2026 Changan CS15: Can basic be beautiful?
Beautiful things are often breathtaking.
The sheer majesty of Mayon Volcano up close is unforgettable – besides its picturesque shape, its size is a signifier of the immense power that it continues to wield. But even small things can be spectacular, such as the intricate craftsmanship and glittering sheen of an expensive wristwatch.
The automotive world likewise has a bevy of examples of utter beauty, with shapes like the Jaguar E-Type and the Bugatti Type 57 cementing their places in history for their aesthetic excellence. However, even humbler modes of transport like the original Fiat 500 and Mini have been praised for making utilitarianism look chic and fashionable.
It is in the latter tradition that the Changan CS15 aims to blaze its trail. We find out if this upstart subcompact crossover has the goods to take on segment stalwarts like the Toyota Raize and Kia Sonet.
Cute design
While many of its rivals look like shrunken versions of large crossovers (almost like baby pitbulls), the little Changan is unashamedly a tall hatchback with reasonable ground clearance.
This is, in large part, because of the gunmetal-gray, 17-inch alloy wheels wrapped in low-profile, 205/50-series tires (most rivals use thicker tires for a chunkier appearance). In many ways, the CS15 reminds me of the late-1990s Toyota Echo Verso, which possessed an eye-catching silhouette that I truly like.
Nonetheless, the Changan has the usual crossover styling trademarks like a high hoodline and a huge, gloss-black, rhombic front grill. The projector headlights with black accents give it a slightly menacing yet cute gaze, although I wish that more powerful and energy-efficient LED headlights were used instead of the standard, height-adjustable halogen bulbs.
Again, I would have liked LED bulbs for the prominent taillights, which are connected by a gloss-black panel. But the large tailgate spoiler and pert rear bumper give the CS15 a playful edge to counter the formal and upright back end.
‘Mary Poppins’ cabin
Where the CS15 really astounds is its interior.
While larger crossovers like Honda HR-V struggle to fit three people in the back seat, this small Changan (with its high roof and flat floor) ensures that rear occupants are well-cared for. Although folding down the second-row seats is quite fiddly, the CS15 offers a large cargo area with a reasonably flat floor that beats out even compact crossovers.
Despite being priced as basic transportation, the Changan offers much more than its rivals – there’s full leather upholstery, an electric sunroof and a responsive, 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. However, the scratchy interior plastics take away the premium feel, while some of the gauges are hard to read in daytime.
And for a Chinese car, the CS15’s controls are oh-so-delightfully simple to use, which is a trend that I sincerely hope that all carmakers return to. The infotainment controls are a single row of physical buttons, although the volume controls in our test unit had an annoying habit of sticking, such that one press ends up continuously cranking the volume up or down.
Meanwhile, the climate-control system uses actual knobs and switches (no need to dig through 178 submenus in the touchscreen). However, we found that the air-conditioner in our test unit couldn’t quite maintain the selected temperature, especially during hot midday drives or expressway jaunts at full throttle.
Frugal city shuttle
Another place where the CS15 excels it its performance.
Having had the sheer displeasure of driving a Toyota Raize E CVT with its buzzy and anemic 1.2-liter, three-cylinder engine, the Changan feels like a jackrabbit by comparison – its refined, 1.5-liter, twin-cam, 16-valve inline-4 gasoline engine pumps out 105 horsepower and 145 Newton-meters of torque (18 horsepower and 32 Newton-meters more than the Toyota).
Acceleration is strong and there’s even a throaty exhaust note at the redline, but only after the recalcitrant and somewhat jerky 5-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) finds its bearings. And as with the vast majority of DCTs, the CS15’s gearbox struggles with steep uphill inclines, requiring careful throttle timing for dignified progress.
A sixth gear would have been welcome, too – although the little Changan got an impressive 11 to 14 kilometers per liter in the city, its short 5th gear meant 100 km/h was at a rather high 3,000 rpm, leading to subpar fuel-economy figures of 15 to 18 kilometers per liter on the expressway.
But once you get the hang of the CS15’s rhythm, you find that this little runabout is delightfully easy to drive, thanks largely to the superb all-round visibility. And numb the steering may be, but its lightness means quick work of congested parking lots (although the lack of feel is a little unnerving above 80 km/h).
Meanwhile, the four-wheel disc brakes are strong, albeit controlled by a spongy pedal. And although the CS15’s ride and handling are fine over smooth pavement, it gets choppy over bumps because of the aforementioned low-profile tires and insufficient damper stroke.
Safety gear in the little Changan is par for the course – it comes standard with dual front and side airbags, along with anti-lock brakes, stability control and child-restraint anchors. And although I like the standard cruise control, a full active-safety suite would have given the CS15 a substantial edge over its competitors.
Worthy rival
Overall, the 2026 Changan CS15 is a charming, spacious and well-equipped subcompact crossover that offers broad market appeal.
At P850,000, it is priced very aggressively to woo first-time buyers and even long-time car owners who want something small and simple. Not only is it a superior package to ancient sedans like the Toyota Vios and Mitsubishi Mirage G4, but also a far more appealing alternative to the truly shiversome Toyota Raize E at P847,000.
Perhaps the only real rivals to the CS15 are the P898,000 Hyundai Venue GL AT and the P908,000 Kia Sonet LX – these may not be as well-equipped nor as cavernous as the Changan, but their more polished transmissions and better driving dynamics may seal the deal for some buyers.
The Changan CS15 is no classic Fiat 500 or Mini, but it shows that being basic still has its charm.
******
Get real-time news updates: inqnews.net/inqviber
