Changan Deepal S07 vs Toyota Starlet Cross

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — compare price, performance, fuel economy or electric range, safety and the details that shape long-term ownership.

Changan Deepal S07 in South Africa

Changan Deepal S07

Deepal S07 Electric Current
ZAR 995,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 160 kW 🔧 320 Nm
VS
Toyota Starlet Cross in South Africa

Toyota Starlet Cross

1.5 XR CVT Petrol CVT Current
ZAR 375,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 77 kW 🔧 140 Nm ⛽ 18.5 km/l
＋ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Changan Deepal S07 vs Toyota Starlet Cross: the short answer

Deepal S07 holds a noticeable catalogue-index lead over Starlet Cross.

Starlet Cross starts ZAR 691,000 cheaper Deepal S07 from ZAR 995,900 · Starlet Cross from ZAR 304,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification Deepal S07 Starlet Cross
Maximum Power Deepal S07160 kW Starlet Cross77 kW
Maximum Torque Deepal S07320 Nm Starlet Cross140 Nm
Engine Size Deepal S07Not Applicable Starlet Cross1498 cc
Combined Fuel Economy Deepal S07Not Applicable Starlet Cross18.5 km/l
Ground Clearance Deepal S07165 mm Starlet Cross185 mm

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Specification evidence leader

Deepal S07

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • No obvious weak spots to flag.
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Efficiency Published Practicality

Starlet Cross

Strengths
  • Nothing stands out clearly here.
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Fewer listed safety features
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: General Use

Which One's Right for You?

Deepal S07

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Starlet Cross

  • Buyers who prefer this derivative's confirmed specification mix

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Deepal S07 Starlet Cross
Model Introduced Year 2025 2022
Generation First South African Deepal S07 retail generation in one five-seat configuration. First generation Starlet Cross for SA market
Facelift History No South African facelift has been announced for the current Deepal S07. Introduced to SA in 2022 as a Starlet-based crossover
Facelift Launched Since Not Applicable 2022
Facelift Version Ending Not Applicable Current
Body Style Coupe SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status active active
Segment Battery-electric mid-size SUV SUV
Vehicle Type Passenger car SUV
Color Note - White Pearl, Silver Metallic, Black, Blue, Red
Dealer Stock Note - Top grade in the South Africa lineup
Tare Mass Kg - 1080 kg
Spec Deepal S07 Starlet Cross
Length 4750 mm 4055 mm
Width 1930 mm 1740 mm
Height 1625 mm 1575 mm
Wheelbase 2900 mm 2520 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 165 mm 185 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) Not Officially Disclosed 125 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 0 l 42 l
Boot/Cargo Space 445 l 270 l
Kerb Weight 2073 kg 1080 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2490 kg 1480 kg
Payload Capacity Not Officially Disclosed 400 kg
Towing Capacity Not Officially Disclosed 1600 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows 2 rows
Doors Not Officially Disclosed 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.75 m 5.1 m
Front Headroom Not Officially Disclosed 991 mm
Rear Headroom Not Officially Disclosed 940 mm
Front Legroom Not Officially Disclosed 1039 mm
Rear Legroom Not Officially Disclosed 881 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This Deepal S07 and Starlet Cross comparison uses the exact derivatives selected above for South Africa. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: Deepal S07 65 vs Starlet Cross 34.

Efficiency index: Deepal S07 90 vs Starlet Cross 70.

Safety-equipment index: Deepal S07 92 vs Starlet Cross 70.

Practicality index: Deepal S07 66 vs Starlet Cross 55.

Ownership-cover index: Deepal S07 not separately scored vs Starlet Cross 43.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.

Specification Evidence Index

A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.

Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout

Deepal S07 leads by 23 points

Deepal S07 holds a noticeable catalogue-index lead over Starlet Cross.

Evidence leader 77 /100
Lead 23 points
Data 58% source coverage
77
#1 Evidence leader

Deepal S07

58% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 92 Check Performance 65
Performance 65
Efficiency 90
Safety 92
Practicality 66
Leads by 23 points
54
#2

Starlet Cross

87% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Efficiency 70 Check Performance 34
Performance 34
Efficiency 70
Safety 70
Practicality 55
Ownership 43
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Deepal S07 +31 Efficiency Deepal S07 +20 Safety Deepal S07 +22 Practicality Deepal S07 +11

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

Deepal S07

Performance 65/100
Efficiency 90/100
Safety 92/100
Practicality 66/100

Starlet Cross

Performance 34/100
Efficiency 70/100
Safety 70/100
Practicality 55/100
Ownership 43/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index Changan Deepal S07 leads the specification evidence index with 77 pts vs 54 pts for Starlet Cross

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, Deepal S07 leads. However, Starlet Cross may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

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Deepal S07 vs Starlet Cross questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the models and available derivatives in South Africa on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.