A quick Changan triple test

Changan Motor Philippines, Inc is not easing on the throttle as they carry their momentum into 2021. A month after their introduction in the market, they’ve kicked off the Changan Nationwide Test Drive Tour that brings their three cars—the Alsvin, CS35 Plus and CS75 Plus—across dealerships in the country. 

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With media drives still out of the equation, I opted to go to Changan Shaw (sharing a space with Hyundai Shaw while their own building is being set up) and take advantage of their ongoing test drive tour. I know, of course, that a quick drive with a car won’t speak much but doing so provides a good benchmark to see if they’re at par with the competition. It also speaks more since the car can convey what the specs and brochure can’t. 

Shaw Boulevard’s up and down backstreets combined with the busy main road provided a good place to start my initiation to the brand. The cars boast a lot of features but Shaw’s gritty nature will make you focus on the basics like transmission response, steering, ride comfort, and cabin isolation. 

First up is the CS35 Plus which will sit at the more affordable end of its segment occupied by the Suzuki Vitara, Geely Coolray, and the Ford EcoSport, among others. The CS35’s engine and ride comfort are at par with the competition, but I’m glad to say that the 7-speed DCT was smooth during the quick test. I also like its yin-yang approach to aesthetics. Its utilitarian exterior was paired to a really plush interior that has good quality leather, panoramic sunroof, 10-inch touchscreen that’s flush to the dashboard, and a premium looking digital display for the automatic air control. 

I’m not exactly excited for the CS35 because I now prefer a bigger crossover, but I’m looking forward to driving it longer and see if it’s more than a pricing tactic. 

Speaking of a bigger crossover, the CS75 Plus is Changan’s bid in the compact category. I can’t stress enough how good-looking it is in black together with its red accents in front, on the side, and at the back. It’s like a Darth Vader colorway for a crossover. 

The interior is just as handsome as the exterior. Its 7-inch digital gauge cluster sits beside the 12-inch touchscreen and together looks like a horizontal smartphone. Add to that the allure of the red leather upholstery and you will forget you’re sitting in a crossover that’s under P1.3-million. 

But what I like best about the CS75 Plus is the cabin isolation. Imagine driving beside a diesel-engine pickup, trucks going past you in the opposite direction, and motorcycles snaking their way on the right side, yet their noise is at the minimum and oftentimes barely audible. I really like the effort they put in this to provide for a quiet ride even without the distraction of music. 

While the previous two are both crossovers, their third car for the test drive is the Alsvin sedan. It’s available with a 5-speed manual or 5-speed dual-clutch automatic, with a higher variant available with more toys, which is the one I drove. Immediately upon taking it out, I was surprised by how solid the car felt overall. It lacks the plushness of its bigger brothers, but it also doesn’t feel budgeted. The steering wheel is just as firm as its bigger brothers, buttons are not flimsy, and the materials inside are not cheap to the touch. It’s even ridiculous when you realize that size-wise, the Alsvin is just a few millimeters short of a Vios,, but priced like a Wigo. 

Currently, the three cars have introductory prices with the Alsvin starting at P539,000 for the manual and P599k for the ‘matic, followed by the CS35 Plus at P999,000, and the CS75 Plus at P1,229,000. Apart from the introductory pricing, Changan Shaw has special promos for the cars mentioned. Add to that Changan’s Vital 5 after-sales program that ensures all the cars will be taken care of once they leave the showroom, and you’ll have more reason to consider trying out this trio for yourself.