Changan’s Deepal brand has put its S09 on sale in Saudi Arabia at SAR 199,999 including VAT. The six-seat range-extended SUV joins the Kingdom’s large-SUV segment through Almajdouie Motors.
How does the powertrain work?
The S09 is a range-extended electric vehicle, so its electric motors drive the wheels. Meanwhile, a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine works as a generator, producing electricity when the battery runs low. As a result, owners get more flexibility on longer trips without relying entirely on chargers.
Total system output reaches 485hp with 637Nm of torque, sent through all four wheels. Furthermore, Deepal quotes 0 to 100km/h in 5.9 seconds and a top speed of 205km/h. These figures are manufacturer estimates rather than independent results.
What range and charging does it offer?
A 40.18kWh lithium-iron-phosphate battery provides up to 171km of electric-only range on the WLTP cycle. Combined with the petrol generator, total range reaches 883km, again on WLTP. In addition, DC charging peaks at 117kW, and Deepal says a 30 to 80 percent top-up takes around 15 minutes.
Therefore, the format suits Saudi driving patterns. Many daily journeys in Riyadh, Jeddah or Al Khobar could run on battery power alone. Meanwhile, the generator covers intercity routes where charging remains patchy. Consequently, buyers get much of the electric experience without depending on public chargers for longer trips.
What is the cabin like?
At 5,205mm long with a 3,105mm wheelbase, the S09 sits firmly in the large-SUV class. Moreover, its 2+2+2 layout gives individual second-row seats across three rows.
The equipment list is generous. Specifically, it includes three large displays, a 43-inch augmented-reality head-up display and a 20-speaker audio system. Additionally, air suspension with continuously adjustable damping features on the specification sheet.
Where does the price sit?
At just under SAR 200,000, the S09 moves beyond the budget end of the Chinese SUV market. Instead, its case rests on space, performance and equipment for the money.
However, buyers in this bracket will also weigh petrol, hybrid and electrified family SUVs from established brands. Therefore, price alone seems unlikely to settle the decision.
What support does Almajdouie provide?
Almajdouie Motors represents Deepal in Saudi Arabia. Accordingly, it runs sales, service and spare-parts facilities in Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar.
Deepal lists eight years or 250,000km of coverage for the high-voltage battery and related components. Furthermore, complimentary maintenance runs for two years or 55,000km. For a relatively new brand, that support could ease worries about servicing and parts availability.
How will it hold its value?
Resale remains harder to judge. Indeed, Deepal does not yet have enough used-car history in Saudi Arabia to show how the S09 will hold value over time.
Instead, reliability, parts availability, servicing and wider acceptance of the brand will all shape resale. For now, the S09 offers a lot for the money.
