Overview

DEEPAL launched its multifunctional E07 Multitruck into Australia this September, the all-electric SUV/utility priced from $64,900 plus on-road costs, and taking a new look at the way we think about dual-cab ute ownership.

Transforming from a five-seat SUV into a dual-cab utility at the push of a button, the E07 Multitruck is offered with a choice of two powertrains, including a single-motor rear-wheel drive (on test) rated at 252kW/365Nm and a 0-100km/h time of 6.7 seconds, or a dual-motor all-wheel drive with 440kW/645Nm and a 0-100km/h time of 3.9 seconds.

Driving ranges for the pair are listed at 550km and 510km respectively on the WLTP scale. Charging the 90kWh battery from 30-80 per cent is said to take as little as 15 minutes when connecting to a 240kW DC charger, while home charging is available via a 7kW AC unit.

Vehicle to load (V2L) functionality is offered at up to 6.6kWh.

Key feature highlights for the duo include double wishbone/multilink air suspension with continuous damping control, four-wheel disc brakes, 21-inch alloy wheels, multiple drive modes, all-LED lighting, and front acoustic insulating glass.

Other items include a rotating 15.4-inch central infotainment touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, an 18-speaker sound system, voice assistance, head-up display, over-the-air software updates, 14-way front seat adjustment with heating, ventilation, massage, and memory functions, adjustable rear seating with heating, massage, and ventilation, and 256-colour LED ambient cabin lighting.

Both models arrive as standard with black leather upholstery with a Premium Orange interior available optionally (+$5005).

A range of paint colours including Quartz White and Obsidian Black are available at no additional charge. RWD variants are further offered with Hematite Grey at no extra cost, while AWD variants are available with Jade Green as standard.

Optional hues include Spessartite Orange and Matte Hematite Grey on AWD models only (+$1800).

Key measurements see the E07 at 5045mm in length, 1996mm in width, 1680mm in height, and 3120mm in wheelbase. Kerb weight is listed at between 2320kg and 2440kg, depending on variant while both can tow up to 1500kg (braked).

Payload is not listed, though Deepal advises a water wading depth of 600mm, a ground clearance figure of 223mm, and a turning circle of 12.3m.

A front cargo area offers 131 litres of storage, while the rear area (in SUV format) offers 524 litres of capacity. All told, the E07 offers 1654 litres of cargo space with the rear seats folded flat.

On the safety front, we find an extensive list of safety and driver assistance technologies, including a 360-degree camera system, adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, automated parking assistance, blind-spot monitoring, cross-traffic alert, driver monitoring, lane departure and keeping assistance, side exit warning, traffic sign recognition, and eight bags.

The Deepal E07 is backed by a seven-year/160,000km warranty with eight years or 240,000km coverage for the high voltage battery.

Capped-price servicing is offered for the duration of the vehicle warranty period, while roadside assistance is offered for the first 12 months of ownership.

Driving Impressions

The Deepal E07 Multitruck turns more heads than most supercars I’ve driven.

People who wouldn’t look twice at a lairy sports coupe literally stop and stare when the Multitruck rolls quietly by – suggesting that the designers of the all-purpose ute/SUV/coupe have pulled something special out of the hat.

We tested the single-motor, rear-wheel drive version of the Multitruck this week, the vehicle offering 800-volt electrical architecture, a 90kWh NMC lithium-ion battery, a driving range of up to 550km, and a rapid 30-80 per cent charge time of just 15 minutes when connected to a 240kW DC appliance.

AC charging is far less noteworthy, the vehicle accepting 7kW at a maximum.

But we must admit it wasn’t a problem… With such a high rate of charge available at the public appliance, and a realistic 500km driving range in real-world conditions, the Multitruck is one of the better performers at this end of the segment.

For a larger vehicle, its energy use average of around 17.5kWh/100km is very good, the efficiency and performance of the vehicle far better than many electric vehicles we’ve driven in recent times.

Deepal says it has evaluated its Magic Carpet air suspension in local environs, and we’re pleased to report the ride is indeed very smooth. Despite running larger 21-inch wheels – and weighing a hefty 2320kg – the Multitruck feels calm and content on crumbling Victorian roads, taking most surface types in its stride.

That said, we did find severe or repeated bumps provoked a bit of a shudder through the body, suggesting the rigidity of the monocoque is perhaps somewhat limited by its many and extensive apertures (more on that in a moment).

Despite that, grip remained remarkably tenacious with sufficient roadholding for most conditions. While the vehicle’s size and weight are an obvious limiting factor, we found the Multitruck could be pushed pretty hard before showing signs of losing its footing.

Throttle response is brisk enough, and sweetly consistent, with enough predictability in the pedal to judge road speed without looking down. Given the Multitruck offers no instrumentation panel – with duties falling to the HUD and central infotainment screen –that’s likely a very good thing.

While the Multitruck offers innumerable and complex settings through the convoluted HMI (human-machine interface), it really is a vehicle that’s best left to its own devices. Sure, the steering is a little soggy in the Comfort setting, but all other ‘average’ settings feel just about right.

Perhaps we’d be more inclined to use the various settings on offer were they easier to access but feel most drivers will ‘set and forget’ their favourite preferences anyway. That’s a good thing when you consider everything from the position of the air vents, the mirrors, the steering column, and more are controlled via the central screen.

Deepal has, for the most part, done a very good job of calibrating the Multitruck’s various ADAS systems, the vehicle interfering very little in its standard setting. Though we did find the lane keeping assistants and driver monitoring a little over-the-top, there are certainly far worse examples of Chinese tuning on the market.

The large, sloping rear of the Multitruck can impede rearward vision to a degree, especially when reversing from an angle park. Thankfully the 360-degree camera is reasonably sharp and the parking sensors diligent.

It doesn’t take long to wrap your head around the Multitruck’s proportions, time you’ll no doubt spend tyring to find a parking bay large enough to accommodate it.

We really appreciated the high-quality finish and overall comfort of the cabin, the supportive seats, the level of seating adjustment on offer, and the effectiveness of the climate control system. There’s plenty of room to stretch out in the back, and the headroom is better than expected.

Just keep in mind that the ‘Transformer’ style rear end can be slow to do its thing, meaning rear seat passengers will have to stand in the rain while the seats return to their upright position.

Your luggage will also get soaked while you wait for the rear glass to close, the many servos, motors, actuators, and microswitches taking their sweet time to configure that versatile ‘boot’ to your desired position.

If you can forgive the Multitruck’s eccentricities, and appreciate that, at some point, all those wonderful gadgets are going to need to be repaired or replaced, then you’ll find it’s a pretty convincing vehicle.

With more space than most large five-seat SUVs, a cargo area that would shame most dual-cab utes, and looks that will grab the attention of even the most disinterested pedestrian, there is plenty enough to like.

Let’s see if the Australian buying public agrees with our sentiments.