Changan CS75 Plus

Just like the exterior, the cabin of the 2024 Changan CS75 Plus is as impressive. In fact, it feels rather premium. The entire upholstery is in red-black leather. The brushed-metal silver accents add to the style. Changan has paid a lot of attention to detailing. The flat-bottom multifunction steering wheel is leather-wrapped. The dashboard is dominated by a Bluetooth-enabled 12.0-inch touchscreen infotainment unit, connected to a multi-speaker audio system. But it doesn't get Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. The user-interface is generic and a bit scrappy. The single-zone climate control unit gets a fairly responsive capacitive touchscreen. But conventional buttons would have been better. The full-colour digital driver's information panel has large and bright readouts. The air-conditioning vents get a metallic finish that extends all the way to the other side. The climate control panel gets start-stop buttons and cupholder space. The central console has a chunky gear level and other physical buttons that are easy to operate. The top of the dashboard gets hard plastic. The rear seat gets a central armrest that includes two cupholders.

The 2024 Changan CS75 Plus is arguably the best-looking car from the Chongqing-headquartered company. Though it shares a number of styling cues with the recently refreshed Changan CS35 Plus, the design of the CS75 Plus is more thought-out and proportioned. The front gets a massive black mesh grille and along with the thin, swept-back headlights, forge a more sports utility vehicle (SUV) appeal. The car gets all-around LED lighting. The sculpted design looks refreshing. The prominent red trim adds to the sporty appeal. At the side, the sloping roofline gets a chrome trim. The car runs on substantial, 18-inch wheels that help the 2024 Changan CS75 Plus get a well-planted and hefty stand. The rear-end completes the car's sporty stance with sweeping, Y-shaped taillights, a slim dual-exhaust system, and two twin high-mount stop lamps. The rear spoiler gets a carbon-fibre finish. The black trim in the front could feel a bit plasticky and may not appeal to all.

The 2024 Changan CS75 Plus has great sound insulation, even on badly paved roads. But the suspension tends to get a bit stiff sometimes. While it absorbs most road bumps, the cabin does get bouncy when driving through bad roads. There's also some body roll while turning sharp corners. All seats get soft padding and back support. The front seats get added side-bolsters. The 2024 Changan CS75 Plus can comfortably carry five passengers. There's a lot of legroom on the rear seat. The sloping down roofline doesn't eat into the headroom at the back. Occupants on the rear seat get air vents but with no dual-zone climate control, balancing the cabin temperature is a bit of a challenge.

The 2024 Changan CS75 Plus Limited is equipped with a turbocharged, four-cylinder, 2.0-litre petrol engine that produces 233PS/363Nm. The motor is mated to an eight-speed automatic. The car is rather engaging to drive in the Normal mode with almost no turbo lag, acceleration is quick. The transmission change is smooth irrespective of highways or urban streets. Fuel economy isn't impressive, particularly during in-city driving. The acceleration dampening in Eco mode is noticeable. 

The 2024 Changan CS75 Plus comes with comprehensive safety equipment. It gets a 360-degree camera, cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, multiple airbags, and antilock braking. 

At a starting price of AED 131,200, the 2024 Changan CS75 Plus is an affordable, stylish and comfortable car. It's a nice combination of performance, looks, and tech features. The car will appeal to buyers wanting a budget sporty crossover.