First drive: 4th-gen Changan CS55 Plus

Changan Philippines — under the stewardship of Inchcape Philippines — revealed silhouettes of three vehicles during a private event in December. Zigwheels Philippines suspects that one of those models is the fourth-generation CS55 Plus.

Recently, the publication — along with select motoring media outlets —  visited the marque's headquarters in Chongqing, China, that gave the opportunity to check out some of the manufacturer’s offerings. 

Catching the attention of the participants was the sport utility vehicle (SUV), which — when compared to the current version sold in the Philippines — looks strikingly modern. Not only did the author see the vehicle in the metal, but was also able to drive it on a closed, controlled track.

For those interested in how the fourth-gen Changan CS55 Plus fares, here are our thoughts:

Exterior

Outside, the latest iteration of the Changan CS55 Plus SUV wears a modern-looking fascia characterized by a honeycomb grille that has an overall clean appearance. A horizontal light bar sits at the top of the meshwork that is flanked by angular illumination positioned at the topmost corners of its front end.

At the lower portion of the vehicle’s fore is an elegant-looking garnish with horizontal slats. It reinforces the opulent look of the new Changan CS55 Plus, which leans more towards graceful minimalism.

On that note, the claddings found on its wheel arches and side sills are not too thick, signalling a thoughtful design intent that offers the automobile some level of protection to common touch points while maintaining a refined appearance.

Exterior appointments that share the same blacked-out treatment include the side mirrors with what seems to have integrated turn signals, pillars, and, of course, the front and rear bumpers.

It rides on a set of 19-inch two-tone wheels wrapped with 225/55 series tires.

At the back, it gets angular taillamps connected by a long horizontal light bar. At the bottom is a beefy bumper with a diffuser-like feature and two garhishes that resemble twin exhaust pipes topped by reflector-like appointments.

Rounding up the features at the rear is a roof-mounted spoiler with a third brake lamp in the middle. The said spoiler also looks segmented, which adds a dash of sportiness to the vehicle.

Overall, the fourth-generation Changan CS55 Plus looks leaps and bounds better than what might be the outgoing model. With such an appearance, people could mistake it for a hybrid or an electric model, but it is powered by an internal combustion engine, which we will get to in a few.

Other stories: ELECTRIA: Changan Hunter 4x4 Knight is crushing stigma around pickup trucks First drive: Radar RD6 Econ Changan Nevo Q05: efficiently speedy

Interior

The cabin of the new Changan CS55 Plus — at least the Chinese market model that we were allowed to play with — felt very comfortable and had just the right amount of technological amenities.

Facing the driver is a leather-wrapped steering wheel with multi-functional controls. For added convenience, the expansive center armrest, too, is finished with the same material.

As one would expect, the seats are upholstered in the same leather hide, and so are some portions of the door panels and dashboard.

Tech-wise, it gets two digital screens in the form of an instrument cluster and an infotainment system. The former measures 105 inches while the latter measures 14.6 inches.

The author noticed that there was no wireless charger on the model we tried, but a member of Changan’s Chinese team told the publication that if the SUV makes its way to Philippine shores, it could have wireless charging, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto.

In general, the cabin of the Changan CS55 Plus looks promising and could fit the needs of Filipino car buyers who are looking for vehicles that have a spacious interior as well as carry a host of features geared toward comfort while on the road.

Powertrain, chassis

Under the hood of the fourth-generation Chaangan CS55 Plus is a 1.5-liter gasoline engine mated to a seven-speed dual clutch transmission system.

Per Changan’s Chinese website, the front-engine, front-wheel drive SUV does about 182 horsepower and 310 Newton-meters of torque.

During our time behind the wheel, the above setup translated to smooth acceleration and linear power delivery. The writer drove it on a test track with a straightaway where it performed admirably well.

With the correspondent’s foot lightly stepping on the accelerator on a test road with a 60 kilometers per hour (kph) limit, the forward movement did not feel rushed, and the occupants of the SUV were not concerned by any sudden jerking.

The same can be said when driven on a test road with a 100 kph limit, with one’s foot stepping hard on the pedal. “Launch control-levels” of acceleration are not to be expected, and it could take a second to make “expressway-level” pace, but it keeps passengers comfortable even when doing its best to rush.

At one point, Zigwheels Philippines sat shotgun when the Philippine media delegation was taken to the Chongqing Xibu Automobile Proving Ground, where Changan tests its vehicles.

Even at speeds of 135 kph, the fourth-generation Changan CS5 Plus remained stable, with only a little noise penetrating the cabin.

Another observation we made was when entering tight spots — like toll plazas, for example — the SUV’s cameras on both sides of the mirrors activate automatically to make visible some blind spots.

Possible release date

We have a strong feeling that, like the Changan Eado Plus sedan, the fourth-generation CS55 Plus, too, will make it to the Philippines just in time for the Manila International Auto Show this year. 

Also read:

BYD Shark 6 DMO vs. Changan Nevo Hunter REEV

9th PIMS: Changan PH previews Hunter REEV

Changan Hunter REEV to be retailed in PH soon?

Connect with us through our various social media pages:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZigWheelsPhilippines

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zigwheelsph/

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zigwheels

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ZigWheelsPhilippines/