DEEPAL SL03

Model Overview

The DEEPAL SL03 is the maiden strategic model launched in July 2022 by DEEPAL, Changan Automobile’s new energy vehicle (NEV) sub-brand, positioned as a D-segment new energy fastback coupe. As the cornerstone of the DEEPAL marque, the SL03 serves as the core product realising Changan’s "Shangri-La" and "Dubhe" strategic plans. Underpinned by the EPA1 dedicated all-electric digital platform, the entire lineup offers three powertrain options: pure electric (BEV), range-extended (REEV), and hydrogen fuel-cell (FCEV).

In September 2025, the 2025 DEEPAL SL03 was officially launched with major adjustments to its variant lineup and price structure, tagged with a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) ranging from RM119,900 to RM146,900.With its sharp styling, rear-wheel-drive dynamics, generous range, and segment-transcending kit, the SL03 delivers strong competitiveness in the RM120,000 to RM150,000 NEV sedan segment, going head-to-head against rivals like the BYD Qin PLUS and Geely Galaxy L6.

Design Language

The DEEPAL SL03 adopts the brand's "Symbiosis Aesthetics" design language, defined by sharp, angular bodylines. Up front, it features a closed mech-inspired nose flanked by "Star Petal" LED daytime running lights (DRLs), delivering an aggressive and futuristic road presence.The 5-door, 5-seater fastback silhouette achieves an impressively low drag coefficient of just 0.23 Cd.The rear is punctuated by full-width Star Flame LED tail lamps, complemented by a floating roofline and flush door handles to accentuate its athletic stance.

In terms of dimensions, the SL03 measures 4,820 mm long, 1,890 mm wide, and 1,480 mm tall, with a generous 2,900 mm wheelbase, putting it squarely in standard D-segment territory. It comes in a range of trendy exterior colours, while the cabin centres around a 14.6-inch intelligent rotating "Sunflower" infotainment touchscreen capable of swivelling ±15° left and right.Inside, the 2025 iteration introduces a black-and-gold two-tone theme with nearly 40% of surfaces wrapped in suede-like upholstery, paired with a 64-colour ambient lighting system to noticeably lift cabin ambience.

Powertrain and Performance

The DEEPAL SL03 is offered in pure electric, range-extended, and hydrogen fuel-cell forms, all driven via a rear-mounted motor and rear-wheel-drive (RWD) layout.Key powertrain specifications are summarised below:

The 2025 Pure Electric Sport variant (RM146,900) draws power from a 190 kW rear-mounted electric motor paired with a 56.1 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, yielding a CLTC-rated range of 530 km. The REEV variant combines a 1.5-litre four-cylinder range extender with a 160 kW or 175 kW rear motor, achieving up to 220 km of CLTC pure electric range and a combined range exceeding 1,200 km, with depleted-battery fuel consumption dipping as low as 4.5 L/100 km.

When it comes to charging, the BEV lineup comes standard with 3C DC fast charging, juicing from 30% to 80% state of charge (SoC) in just around 15 minutes. Practicality-wise, the fastback tailgate reveals a 473-litre boot, with the BEV model further benefiting from a 70-litre front luggage compartment (frunk).

Chassis and Handling

Built on the rear-wheel-drive EPA1 digital platform, the DEEPAL SL03 achieves a near-perfect 50:50 front-to-rear weight distribution, noticeably enhancing dynamic stability under hard acceleration and high-speed cornering.Underneath, suspension duties are handled by front MacPherson struts and a rear multi-link setup featuring aluminium-alloy H-arms, effectively lowering unsprung weight to keep the tyres firmly planted.

Out on the road, the SL03's chassis strikes a sporty balance without sacrificing daily ride comfort. Steering is sharp with minimal dead play, maintaining composed body control through rapid lane changes and twisty roads with well-suppressed body roll.While early 2023 models drew criticism for rear suspension looseness and excessive bounce over speed bumps, subsequent 2024 and 2025 updates received recalibrated damping, noticeably improving overall ride suppleness and refinement.

Cabin and Equipment

The SL03's intelligent cockpit centres on a 14.6-inch floating "Sunflower" infotainment touchscreen paired with a 10.2-inch full digital instrument cluster.The centre display can tilt up to 15 degrees towards either front seat occupant, catering seamlessly to both driver visibility and passenger entertainment.Powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 processor running Deepal OS, the system boasts a processing speed of 3.6 million instructions per second, supporting telematics, OTA updates, multi-zone voice command, and smartphone integration (HUAWEI HiCar and Apple CarPlay).

Creature comforts are plentiful; the 2025 Range Extender Sport variant comes standard with power-adjustable front seats, seat ventilation and heating, driver’s seat memory with welcome function, 64-colour ambient lighting, rear digital air-con control panel, and a 14-speaker premium sound system.An AR-HUD (Augmented Reality Head-Up Display) projects navigation cues, speed, and driving alerts directly onto the windscreen, enabling a clutter-free, minimalist view.The seats are trimmed in plush suede-like upholstery, with 12-way power adjustment for the driver, giving the cabin an upmarket feel that punches above its price tag.

Safety and Driver Assistance

The DEEPAL SL03 punches above its weight in advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). In December 2025, the Changan DEEPAL SL03 was officially granted regulatory type approval for Level 3 conditional autonomous driving, making it one of China’s pioneering production models to secure Level 3 operational licence plates.The system can autonomously handle car-following, merge management, and traffic cone detection at speeds up to 50 km/h in complex scenarios like the Chongqing Inner Ring Expressway. Furthermore, the autonomous emergency braking (AEB) works at speeds up to 135 km/h and debuts an industry-first emergency collision mitigation feature tailored specifically for motorcycle and delivery riders.

For standard retail units, the SL03 comes fully loaded with Level 2 semi-autonomous driving features, including Integrated Adaptive Cruise Control (IACC), a 360-degree surround-view camera, full-speed Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Lane Keep Assist (LKA), and Blind Spot Detection (BSD), significantly easing long-distance highway fatigue.

On the passive safety front, the SL03 utilises a high-strength cage body built with extensive hot-stamped steel and high-tensile aluminium alloys, designed to comply with C-NCAP 5-star crash safety standards. Standard equipment includes a comprehensive multi-airbag suite (front, side, and full-length curtain airbags), paired with a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and ISOFIX child seat anchors to deliver complete occupant protection.

Market Performance and Reception

The DEEPAL SL03 enjoyed an explosive market debut, famously crossing the 10,000-order milestone in just 33 minutes and consistently registering monthly deliveries of over 10,000 units during its peak.However, amid escalating market competition, sales momentum softened considerably; by March 2025, monthly deliveries dipped to 944 units, representing a 78.1% year-on-year decline.Within the marque's portfolio, the SL03 alongside the S07 SUV remain DEEPAL's core volume drivers, collectively accounting for 78.08% of total brand sales.

In terms of customer feedback, owners consistently praise the SL03 for its sleek sporty styling, RWD-driven handling dynamics, low running costs courtesy of 3C fast-charging and 530 km electric range, as well as the high-tech cockpit experience powered by the Sunflower screen and AR-HUD. On the other hand, motoring critics have pointed out minor drawbacks: early production batches exhibited suspension clunks and cabin rattles, occasional infotainment lag, rear headroom feeling slightly pinched for taller passengers due to the fastback roofline, and brand recall and service network reach still trailing market-leading NEV giants.

All in all, as DEEPAL's trailblazing flagship, the SL03 has successfully carved out its own sporty niche in the RM100,000 to RM150,000 NEV sedan segment through its winning trifecta of striking styling, rear-wheel-drive thrills, and versatile multi-powertrain offerings. While facing market headwinds in 2025, its pioneering adoption of Level 3 autonomous driving tech alongside continuous product and spec enhancements ensure the SL03 remains a formidable contender moving forward.