If you’ve been reading our motoring reviews for awhile now, then you’ll probably know that we’ve had rave reviews of the Changan CS35 and CS75 Plus models. The middle child has just been launched, and the news is official: the Changan CS55 Plus is bound for the Philippines. Here’s what you need to know about this latest model.

On the outside, the Changan CS55 Plus carries the same exterior aesthetic as its siblings in the Philippines. We see quite a lot of angles in its front fascia, dominated by a large grille that looks like it could gobble up the cars in front of it. The DRLs as well as the integrated full LED headlamps give off that modern aesthetic that not only fit their styling identity well, but also do their job in illuminating the road ahead. Smart features like intelligent high-beam assist automatically turn down the lights when faced with oncoming traffic. This helps you become less of a road menace.

The muted color is brought to life by hints of red accents like on the brand’s other models. This provides that zesty sportiness to the design that transforms it from a boring city commuter to a thrilling ride.

The same styling cues follow to the sides and rear, although we can see that the accents are now in Gold with this White model. Once again, it gives the car a distinct personality but this one speaks elegance and class more than anything else. Those with a sharper eye can appreciate the amount of detail put into the quirky spoiler design with an embedded third brake light.

Step into the cabin and you’ll find that the designers have wasted no effort in making this a space you’d want to spend time in. The driver is treated to an awesome flat top-and-bottom steering wheel with a 10.25-inch digital display cluster to show all the vital information about the vehicle. At the center is an even more expansive 12.3-inch touch screen infotainment system capable of Apple CarPlay and Changan’s in-house Mirror Link system.

The airconditioning vents at the bottom should only bring in cold, clean air. Pollutants and allergens on the city streets of the Philippines have no place in the cabin of the Changan CS55 Plus, thanks to PM 0.1 air filtration.

Meanwhile, all information from the 360-degree panoramic camera onboard (with a 540-degree view of the car) will be fed to the display. In times of accidents or close calls, a 30-second clip will automatically be saved to a secure folder for evidence and proof later on.

The gear selector for the 7-speed DCT is crafted in a unique design, but that’s nothing compared to the floating wing-style buttons for the camera functions. Hexagons seem to be in theme here as both the driving mode selection wheel, as well as the cupholders, are finished with this shape. A six-speaker Pioneer system should deliver clear and crisp audio to the occupants for those enjoyable singalong sessions in the vehicle.

All of this is on a floating console that conceals more storage space as well as the power outlet and other goodies underneath. Charging your device can be completed via USB or wirelessly, giving you more options to stay topped up more than ever.

Other cool yet practical features include a power tailgate, 475 liters of abundant cargo space, and a panoramic sunroof that has anti-pinch and rain-sensing capabilities.

Last but not the least is the advanced safety suite found on Changan CS55 Plus units to be sold in the Philippines. The brand boasts that 60% of the car’s chassis is constructed of high-strength steel that will survive the test of time and impacts. Despite this, it still remains lightweight and aerodynamic enough for impressive fuel efficiency. A six-airbag system is also always ready to cushion passengers during moments of impact.

Software-wise, the Smart Active Safety Assistance features should do the job. There are quite a lot under this umbrella: the Automatic Emergency Braking with pedestrian detection for sudden emergency stops, the Forward Collision Warning system, Lane Departure Warning/Keep Assist that makes use of the rear cameras to detect proximity to road markers, and Adaptive Cruise Control for highway use. We’ve used some of these with the CS35 Plus, and needless to say we were impressed with how well these worked.

Continuing the expansive list is your typical suite of ABS, TCS, Hill Hold/Descent Control, and ESP with a twist: Rollover Mitigation, they call it. It’s designed to control the car’s body to pass situations like those seen in the moose tests. A Dynamic Brake Function also assures that the vehicle can come to a stop from highway speeds of 100 km/h in just 37.9 meters.

Under the hood, the Changan CS55 Plus to be sold in the Philippines has a 1.5-liter BlueCore Turbocharged Gasoline Direct Injection engine provides up to 188PS of grunt and 300Nm of maximum torque. Advancements in technology have increased fuel efficiency for this type of engine. This powerplant is mated to a 7-speed wet-type DCT that should speed up those shifts and make the whole driving experience more engaging and exciting than ever. 4-wheel independent suspension proven at the Changan UK R&D center assures customers of a safe, comfortable, yet lively ride.

The Changan CS55 Plus will be available in the Philippines with four distinct color options: Black Pearl, Fantasy Gray, White Knight, and SuperNova Red. All units will be covered with the comprehensive Changan 5-year or 150,000 km warranty. This is truly an exciting vehicle that we can’t wait to get our hands on as soon as possible. Stay tuned for what we have to say about it!