare, especially at night. 

Walking around this car, you’ll notice that it has a boxy-type architecture that looks durable, and to some extent, muscular. Its higher trim variant also comes with a power tailgate for easier loading and unloading of cargo. The Changan CS35 plus runs on 17-inch radial wheels. Overall, it measures 4,330 mm in length, 1,825 mm in width, and 1,660 mm in height and spans a wheelbase of 2,600 mm.

In terms of suspension, the Changan CS35 Plus utilizes a MacPherson Strut at the front and a Torsion Beam at the rear. This SUV is very light to maneuver, making it a great vehicle for newbie drivers. However, some might complain that its steering might be too light for their standards. Ultimately, this SUV offers responsiveness, good handling and road feel, as well as decent absorption of road bumps and other imperfections. That said, you and all your passengers will definitely enjoy bringing this vehicle during your grocery runs or night outs. 

Both variants of the Changan CS35 Plus are powered by a 1.4L turbocharged gasoline engine that produces a maximum power output of 160 hp and a maximum torque of 260 Nm. This line runs on 7-speed dual clutch transmission and utilizes a front-wheel drivetrain. It also offers three drive modes: Normal, Sport, and Eco.

For an entry-level crossover-type SUV, this runs smoothly on DCT. NVH suppression is also surprisingly impressive courtesy of its equipment of Changan’s ‘Deep Sea Silence Technology’. It is a reliable vehicle for daily city driving. Though, its fuel economy could still be improved moving forward. Additionally, it has enough power to run at high speeds on free-flowing highways.

One weakness of the Changan CS35 Plus is its short list of safety features. It only has a 6-airbag system, front collision warning, adaptive cruise control, and an autonomous emergency braking system for its brake setup. The Changan CS35 Plus utilizes discs for both front and rear braking. 

Taking its price point into consideration, the Changan CS35 is a practical and reliable choice for consumers who are searching for a budget-friendly SUV that is light to bring and is built for everyday use. It will be more competitive in the future if Changan addresses its current weak points.