the Bucket: Bucket Seat: Changan CS750 Pro

The market for affordable seven-seater SUVs and people movers has become increasingly competitive in South Africa, with Chinese manufacturers bringing more features, better interior finishes and impressive levels of comfort to buyers who would otherwise have to spend considerably more to get a similarly equipped vehicle. The Changan CS750 Pro is another contender in this space, offering a spacious cabin, a generous equipment list and the practicality that comes with having seven seats. On paper, it ticks many of the right boxes for families looking for a versatile daily driver, but spending time with it reveals a few interesting design decisions, particularly when it comes to the infotainment system. Thankfully, there is enough to like about the CS750 Pro to make it worth considering, especially if interior comfort and value for money are high on your shopping list.

DESIGN

Chinese automotive design has come a long way over the past few years, with manufacturers increasingly developing their own identities and producing vehicles that look considerably more sophisticated than some of the offerings we saw a decade ago. However, there are still occasions when certain design elements feel a little too familiar, and the Changan CS750 Pro is one of those vehicles that leaves you wondering whether you have seen some of its styling cues somewhere else. The exterior design is bold enough to give the CS750 Pro a substantial road presence, although some of its styling elements remind me of vehicles from other Chinese manufacturers. This is not necessarily a deal-breaker, especially in a segment where buyers are often more concerned with space, practicality and equipment than having the most distinctive vehicle in the parking lot. Nevertheless, I would have liked to see Changan push the design a little further to give the CS750 Pro a stronger identity of its own.That said, the overall package works reasonably well. It has the proportions expected of a family-focused seven-seater, with a design that communicates size and practicality without trying too hard to be a sporty SUV. It is a vehicle designed to accommodate people and their belongings, and in that respect, its overall shape serves its purpose.

COMFORT

Step inside the CS750 Pro and you are greeted by an interior that makes a positive first impression. The quality of the finishes is one of the highlights, with materials and trim elements that help create a cabin that feels more premium than you might initially expect at this price point. There is a noticeable effort to make the interior feel modern and comfortable, rather than simply providing a functional space with seven seats squeezed into it. For a vehicle that is likely to appeal primarily to families, this is an important consideration. A seven-seater needs to be more than just a vehicle with an extra row of seats. It needs to provide a comfortable environment for the driver and passengers, particularly when dealing with school runs, shopping trips, weekend getaways and longer journeys with the family. The CS750 Pro makes a reasonable case for itself here, with a cabin that feels inviting and well equipped. The versatility of the interior is another major selling point. Having seven seats gives owners the flexibility to transport a larger family or accommodate additional passengers when needed. It also makes the CS750 Pro a practical option for buyers who need one vehicle to handle several different roles throughout the week. Of course, as with any seven-seater, the usefulness of the third row and the amount of luggage space available when all seats are occupied are important considerations. Buyers should assess the seating configuration in person and make sure it suits their particular needs. However, the overall emphasis on comfort and practicality is clear, and these qualities go a long way towards making the CS750 Pro an appealing family vehicle.

TECHNOLOGY

Unfortunately, this is where the CS750 Pro starts to lose some of its appeal. Modern vehicles are increasingly reliant on their infotainment systems, and while a large screen and a collection of digital features might look impressive in the showroom, the real test is how easily you can use them while going about your daily routine. The infotainment setup in the CS750 Pro is frustrating, largely because it does not offer the conventional, straightforward in-car applications and connectivity experience that many drivers have come to expect. Instead, the system relies on an application that allows you to cast content from your smartphone onto the vehicle's screen. In theory, this might sound like a reasonable alternative. In practice, however, it quickly becomes an inconvenience. The process is not particularly user-friendly, and having to rely on an additional application to access the functions you want introduces an unnecessary layer of complexity. More frustratingly, the phone needs to remain unlocked for the system to work as intended, which is hardly an ideal solution when you are trying to use your phone for navigation or other functions while driving. This is one of those situations where technology seems to have been introduced for the sake of having it, rather than to make the driver's life easier. An infotainment system should simplify the driving experience, allowing you to access navigation, music and other essential functions with minimal fuss. Instead, the CS750 Pro's implementation can make even relatively simple tasks feel more complicated than they need to be. For me, this is a significant missed opportunity. The rest of the interior makes a good impression, but the infotainment system feels like an area where more thought should have gone into the user experience. A conventional system with straightforward menus and properly integrated smartphone connectivity would have made a substantial difference to the overall ownership experience.

PERFORMANCE

Behind the wheel, the CS750 Pro is a fairly straightforward vehicle to get along with. The engine provides adequate performance for everyday driving, and during my time with it, I found it capable of handling normal driving duties without feeling particularly underpowered. For a vehicle of this size, that is an important starting point. A seven-seater needs to be able to move its occupants around comfortably, whether that means navigating urban traffic, cruising along the highway or making the occasional longer journey. The CS750 Pro does enough in this regard to make it a reasonable proposition for everyday family use. However, there is an important caveat to my driving impressions. I did not get the opportunity to test the vehicle with all seven seats occupied and a full load of passengers and luggage. Consequently, I cannot say with certainty how the engine would perform under those circumstances, particularly when accelerating, overtaking or tackling longer uphill stretches. This is worth keeping in mind because a vehicle that feels adequately powered with only the driver or a couple of passengers on board may deliver a different experience when carrying a full complement of occupants. Buyers who regularly travel with a full load should ideally take the CS750 Pro for a test drive under conditions that reflect their typical use. For the kind of everyday driving I experienced, though, the vehicle did what was expected of it. It is not trying to be a performance SUV, nor does it need to be. Its purpose is to provide practical family transport with enough performance to make daily driving comfortable and manageable.

PRACTICALITY

The CS750 Pro's biggest strength is arguably the combination of its seven-seat layout, interior comfort and equipment offering. For buyers shopping in this segment, value for money is about more than simply finding the cheapest vehicle available. It is about getting a package that provides the space, comfort and features needed to make everyday ownership worthwhile. This is where the Changan makes a convincing argument for itself. The cabin feels well finished, the overall comfort levels are appealing, and the equipment offering helps it stand out as a well-kitted option in its price bracket. For a growing family, or someone who regularly needs to transport more than five people, the additional seating flexibility can make a meaningful difference. There are compromises, of course. The exterior styling could do more to establish a distinctive identity, while the infotainment system is a clear example of a feature that needs refinement. The engine also deserves a more thorough assessment with a full passenger and luggage load before making any definitive claims about its suitability for demanding family trips. Nevertheless, these shortcomings do not completely overshadow what the CS750 Pro gets right. If your priorities are a comfortable cabin, generous equipment and the convenience of seven seats without moving into a substantially more expensive vehicle, it deserves a place on your shortlist.

VERDICT

The Changan CS750 Pro is a versatile people mover that gets several of the fundamentals right. It offers a comfortable interior, pleasing quality finishes and the practicality of seven seats, making it a sensible option for families who need more space and flexibility from their next vehicle. There are a few frustrations along the way. The exterior design borrows visual cues that feel familiar from other Chinese brands, and the infotainment system is unnecessarily complicated, with its reliance on smartphone casting making what should be a simple experience far more cumbersome than it needs to be. I would much rather have a conventional, intuitive infotainment system that works seamlessly than a setup that requires an application and an unlocked phone just to access its functions. On the road, the engine proved adequate for my everyday driving, although a fully loaded test would be needed to determine how well it handles the demands of carrying seven occupants and their luggage. Ultimately, the CS750 Pro is not without its flaws, but at the right price, it makes a compelling case for itself. The combination of interior comfort, equipment and seven-seat versatility makes it one of the better-equipped options to consider in its price bracket. It may not get everything right, but for buyers looking for a practical and comfortable family vehicle that offers plenty for the money, the Changan CS750 Pro is certainly worth a closer look.

SPECIFICATIONS