Changan Deepal S07 vs Polestar 4

Chinese value vs Scandinavian premium: Who will win?

Another Chinese contender enters the ring.

But with the influx of Chinese EVs over the past couple of years – from BYD to OMODA, Leapmotor to Geely – the UK market is becoming quite the battleground.

But this time, we're putting one up against a brand you'll actually recognise, to see if they really are as good as they seem.

First up, we have the Changan Deepal S07.

Here's the twist though: this isn't your typical Chinese EV. It's Italian-designed, and manufactured right here in the UK (Birmingham to be exact).

And Polestar? Well, they're owned by Geely – the Chinese brand we literally just mentioned – but born and bred in Sweden, with that unmistakable Scandinavian design DNA to prove it.

What started as Volvo's performance division has since broken away to become its own premium electric brand.

So, what happens when you pit the two coupé-SUVs against each other?

The Polestar 4 is nearly double the price of the Deepal S07. But is price everything? Can affordable be better?

Let's find out.

Changan Deepal S07

While a new name in the UK, Changan aren’t a new brand.

Founded in 1862 as a military supply factory in Shanghai, they moved into automobile production in 1959 and released their first passenger car in 1984. They've been at it for a while.

The Deepal S07 is a coupé-SUV designed in Italy and manufactured right here in England. And while the similarities with the Tesla Model Y are hard to ignore, the Deepal S07 comes in at a significantly lower price point.

But you still get a lot in this package.

There's one spec, and it's well loaded: heated and ventilated seats, a 14-speaker sound system with headrest speakers, a 40W wireless fast charger, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, adaptive cruise control, and 64-colour ambient lighting.

Oh, and those five colour options? None of them will cost you a penny extra.

Step inside and it's not your normal cabin.

Light, bright and airy – thanks to the panoramic sunroof – and, despite the price point, everything looks and feels premium.

But look at the steering wheel and you might notice something's missing.

There's no driver's display.

A staple we'd grown to love, but Changan have replaced it with something far more techy: an AR head-up display that projects all your information onto the road ahead. No more looking down to check your speed.

There's also a 15.6-inch infotainment screen that rotates to face whoever's using it. A bit gimmicky? Maybe. But genuinely useful when the sun's glare kicks in.

One thing to note – and we dread to admit it as car aficionados – we did get stuck in the car momentarily. There are no door handles inside, just buttons. Minimalism taken seriously.

Storage is good throughout, with cupholders front and rear. The boot comes in at 510 litres, and there's even a 125-litre front boot under the bonnet – that's a genuinely useful size, and not something all rivals can offer.

The drive is smooth as butter, with up to 295 miles of range (WLTP Comb) and a heat pump as standard to keep efficiency up.

Not groundbreaking stuff with the range, but more than enough for most people's weekly driving.

And at £39,990, it's hard to argue with what's on offer.

The trade-offs?

The Changan Deepal S07 isn’t without its quirks, though. Here are some things to consider:

• Range of 295 miles (WLTP Comb) trails similarly priced rivals like the Kia EV3
• Voice control needs improvement
• No door handles takes some getting used to
• AR head-up display divides opinion – not everyone will love it

Polestar 4

What started as Volvo's performance division is now very much its own brand.

Born in Sweden, the Scandinavian DNA runs through its veins – and you can see it in every design decision.

Once again, it’s a coupé-SUV. After all, this is the battle of the coupé-SUVs.

But the Polestar 4 truly stands out from the crowd. It's sporty and sleek, with flush door handles, those signature 'Thor's hammer' headlights, and a full-width rear light bar. It turns heads in a way that feels effortless rather than try-hard.

Step inside and its Scandinavian minimalism meets sustainability.

A 15.4-inch infotainment screen dominates the dashboard, high-quality sustainable materials are used throughout, and solar system-inspired lighting sets the mood. There's even a CleanZone air filtration system – perfect for hayfever sufferers.

There are more physical buttons than previous Polestar models too, which is a welcome sight. Polestar has clearly listened to feedback.

And instead of a traditional rear-view mirror, you get a rear-view camera displaying a live feed on a screen – giving you a wider field of view than a mirror ever could. It takes a little getting used to, but once you do, you won't look back.

Despite the sloping coupé roofline, headroom and legroom in the back are surprisingly generous.

The boot comes in at 526 litres – or 1,536 litres with the rear seats down – more than enough for the school run, working week and inevitable Ikea trip. The boot floor is even adjustable.

And there's a small frunk for keeping charging cables tucked away, ensuring the boot stays clutter-free.

Out on the road, the Polestar 4 delivers that instant EV responsiveness that makes electric driving so addictive.

It's refined, composed, and surprisingly engaging for an SUV – this is no school-run tank.

Range sits at up to 385 miles (WLTP Comb), with 200kW DC fast charging getting you from 10-80% in around 30 minutes. A heat pump comes as standard too, keeping efficiency up when the British weather does its worst.

At £60,000, it's a significant step up from the Deepal S07.

But spend five minutes with it and you'll see that the money has been well spent.

The trade-offs?

The Polestar 4 isn’t all sleek styling and Scandinavian charm, though. Here's what to consider:

• Premium price tag of £60,000 – nearly double the Deepal S07
• Regenerative braking is harsh until you adjust your driving style
• Lane-keeping assist can feel intrusive and occasionally overrides you
• Rear-view camera takes adjustment if you're used to a traditional mirror
• Shared steering wheel buttons make it easy to accidentally skip songs when adjusting mirrors

What’s the verdict?

But which one deserves a spot on your driveway? Let's break it down.

Price and value

There's no arguing the Deepal S07 is priced considerably lower than the Polestar 4 – yet you still get a serious amount of tech in both.

The Polestar does have sustainability credentials and nearly 100 miles more range, which for some will justify the price. But the Deepal S07 just about tips it. The amount of tech, space and premium feel you get for under £40k is hard to argue with.

Design

Both coupé-SUVs, but very different characters. Different auras, if you will.

The Polestar 4 wins on originality and road presence – you'd pick it out of a lineup.

The Deepal S07 has clearly drawn inspiration from the Model Y, and while it's an attractive package, it doesn't quite match the Polestar on originality.

Polestar takes this one.

Interior

Both are minimalism heaven, and both feel premium.

The Polestar edges it with its sustainability considerations and air filtration system.

But the Deepal punches seriously above its weight, offering as much – if not more – tech at a fraction of the price.

We'd call this one a tie, depending on your priorities.

Driving

This is where the price difference starts to show.

Both are smooth and refined, but the Polestar 4 is more engaging and composed at speed.

The Deepal gets a little fidgety on the motorway. So, Polestar wins here.

Range and charging

385 miles vs 295 miles – that's a significant gap.

And the Polestar charges quicker too. Both come with heat pumps as standard, which is a nice touch from both brands. But the Polestar 4 wins this one comfortably.

Although, at its price point, the Deepal S07 offers enough range to get by, and even chucks in a heat pump too.

Which coupé-SUV comes out on top?

The Polestar 4 edges it. But only just.

Superior range, sharper driving dynamics, and that unmistakable premium feel tip it over the line.

But don't write off the Deepal S07 – at £39,990, it makes a genuinely compelling case for itself. For the money, it's rather remarkable.