Changan CS75 Plus review: Your bang-for-the-buck crossover SUV

The compact SUV category here in the Philippines will have you looking at different models from different carmakers. And while there are a lot of capable vehicles from that list, Changan Motor Philippines, Inc., the official distributor of Changan vehicles in the country, has the CS75 Plus that adds more bang for your buck in value and features.

Who is the Changan CS75 Plus for? We find out.

Exterior

From the moment you lay eyes on the vehicle, you’ll notice the CS75 Plus is large. With a long wheelbase (2710mm) and a wide exterior (1,865mm), we wouldn’t be surprised if people thought this was a full-fledged SUV at first.

The next thing you’ll see is the premium vibe it exudes. The vehicle has these red accents positively highlighting its accents and give the body a sporty look at the same time.

It’s available in blue, black, grey, and white body colors. But this specific colorway further amplifies its subtle yet high-class appearance.

Your eyes will involuntarily gravitate toward its prominent grille at the center flanked by fog lights each in its large concave housing. Meanwhile, it comes with a pair of LED headlamps complete with sporty Daytime Running Lights.

The same sharp styling is found at the back. With its wing-like LED tail lamps and elements evoking that sporty feeling, I see it as a versatile approach between functionality and aesthetics.

The CS75 Plus is fitted with 18-inch alloy wheels which look decent and modestly complement the rest of its exterior. I would appreciate sportier-looking rims, but that’s just me.

Interior

Inside, the company was able to successfully pull off an elegant feel almost everywhere you look. The interior is clad in red leather from the supple and comfortable seats to the side door panels.

Blending with the rest of the elements in black and silver accents, what you get is a contrasting yet sophisticated approach to the interior. The red flavor might not be for everyone, but I personally like it and reminds me of the interior of Mazda in some of its models.

Still carrying out that sporty look from the outside, you get a D-shape steering wheel to allow more moving space, and is decked out with controls for media playback, hands-free calls, and cruise control.

The CS75 Plus employs a 12-inch  infotainment system for navigating through its media playback. Other controls for its vehicle settings are also here so you have to somewhat dig through the UI which, in itself, could potentially be a distraction while driving. But add to that its clunky software and the experience gets a bit more complicated and takes some getting used to.

It’s a shame, really, since you already have an upscale interior and the experience isn’t just the same once you navigate through its head unit.

The hardware is gorgeous, though, as the 12-inch display continues to its 7-inch driver instrumentation cluster. With an all-digital approach, you get a very modern look as the two panels stretch out the dashboard.

Below the air vents is another panel that houses mostly its controls for air conditioning in addition to its engine start/stop button.

Going back to the seats, they provide a really comfortable feeling even during long drives and effectively give support thanks to its side bolsters up front. The leather upholstery also feels very nice to the touch so it’s easy to get snug and comfy as a passenger.

Speaking of passengers, the rear seats provide the same comfort and can fit up to 3 individuals. The middle seat comes with a pull-down armrest for seating two people comfortably. Legroom, as well as the headroom, are both sufficient even for 6-foot passengers.

It comes with space for your stuff measuring in at around 620 liters, but deploy its 60/40 folding rear seats and you can extend that to up to 1,450 liters. Do take note that the second-row seats fold flat so you can really load the vehicle full if needed.

For everyone’s enjoyment on both long and short drives, the CS75 Plus features a panoramic sunroof that lets more light flood into the cabin and can also let fresh air in. My family and I went for a drive on this vehicle and they specifically enjoyed the sunroof as well as the premium red leather seats.

Features

In terms of features, the CS75 Plus has some of the basics covered which is great. It’s equipped with useful features like a 360-degree panoramic camera that shows you the vehicle’s surroundings in more than one way and cruise control for long highways.

It did skip out on Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which are standards in a lot of today’s vehicles in this price range. You do get a different option that involves installing a different app to mirror content from the phone to the vehicle — but it’s still no Android Auto, though.

But on top of those, the vehicle also comes with a driver power seat, rear AC vents and USB charger, and a center console that can cool drinks with its own access to AC inside.

As a cherry on top, you also get N95-grade filters for the air conditioning system so that’s a good layer of protection against harmful elements we have today.

Performance and safety

Running the show is a 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine that puts out 178PS of power at 5,500rpm and 265Nm of torque at 4500rpm. Those are good numbers for everyday driving needs even with weight loaded onto the vehicle. Power is then delivered to the front wheels using a 6-speed automatic transmission.

Smooth and capable were generally the case for day-to-day drives. It’s got good pulling power that can get you a few spots ahead without breaking a sweat and is able to handle even more spirited driving while still maintaining composure.

Helping you accompany your driving style, the vehicle can switch between driving modes namely: Eco, Normal, and Sport. They are accessible through a rotating dial along with the electronic parking brake.

And as self-explanatory as they are, I would say these driving modes can definitely help in providing the right response that you currently need.

Switching to Eco easily puts you in a higher gear to aid in better fuel consumption while putting it on Sport Mode makes the throttle more sensitive and each gear is held longer before shifting up.

The compact SUV does get bouncy, especially on road humps or uneven pavement. But still, ride comfort is above average for a vehicle this size and we have already established its softly-padded seats to be partly responsible for it. But on top of that, noise insulation in the cabin was also very effective even when rolling over potholes.

Fuel economy during my time driving the 5-seater CS75 Plus clocked in at 9.3km/L on combined city and highway driving. It’s decent enough knowing I was on Normal driving mode the entire time and could probably stretch that further if I stay on Eco Mode.

As for its safety features, the CS75 Plus is equipped with a 6-piece airbag system and you also get some of the standards including a Reverse Parking Sensor, Tire Pressure Monitoring System, ABS with EBD, and even Hill Hold Control and Hill Descent Control.

We’d appreciate it if it had more safety offerings like Blind Spot Monitoring or Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, but maybe that’s asking too much for this price point.

Price and final thoughts

Speaking of its price point, the Changan CS75 Plus is available at PhP 1,379,000. For that, you get a fresh and aggressively styled exterior, premium and sophisticated interior, and comfort to ensure you only enjoy the road trip ahead.

It might not have other usual features like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and might need its head unit’s software refreshed, but the CS75 Plus delivers in other aspects and satisfyingly makes up for its shortcomings. If you’re looking for a compact SUV that offers versatility in cargo space while looking sleek, the CS75 Plus should be on your list.

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Honda Jazz 1.5 RS Navi CVT review: Compact but versatile

07/23/2020

The Jazz lineup has been known to have a compact body but a versatile-enough interior to accommodate the basic transporting needs of its users. Throughout time, its exterior has seen a few updates but the same offering still remained at its core. For this latest model, we have the top-of-the-line Honda Jazz 1.5 RS Navi CVT variant so let’s take a look if it still carries the traits people have grown fond of over the years.

Exterior

There’s really no mistaking a Jazz but in this Rallye Red color, you can still expect to turn some heads. The latest overall design of this Jazz doesn’t shy away from the aesthetic of the ones that came before it. It still exudes a very cool and sporty feel with its sleek lines and sporty accents.

Upfront, you get a nice matte black front grille which is flanked by two LED headlights equipped with Daytime Running Lights. And being the RS variant, you’ll find the exclusive RS emblem sitting pretty on the right side of the grille. Around the back, you have the LED tail lamp equipped with an LED high-mount stop lamp.

A closer look at the front bumper reveals matching carbon accents which are also present on the design of the rear bumper. Following the Jazz’s lines brings your focus from the elegant sill garnish on the side all the way to the tailgate spoiler which pretty much rounds up the car’s design.

And lastly, adding a bit more flair to the Jazz are its full black gloss, power-adjustable side mirrors, and a set of handsome 16-inch black alloy wheels.

Interior

The interior is a lot more subtle with its seats made of a simple black fabric finished off with orange-colored stitching. Additionally, the steering wheel and shift knob are wrapped in leather for a more premium feel.

But of course, one of the main features of the Jazz has always been the amount of space it had to offer. The setup is somewhat modular and offers four modes to choose from depending on your needs.

Utility mode allows you to fold down the seats on the second row to reveal a fully flat back. If you need a bit more space, you can opt to adapt Long Mode by reclining the front passenger seat to add a few more inches in length. Honda says that in Long Mode, you can even easily stow a full-length surfboard.

Now if you’re not really looking for length but height, opt for the Jazz’s tall mode by simply folding up the bottom seat of the second row. And lastly, for those times when you just need to take a quick break from driving, the Jazz offers Refresh Mode. By detaching the headrest and reclining the front and driver passenger seat, the back seat transforms into a lounge of some sort where you can give your legs a good stretch.

Features

The center console houses a 7-inch touchscreen display with a handful of features. While unfortunately not running on Android Auto or Apple Carplay, it does offer its own brand of features and apps for navigation and connectivity. Navigation works well but I would personally still rather just connect my phone and use Waze for directions and use the on-screen map as a visual aid.

Speaking of connectivity, the Jazz can connect wirelessly to your device via Bluetooth but also offer additional wired input through its HDMI and USB ports.

Just below the touchscreen display, you can find the automatic airconditioning system which also utilizes a touch panel. This may be a pro for some, as it does look more modern, but lacking tactile buttons to manipulate could possibly result in some distractions while driving since you’ll have to look where you’re pressing instead of just feeling it out.

On the steering wheel, you can find useful controls for audio as well as for answering and dropping calls.

Performance

The first thing I noticed driving the Jazz was how light and nimble it is to bring around. Its sportiness isn’t limited to its look since it can accelerate pretty fast when the situation calls for it. The engine was responsive, and can easily pick up speed even when the vehicle is loaded with passengers.

Another thing I liked about the Jazz is how wide the windshield is. As the driver, it’s important that you see everything happening around you so having a wide, unobstructed view is definitely a good thing.

And in order to yield better fuel consumption during your trips, it’s Eco Mode is there to keep its performance in moderation. There’s even this ambient light flanking the speedometer that indicates how friendly your gas input is. Step on the gas hard, the light turns blue. Ease up a bit and it turns green. It’s a handy feature for me as it serves as a constant reminder to achieve better mileage while driving.

We took the Jazz around the metro doing errands and through downpours of rain, as well as out of town for a quick drive and to experience the vehicle further. On long highways, it’s very smooth and its cruise control comes in handy for a more steady-paced adventure. Although going on streets with uneven surfaces, you easily feel the bumps.

Creature Feature

As always, in our reviews, The Modern Creatures aims to find special features in a product that makes it worth buying — something that gives it an edge from its peers. For this Honda Jazz RS, it would definitely be the versatility of its seats to accommodate different kinds of cargo. It’s not too common to see a vehicle this size haul your stuff (up to a full-size surfboard) effortlessly and in just a few folds.

Conclusion

The Honda Jazz RS, for me, is one perfect example of a vehicle suited for Metro Manila — it’s compact enough for some of our narrow streets, it has useful tech that comes in handy during long and short drives, and offers versatility in space depending on what you need. It also looks good and turns heads on the road with its RS package and more importantly, yields mileage that’s above average.

The Honda Jazz starts at PhP 868,000 for the base model but this top of the line RS Navi CVT is at PhP 1,088,000. So if you’ve been a Jazz fan and want to get the latest features and its signature kits, you’ll definitely enjoy the Jazz RS.

To see it more in action, watch our video review below:

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