Changan Philippines has updated its compact crossover, now called the CS55 Plus. The CS55 Plus gets a host of design, comfort, and safety upgrades to make it an even more attractive value proposition.
Up front, you can immediately spot the new ring-shaped daytime running lights. These complement the full LED headlamps, comprised of nine individual units that combine for a bright beam that can illuminate even a dark and stormy night. The lights feature Intelligent High-Beam assist that can automatically switch from high to low beam when oncoming vehicles are detected. There’s also a Follow-Me Home delay feature that keeps the headlamps on for a few seconds to illuminate your path when parking. Mounted on the sporty roof spoiler is a ring-shaped LED high-mount stop lamp. Also following the “ring” are 19-inch alloy wheels and chrome-tipped twin exhausts. The CS55 Plus’ new front grille features a complex latticework design.
Inside the CS55 Plus, the driver’s eye will be caught by the dual-screen layout. There’s a 10.25-inch LCD digital instrument cluster, and a 12.3-inch infotainment display with touch control. The system can link to a smartphone via Mirror Link and Apple CarPlay. Pumping out music is a six-speaker Pioneer premium sound system. There’s no need for a dashcam on the CS55 Plus, as there’s an onboard 360-degree panoramic camera system with HD driving recorder. When it detects hard braking or any impact, the recorder automatically saves 30 seconds of video (15 seconds before, and 15 seconds after the incident) to a secure folder.
Within the floating center console is a 15-watt wireless mobile charger and two USB charging ports. A wing-shaped control button switches between the different driving modes, near the gearshift. A voice-command system allows hands-free opening and closing of windows and sunroof, control of the aircon, and of course, phone calls. The Changan is equipped with an airconditioning system capable of PM0.1 filtering. An ion generator helps to neutralize pollutants, allergens, and even bacteria.
The seats of the CS55 Plus feature two-tone trim. There are 29 storage cubbies including the cupholders and center console. The luggage compartment has a 475-liter capacity, expandable to 1415 liters when the rear seats are folded—they’re capable of split-folding according to various passenger or cargo needs. A power tailgate with anti-pinch feature and memory height setting is available. A panoramic sunroof allows in plenty of light, and can automatically close when it detects rain.
The Changan brand literally means “lasting safety” in Chinese, so it’s no surprise that the CS55 Plus is loaded with active and passive safety features. The SUV uses high-strength steel for 60% of its frame. This also reduces the car’s weight. There are six airbags to help protect the car’s occupants. There are numerous active safety features on the CS55 Plus. There’s automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, which assists the driver to apply stronger brake force. The forward collison warning sytem warns of impending collisions via a warning on the instrument panel and an audible alarm. Lane departure warning and lane keep assist help the driver to keep the CS55 Plus on his intended path. Adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assist allows the car to slow to a halt when the vehicle in front stops, and moves again when the vehicle in front starts moving. There’s also electronic stability program with roll-over mitigation to help keep the car on track and reduce the probability of a rollover. Traction control, anti-lock brakes with electronic brake force distribution, and brake assist are all on board. Hill hold control and hill descent control make climbing or descending steep slopes easier. Four-wheel independent suspension with MacPherson struts up front and a multi-link setup at the rear helps keep the car deliver a smooth and comfortable ride.
The CS55 Plus is propelled by a 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine. With direct high-pressure fuel injection, the engine delivers 188ps and a robust 300Nm of torque. It’s paired with a reportedly efficient and responsive 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. The transmission has been tested rigorously by Changan UK R&D to sustain performance even in extreme temperatures and high humidity.
The CS55 Plus is available in Lite, Hype and Luxe variants. Paint choices are Black Pearl, Fantasy Gray, White Knight, and SuperNova Red. The CS55 Plus is covered by Changan’s 5-year, 150,000-km warranty. Changan Motor Philippines, Inc., the country’s official distributor of Changan vehicles, was founded in November 2020.
