The CS35 Plus is Changan’s subcompact SUV which is famous for its everyday usability and comfort. But how well does it drive?
If sub-compact SUV cars can melt your heart with ease, then Changan CS35 Plus is the kind of car that you will love driving. The 1.4 liter turbocharged engine might sound small but it ensures you get an amazing feel and driving quality while you are behind the wheel.
Exterior:
The exterior design of CS35 Plus is quite eye-catching. The CS35 Plus is a huge leap forward compared to the old CS35, adapting a completely new and dynamic design language. The front adopts a narrow strip front grille design and is connected with the polygonal headlights on both sides, matching the front bumper shape, making the new car look wider yet masculine. The three thin strips of chrome trim, including the front grille and front bumper, further add to the exquisiteness of the new CS35 Plus.
At the side, the CS35 Plus has an overall square-ish shape, the horizontal waist line and the square wheel arches highlight a good sense of style. The suspended roof design and new 18” star shaped rims also amplifies the look of the vehicle. The rear end features new connect tail lamps, chrome-plated trim around the bumper, skid plates, back wiper, roof spoiler and hidden tail pipe.
Interior:
The latest generations of Chinese cars are rapidly catching up with Western standards in terms of interior quality. About ten years ago, Chinese brand models wreaked of cheap plastics and were unremittingly dreary in design; the CS35 Plus is a great example of the latest, near-Western standards.
The interior is as impressive as the exterior, featuring a 3-color scheme (beige/ brown/ black) with leather seats, flat-bottomed multi-function steering wheel, panoramic sunroof, engine start stop button and 10.25 inch touchscreen multimedia infotainment system. It also features intelligent Tencent Car Connect System with integrated voice commands function, while all the functions of the vehicle including air-condition operations are controlled by touch panels. It is worthy mentioning that the steering wheel supports four-way adjustment, it is easy to find a comfortable sitting position, which is impossible for many other models in the same segment.
The seats are comfy enough and the front seats are fairly spacious as well. While the upholstery looks like leather, it's actually high-grade ‘pleather’ vinyl trim. More significantly, in press-on driving, the seats lack side support. There’s a good amount of knee room in the CS35's rear seats, and there's enough room to accommodate three adults for a short period of time.
In addition to the 7-inch LCD screen on the entry level model, the other models are equipped with a 10.25-inch (21:9)LCD screen. Interestingly, the built-in entertainment system is also different according to the configuration.
In addition, the central control screen does not have volume adjustment button, it is also weird, only driver can adjust the volume through the button on steering wheel.
Engine and Performance:
The new CS35 Plus gets powered by a Changan’s self developed Blue Core 1.4 litre turbo engine with a maximum output 158 HP and peak torque of up to 235Nm, mated to either a 7-speed DCT (Aisin) transmission.
We’ve decided to bring the CS35 Plus on a road trip to Baguio and all I can say is the performance of the car is quite up there. Sure, the DCT gearbox is quite clumsy but once you get going, it delivers an impressive power delivery. Steering feel is good, it’s tight and crisp when cornering up mountain roads and you can also configure your steering weight feel from “Normal” to “Sport” and “Comfort”. Sport was the best for me since it added a bit of weight.
Safety and Practicality:
On the safety forefront, the CS35 Plus gets airbags, traction control system, ESP body stability control system, ramp start assist system, tire pressure monitoring, etc. are standard for the whole system. The high-equipped models also have 360° panoramic image system, blind zone monitoring, parking sensor, cruise control and HCC for hill start assists.
The trunk is not as big as you might think. The official claim of the trunk space is 403 liters, in fact there are no more excess space after you put two or three suitcases unless you fold down the second row seats.
Verdict:
The Changan CS35 Plus has a good design both exterior styling and interior. The quality of the interior and high configuration level seems like it’s a good value for money car. We’ve been driving the CS35 Plus for a good couple days and all I can say is the CS35 Plus is an absolutely great contender for a 5-Seater crossover.
Mind you, when Changan Philippines offered us the CS35 Plus, we didn’t hesitate to plan and bring it to Baguio for a weekend. Though what got me thinking was, this particular car we had already had more than 100,000kms in the odometer and for a 1 year old car that has an equivalent of 5 years of usage, let me tell you the CS35 Plus performed incredibly well.
It is very seldom that car manufacturers lend out cars with high mileage, but in the case of Changan Philippines, they wanted us to see and experience first hand that their cars are built to last. It still felt brand spanking new. It corners really well, accelerates nicely and the comfort is just sublime. So, is the CS35 worth thinking about when buying a sub-compact SUV? HELL YEAH IT IS!
Price: Changan CS35 Plus 1.4 7DCT ₱999,000
Photo By: Glover Reselosa
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