A ute with a cover, finally. Photo: James Coleman.
On face value, utes look like incredible value. You’re getting five seats, a massive boot, 4WD capability and all for – at least in the case of the best-selling Ford Ranger’s case – about $50K. Two cars in one. This has to be why as many men in suits have one as farmers.
However, if you carry things that can’t get wet – which are most things beyond pallets and pigs – you must then hand over more money for a canopy or cover of some sort.
And then still spend your days leaning deep into the tray to reach your shopping bags. Your button-up shirts will be ruined.
But I’ve just spent a week with China’s new Deepal S07 and my shirts are still crisp and my laptop bag dry. Because here is finally a ute that comes with a lid from the factory.
There’s even a partition between the tray and the cabin that can be electronically raised or lowered for easier access.
So is this “multitruck” genius, or just “what”?
What is it?
Contrary to how it might sound, Deepal is not Indian. It’s among the deluge of new brands to arrive in Australia from China, but imported by Inchcape, the same company that brings us Peugeot and Subaru.
Hence, Canberra has its own Deepal dealership as of a few months ago, co-habiting with Subaru on Melrose Drive, Phillip.
There are two models so far – the S07 large SUV and this E07 multitruck, with a smaller SUV, the S05, arriving soon.
And yes, Deepal itself wasn’t quite sure what to call the E07, so multitruck it is. Although “Temu Cybertruck” could also work. But it’s far better looking than Tesla’s ute and probably also far less likely to turn pedestrians into pasta strips.
“The bold, all-new Deepal E07 multitruck isn’t just a crossover – it shatters categories,” the Australian website proclaims.
“In a sea of sameness, the E07 rips up the rule book and reinvents EV mobility.”
Sounds promising.
What’s it like to live with?
It’s safe to say Deepal hasn’t enjoyed the best reception from Australia’s motoring media.
There have been the usual complaints about overzealous safety systems, as well as a bumpy – while also soggy – ride that makes it feel every bit as heavy as its on-paper 2-tonne-plus weight would have you gulping.
But I’m not going to dodge the denouement here – after a week with the E07, I struggled to find anything wrong with it.
Minimalist and actually very good quality. Photo: James Coleman.
Actually, there is one thing.
It’s fully electric and therefore comes with regenerative braking. But it struggles to cruise and hold that precise point on the accelerator pedal between stopping and going. The result is a slight rocking sensation that – especially if you were a passenger and this were an Uber – makes you feel a bit sick. There’s no way to adjust the regen braking beyond changing the drive mode either.
As for the beeping and bonging, Deepal has taken early feedback on board and allowed you to disable much of the safety tech permanently through that enormous iMax screen. So apart from a few corners, when something called ELK tried to wrestle the wheel from my hands, there are no real complaints here either.
The rest of the experience is sublime. About as stressful as taking a bath. Actually that’s a terrible analogy – baths tend to crick the neck quite.
This won’t happen in the Deepal. Forget the rough and ready plastics of your typical ute (sorry, I forgot that rulebook has been “ripped up” already): here is all soft and plush leather and two buttons on the steering wheel. Everything else is controlled by that TV screen, which can also be electronically pivoted towards either the driver or passenger.
Perhaps the best feature is under Scenario on the app menu and called Resting Mode. Press this and it fully reclines the driver’s seat, gives you a choice of pattering rain and gently breaking waves as white noise and promises to wake you up in 30 minutes. Every workplace should have a row of Deepals in the car park as part of OHS rules.
Another scenario of Rear Cabin Camping connects the second row and boot to “allow for unrestricted camping inside and outside the vehicle”. Bear in mind you can also adjust the cover and rear seats by playing around with the bank of buttons in the tray.
There’s no getting around the fact the E07 comes in at close to 2.5 tonnes. Corners are best taken relaxed. Even if it can still gird its ponderous loins and reach 100 km/h from rest in 3.9 seconds. But the real perk is the rest of the time when it simply irons the road. ‘Succulent Chinese wheels’ springs to mind.
Everything is adjustable too – steering and brake feel, power delivery, even the ride height.
2026 Deepal E07 AWD Performance. Photo: James Coleman.
The verdict
It’s clear you’re getting a lot of car with the Deepal. So, to the all-important ute value question: How much?
There are two models: the single-motor rear-wheel drive with 550 km of driving range from $64,900 and my dual-motor, all-wheel-drive Performance – with slightly lower range of 510 km – from $73,900.
Like the Cybertruck – and every other electric ute really – you’re not really going to use the Deepal for traditional ute things. It turns out a multitruck is effectively just an SUV with a big boot.
But because a quick look around the streets reveals that’s really all a lot of ute buyers need, it’s perfect. And for the rest of us, it could also double as a house, with a bed you can sleep in.
Deepal’s definitely onto something.
2026 Deepal E07 AWD Performance. Photo: James Coleman.
2026 Deepal E07 AWD Performance
- $73,900 plus on-road costs
- 2 electric motors, all-wheel drive
- 440 kW / 645 Nm
- 0-100 km/h in 3.9 seconds
- 510 km estimated range
- 7-year/160,000 km warranty (8-year/240,000 km battery warranty)
- Not yet rated for safety
Thanks to Deepal Australia for providing this car for testing. Region has no commercial arrangement with Deepal Australia.
Original Article published by James Coleman on Region Canberra.
