Changan CS35 Plus

The cabin of the 2024 Changan CS35 Plus is more functional than premium. But the detailing matches the exterior. The car gets red-black leather upholstery. There's soft-touch material all around. A faux brushed-aluminium trim runs around the cabin. There are bits of flat-black and piano-black pieces. Other cars in this price range usually get hard plastics all over. The dashboard will remind of high-end European cars. It's dominated by a Bluetooth-enabled 10-inch touchscreen entertainment system, connected to a multi-speaker audio system. But the system doesn't get any Android Auto or Apple CarPlay support. The multifunction leather-wrapped, flat-bottomed steering wheel controls most of the multimedia functions. The central console is neat and gets a chunky gear lever. The climate control system is touchscreen-operated. There are bulges left and right of the air-conditioning panel that control the fan speed and thermostat. The entire bulge itself is touch-sensitive. The rear seat gets a central armrest with cupholders. Cargo space in the 2024 Changan CS35 Plus is 402 litres with all seats up. With the rear seat folded, it goes up to 950 litres.

The 2024 Changan CS35 Plus is attractively styled. The design is Europe-inspired as Chinese carmakers mostly copy the design of already-successful cars in a bid to reduce production costs. The Changan CS35 Plus manages to look both brutish and classy, with the big and boxy lines that meet around the corners. Some sharp angles are sprinkled sporadically. The proportions are just perfect for the car. The front grille looks imposing but demands a better design. The daytime running lights (DRLs) span the full width of the grille, flanked by the headlight. The car gets all-around LED lighting. The red trim on the side gets a satin finish, something that usually don't come at this price point. The red accent and the Changan logo on the rear quarter panel contribute to the overall look. At the back, the spoiler hints at sporty intent. The dual-exhaust system is authentic. The roofline marginally slopes down at the back. The car runs on 18-inch wheels. A black cladding covers the wheel arches that run all along.  

The 2024 Changan CS35 Plus is a five-seater and all passengers can travel comfortably. The seats are soft and supportive for long rides. While the two front seats get the maximum legroom and headroom, space on the rear seat is plentiful. The panoramic sunroof also makes the cabin more spacious. The rear seat is split-foldable to get more cargo space. The suspension soaks up potholes quite well and there's no sense of the suspension tiring or bottoming out even when all seats are occupied. Sound insulation is good and the cabin is mostly noiseless. 

The 2024 Changan CS35 Plus Limited is equipped with a turbocharged, four-cylinder, 1.4-litre petrol engine that produces 156PS/260Nm. The motor is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch. In the Sport mode, the transmission sometimes lags. The T-Shifter gear lever has a nice clunky feeling There are no paddle shifters. Handling is rather easy on city streets. The steering wheel is light and responsive. On highways, the 2024 Changan CS35 Plus performs as a stable cruiser. 

The 2024 Changan CS35 Plus comes with a comprehensive safety kit. It includes a 360-degree camera, multiple airbags, front and rear parking sensors, hill-hold control, antilock braking, hill descent control, engine immobilizer, and child seat anchors.

At a starting price of AED 75,000, the 2024 Changan CS35 Plus is among the most affordable cars in its class. It's well-built, comes with great features, and is a value-for-money option. There are areas to improve but the price point is a killer.