Changan CS35

Changan CS35 at a glance

The CS35 is a five-seat, five-door B-segment crossover with a transverse front engine and front-wheel drive. It was Changan's first attempt at a crossover and remained the brand's smallest one until the CS15 arrived below it. For the wider story of the Chongqing-based maker, see our history of Changan.

During development the car was known as the Chang'an S101; the name changed when Changan introduced its "CS" model naming. According to Wikipedia, the styling came from Changan's design centre in Turin, Italy, which explains the old marketing line about Italian design. Wikipedia also lists the Landwind X2 as a related model.

The car was shown at the Beijing Auto Show in April 2012 and went on sale in China in October 2012. Production took place in Chongqing, China, and SAIPA assembled it in Kashan, Iran, between 2015 and 2019. No European sale of the first-generation CS35 has been found. All current models are listed in our Changan catalogue.

Facelifts and the Oshan COS5°

The first facelift came in 2017, with new light inserts front and rear and the new 1.5 turbo engine. In 2019 Changan launched the Oshan COS5° (Kesai 5), a rebadged CS35 sold under its Oshan sub-brand, with a 1.6 rated at 94 kW (128 PS) and 161 Nm (119 lb-ft) and a five-speed manual or CVT. The front end was updated again in 2020.

CS35 or CS35 Plus: which Changan is which

The CS35 Plus is a separate, larger car, not a facelift of the CS35. It made its debut at the 2018 Chengdu Auto Show, uses Changan's PF-C platform and has a longer wheelbase. It was meant to replace the CS35, but the older car stayed in production below it in the range.

Most search results for "Changan CS35" today concern the Plus. Changan sales in Ukraine, for example, started in January 2024 with the CS35 Plus, using a 1.4 turbo and a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. If a listing mentions that engine and gearbox, it describes the Plus, not the car on this page.

Engines, transmissions and performance

The first-generation CS35 was offered with two four-cylinder petrol engines, a naturally aspirated 1.6 and, from 2017, a 1.5 turbo. Both drive the front wheels through a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic; the automatic on the 1.6 is listed as an Aisin unit.

The 1.6 (engine code JL478QEE, marketed as BlueCore DVVT) displaces 1,598 cc (97.5 cu in), has twin overhead camshafts, 16 valves, multi-point injection and a 10.4:1 compression ratio. Launch reports quoted 125 PS (about 92 kW) and 160 Nm (118 lb-ft), with peak torque between 4,000 and 5,000 rpm. A UK specification database lists a different tune at 83 kW (111 bhp) at 6,000 rpm and 152 Nm (112 lb-ft), rated Euro IV. The figures probably reflect different markets.

The 1.5 turbo, coded 4G15T, delivers 115 kW (156 PS) at 5,000 rpm and 210 Nm (155 lb-ft) between 2,000 and 4,500 rpm. Wikipedia pairs it with the manual or the automatic, while one specification database shows only the manual, so availability probably varied by market.

Published data for the 1.6 quotes a top speed of 180 km/h (112 mph) and 0–100 km/h (0–62 mph) in about 14 seconds with the manual and 15 seconds with the automatic. The chassis uses MacPherson struts with an anti-roll bar at the front, a torsion beam at the rear, electric rack-and-pinion steering, ventilated front discs and rear discs. Ground clearance is quoted as 180 mm (7.1 in).

Dimensions, interior space and boot

The CS35 is about 4.16 m (13.6 ft) long on a 2,560 mm (100.8 in) wheelbase, which puts it at the small end of the crossover class. Early reports from the 2012 show gave 4,200 mm in length, 1,755 mm in width and a 2,550 mm wheelbase, while later series data shows the figures below; treat the debut numbers as pre-production.

Kerb weight depends on the version: about 1,270 kg for the 1.6 manual, 1,290 kg with the automatic and 1,340 kg for the 1.5T manual. The two boot figures come from different databases and probably reflect different measuring methods. Either way, the boot is compact; a larger compact SUV such as the Kia Sportage offers noticeably more space.

Inside, the CS35 is a five-seater, but with a wheelbase just over 2.5 m the rear bench suits two adults best, and tall passengers may find knee room tight. The rear backrest folds to extend the load area. No independent test data on cabin noise or materials was found, so judge them on a test drive.

CS35 fuel economy and running costs

The CS35 1.6 is quoted at 6.8 L/100 km (34.6 mpg US) combined with the manual and 7.2 L/100 km (32.7 mpg US) with the four-speed automatic. These are older-cycle figures from a specification database, and the test cycle is not stated.

Real-world consumption is likely to be higher. We have no dated euro prices for the CS35, which was not sold in the EU, so purchase and servicing costs depend on the local Changan importer.

CS35 trims and equipment

Equipment varied by market and trim, and no official price list for an EU country exists. Typical specifications included ABS with EBD and brake assist, front airbags, seat-belt pretensioners and an immobiliser. Better-equipped versions added side airbags, 17-inch alloy wheels, a sunroof and cruise control.

ISOFIX anchors and a six-speaker audio system are also mentioned for mid-range versions. Check the car itself rather than its trim name, as trim content differed between countries.

Safety record

No Euro NCAP, IIHS or Latin NCAP result exists for the first-generation CS35. Latin NCAP's results list has no Changan model at all for 2010–2025.

The car was tested in China. C-NCAP results published on 3 January 2014 list the CS35 with a total of 47.3 points, according to a Chinese news report; the star rating in that report could not be read reliably, so we do not state one. Ratings for the CS35 Plus or other Changan models do not apply to this car.

Rivals and which CS35 to choose

In size and price class the CS35 competes with B-segment crossovers such as the Suzuki Vitara, Peugeot 2008, Renault Captur and Opel Mokka, although it was not sold alongside them in Europe. Its strengths are a simple, conventional layout and a reasonable equipment list; its weak points are the slow 1.6, the lack of all-wheel drive and the absence of a European crash-test rating. Compare it with other SUVs and crossovers or with more Chinese cars in our catalogue.

If you are looking at a used CS35 where it was sold, the choice comes down to the engine:

1. The 1.5 turbo (2017–2022) is the better choice for motorway driving and loaded trips, thanks to 210 Nm from 2,000 rpm.
2. The 1.6 with the manual gearbox is the simplest and most economical version on paper.
3. The 1.6 automatic is the slowest and thirstiest, so drive it before you buy.

No independent reliability survey covers the CS35, so service history and parts supply from the local importer matter more than model year. Confirm that the car is a CS35 and not a CS35 Plus or Oshan COS5°, as parts differ. Full data for each version is available in our specifications section.