Changan Oshan X7 – Expected Specs & Features

Last year Changan introduced a B-segment sedan in the shape of Alsvin, which is currently for sale across the country. To explore and penetrate further in the market with more models, Changan was working on introducing their crossover utility vehicle as that is the segment every other brand is trying to tap on and it seems Changan Oshan X7 is their answer to the market.  I shared my opinion on this subject back on April 23, 2021 and if you missed it, you can read it here > https://www.pakwheels.com/…/is-changan-really…/.

Changan is the 4th largest automotive group in China. Master group in Pakistan is a local partner with currently light commercial vehicles and MPV Karvaan for sale, locally assembled. As per auto policy, Master Motors established an assembly plant in Karachi with an initial investment of $100 Million, which is now pushed to $136 Million. 70% of investment is from Master motors, while the rest comes from Changan.

The plant is capable of 50,000 units per year. Changan Pakistan plant will be the first plant where Changan brand vehicle will assemble for Right-hand drive markets and specifically not only for Pakistan but also for export to SAARC and ASEAN countries, which are right-hand drive. Please remember that the Master group is also a supplier and vendor for certain parts [ like seats ] for many other locally assembled CKD vehicles.

Impressive Marketing by Changan Pakistan

Few months ago, internet was buzzed when Changan Pakistan imported the attractive UNI-T, and it traveled the country at various dealerships. Many people thought that UNI-T will be an upcoming model from Changan and expected its arrival in the next few months back then, while some have even shared an estimated price. However, it was an impressive move by Changan Pakistan to hint its entrance in crossover segment in Pakistan. 

The arrival of imported products like UNI-T and driving it around the country with stops at various dealerships was a hugely successful marketing campaign. Bringing such products for marketing purposes actually develop consumer confidence towards a brand and shows a portfolio, capabilities, and advancement of a certain product.

Changan Oshan X7

X7 is crossover and is lined up under Changan’s various sub-brands, although the foundation and other technical aspects are almost identical for X7 under multiple brands. The X7 under the Oshan brand is more on the economic side in China. Changan Pakistan imported the Oshan X7 for the local development, and the imported unit was an LHD/Left-hand drive.

Pakistan will be the first country to assemble an RHD model similar, as we saw with the Alsvin sedan. Unfortunately, there is not much information available about the X7 from China as many websites are not accessible from outside China, and you need a special VPN to access those websites. Again NO idea why China is so classified about it. Anyways, I will present my opinion based on limited information.

Face-Lift Exterior but Pre-Facelift Interior? 

X7 was introduced in China in 2019, and it got a facelift with updates to exterior and interior in 2021. The facelifted model is Oshan Plus. X7 Plus also got some increments to its dimensions. The X7 imported into Pakistan last year was a pre-facelift model. Back on February 7, Changan PK official social media released news of X7 local production with photos, and we witnessed that Changan has actually developed a facelifted model.

But later on, pictures of the interior went viral, and it caused little confusion because although Changan adopted the exterior of the facelift/ X7 PLUS, the interior remains as pre-facelift/ X7. Changan might not label the local model as X7 Plus. Personally, I am not sure why Changan went in this direction, maybe a cost-cutting maneuver or something else.

Foot Print

Changan Pakistan will talk a lot about it on its launch, so let’s see what it is. X7 Plus is a Uni-Body midsize crossover based on Changan MPA modular platform that underpins various crossovers for the Changan brand. The crossover is 4730mm long, 1870mm wide, 1720mm high, while it has a wheelbase of 2786mm. Both variants, X7 or X7 Plus, are a 2-row 5-seat vehicles in China, but it will be offered in Pakistan in 2-row/5 seats and 3-row/7seat configuration.

In comparison, the other three-row models currently we have in Pakistan can be scaled as follows. Please keep in mind that this is just the dimensional comparison and not necessarily means that all these vehicles compete.

Model: L x W x H – Wheelbase

Fortuner : 4795 x 1855 x 1850 – 2745

Sorento : 4800 x 1890 x 1685 – 2780

Glory : 4680 x 1845 x 1715 – 2780

So, X7 has the longest wheelbase, which means it might have slightly better spacing on the interior, although sometimes a larger wheelbase not necessarily means more interior volume. We will know more about it after a side-by-side comparison after the launch.

Exterior and Interior of Changan Oshan X7

On the front, you will get a slim designed ice-cubed styled LED headlights + integrated LED DRL with wider new grille and vertical rhombus-shaped opening with chrome lining. Wide and broader side bumper intakes house a Fog lamp and the signal indicators. Parking sensors and front are also provided depending upon the trim levels.

On the side profile, it is like a typical crossover. Two main charter lines continue from the headlight to the rear tail lights, while the second line is prominent on the doors below the door handle on the front but converges upwards on the back door handle. A very noticeable chrome lining on top of doors continues to rear and then drops sown at the D-pillar. On the rear, you will get LED taillights with a reflector bar connecting the two taillights.

The rear wiper, high mount stop lamp, and rear spoiler will come standard. It looks like the reverse lights will be in the lower bumper with reflectors, whereas you will also see two chrome tips on each side of the bumper for exhaust, but these might be f fake openings. Also, 19″, 15 spoke alloy wheels would be available, possibly with 225/55 profile size.

As discussed earlier, the interior of the X7 for Pakistan is a pre-facelift. The updates include:

• A new layout of the dashboard with new vents.
• Some changes in the head unit.
• Other minor changes.

As we will not be getting the updated interior, we will not talk about it.

The salient features in the interior include heated and ventilated front seats, synthetic leather seating surface in all rows, heated power side-view mirrors, steering wheel controls, adaptive cruise control, and a panoramic sunroof. 

AC and Seating

Touch-sensitive climate control setting, but it is not a dual-zone. There will be a 6-way power driver seat again, no confirmation, and maybe it will be four-way only. Also, there is no confirmation on height adjustment of seats. We might not see an auto-dimming rearview mirror and wireless charging. Power tailgate will be available depending upon trim level. Possibly no rain-sensing wipers.

As mentioned earlier, outside Pakistan, X7 doesn’t come with seven seats, and it will be the first time in PK domestic model. Usually, when there are three rows of seats, the second-row seats slide front and back and tilt so people can have easy access to the third row during entry or exit. The second-row seat slides on top of a rail similarly to the front seats.

As per my sources, in Pakistani model with the third row, the 2nd row seats don’t slide and are fixed, and instead Changan Pakistan has reduced the surface area of the seatbacks so that when it is tilted, the passenger has extra room to move to third-row seat.

It looks like that second-row seats are cut by approx. 4 to 5 inches on the left and right side. Please scroll through the attached pictures to understand this situation. This design will reduce the seating area for the 2nd-row seat. It seems like a cost-cutting as instead of having rails for the 2nd row, Changan preferred cutting the seat surface area for improved access to the third row.

OR Changan Pakistan is Not even capable of designing rails?

Obsolete Infotainment System 

A vehicle infotainment system is something essential now-a-days. Although hardware performance itself is crucial, the operating system running on the hardware decides the user experience.

It looks like we have to sit in a time machine and go back to 2013/14 because the operating system on domestic model X7 would like you to experience your past. The OS is “Android 4.4.2, “, known as “KIT-KAT” and was introduced in 2013. Fast forward to 2022, and we are talking about Android 11 & 12’s. I am sure if you are a smartphone user, you can understand how backward we are in our 2022 Oshan X7.

These systems are not fully functional and less capable, meaning a poor user experience. Now an almost decade old operating system, almost a decade old is really a very poorly executed approach. These older operating systems have so many security and other bugs besides extremely lagging, extensive crashing, and overall very restrictive experience.

Lagged Software? 

Additionally, everyone uses a newer version of operating systems on their smart phone, a decade-old system on the head unit will not help. Furthermore, possibly there is no android auto and no Apple CarPlay. You can also expect limited functionality of even using simple Google maps.

Not only this, current Bluetooth versions on phones are also sometimes not fully compatible with these older operating systems and cause communication issues. My sources told me that the X7 head-unit has an 8GB of storage capacity, which is extremely limited as some of it will be used by the OS itself. So, basically, you can experience crashing of the system, or maybe many of the apps might not even be compatible.

If we are getting such an obsolete operating system on the head unit, it would be a very poor show. I hope my information regarding infotainment is incorrect and we witness a better system on the launched official product.

Mechanicals 

This is the area that Changan will brag about the most. The X7 will have a Euro-6 1.5L Turbocharged engine with approximately 184hp and 300Nm of torque. We will know exact figures at the launch time. As per Changan, the X7 can hit 0-00 in 8.3 seconds and will make it one of the quickest vehicles in the segment. Changan might recommend Euro-5 fuel use, and its expected economy are 12 to 14 KM/L on the highway.

A 7-speed DCT will be the standard transmission. X7 is Front Wheel Drive only, and there is no option of AWD. There will be McPherson front while Multilink rear suspension. ABS brakes on all 4 wheels while Electric power steering will be standard. The steering wheel is tilt but has no option of telescopic function.

Guinness Record Holder Engine? 

Like Changan China, Changan PK might project this engine as a “Guinness Book Record holder.” According to Changan, the record is for nonstop and full-speed running of this engine for 259 hours, 46 minutes, and 45 seconds at 5500 RPM. Well, I don’t question the credibility of Changan, and neither I doubt the performance and capabilities of the engine. Still, it looks like they are misinterpreting this record in front of the public.

Guinness Book record was not given to the engine on its performance instead it was given to the Changan for running a live video stream of 259 hours, 46 minutes, and 45 seconds. Changan officials were on live stream continuously and were answering questions of their followers, and an engine was running meanwhile in the background. I have a hard time finding this record for this “Engine” on Guinness Book Official website https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/. By the way, if the award was given to “Engine for its performance as per Changan, then how come the Changan record was broken recently by Hassan Suleiman “AboFlah” from UAE, who is a human and not an engine? Who broke the Changan record by running a live stream of 268hr:14minutes, and20Seconds.

Read here > https://gulfnews.com/…/watch-uaes-warm-winter-charity… .

Kindly don’t deceive by the award. Yes, the engine was running in the Changan attempt, but the Guinness Award is not for the engine. Again I do not doubt the potential of the engine.

Safety in Changan Oshan X7

The major safety features include Traction control, stability Control , ABS, Hill descent control and Hill hold-assist. Furthermore, two front airbags and two front-seat side airbags will be available, but there are no curtain airbags. The rearview camera will be available along with the 360 view camera, but as per available information, the video resolution is pathetic due to poor and low-quality head-unit. Not sure if it is just the camera itself or the display unit.

No details as of now regarding full-featured ADAS / Advanced Driver Assistance Systems [lane keeping assist, Blind spot monitoring, and so on ] except the availability of auto emergency braking / AEB. We will know more and accurately after the official launch of the car. 

Price and Final Thought

The possible launch is during the first week of March, 2022. No real details are available for pricing, but as per rumors, the X7 might start from Rs. 5.5 Million and will go all the way to Rs. 6.4 Million. The price bracket will involve both the 5 and 7 seater variants. We can’t comment on the built quality and fit and finish of X7 until it reaches the showroom floor. I hope Changan doesn’t let us down, especially keeping in mind the price point they will touch.

The customers are always skeptical about new brands, resale value, and brand identity before signing the cheque regardless of how good the vehicle is. It all depends on how well Changan/ Master motors take this opportunity. The sales and marketing strategy, after-sale service, support, customer satisfaction, and friendly and welcoming dealer network will guide and help Changan succeed. We have seen that in the case of Alsvin, and I hope that it continues. I also hope and wish that consumers can get their vehicles well in time and Changan PK make sure they can curb the menace of premium / black marketers who are also sitting @ their dealerships.

Suggestion For Changan Pakistan

Lastly, I would say that on one end, Changan Pakistan is talking about “disruptive ethos and grand ambitions on the upcoming Oshan X7 “while on the other end, it is selling a pre-facelifted interior and a decade-old infotainment system.

I hope the young and energetic CEO of Changan Pakistan will bring the young and newer generation of software/ infotainment system to its vehicle lineup, especially if the vehicle will cost between Rs. 5.5 to 6.4 million price range as rumored.

We are in 2022. Please don’t treat Pakistani consumers like “SAUTELA,” and please only competitive price will help Changan Oshan X7 and under Rs. 6 Million for all its variants. Normally overseas market pricing of a model is not relevant to our market because of many reasons, but it is to remind you that Alsvin is overpriced in Pakistan comparing other countries, and it looks like X7 might also be the same case.

What are your expectations from Changan Oshan X7? Share your thoughts in the comments section.