2026 Deepal E07 AWD Performance Seven-Day Review: From country hay hauler to Bunnings, the Multitruck ute/SUV gets the ultimate Aussie test

January 17, 2026January 16, 2026 Toby Hagon 229 Views 0 Comments Deepal, E07, Multitruck

An SUV that transforms into a ute is quite the sales pitch for Aussies.

Almost three-quarters of the vehicles we buy are either SUVs or utes, so the temptation to get a two-for-one offer is very real.

But how good a job does the Deepal E07 do at straddling the different needs of a ute and an SUV?

That was my challenge during this seven-day test.

But… spoiler alert, it was more like a 16-day test as it stretched over the Christmas break.

That said, the so-called Multitruck – the local tag attached to the Deepal E07 – was often off-duty as the Christmas cheer was absorbed.

Day One: Getting to know the SUV that wants to be a ute

My Deepal E07 was the top of the range Performance model that’s priced from $73,900 plus on-road costs (there’s also a single motor rear-drive model for $64,900).

Both share the same basic gear and get the the bold fastback-style body that has wisps of Tesla Cybertruck.

The Performance gets two electric motors, adjustable height air suspension, adaptive dampers and a ludicrously long list of standard equipment: 21-inch alloy wheels, panoramic sunroof with electronic sunshade, rear side blinds, doors that suck themselves closed and electronically adjustable seats front and rear.

All four outboard seats also get heating, ventilation and a massaging function.

But the USP for the Multitruck is its load area that transforms from an SUV to a ute … sort of. We’ll get to that…

While there’s already a plethora of electric motors elsewhere – I started counting the electric motors but gave up at 30-something – you can add more to that system.

Press the boot release button from near the numberplate and the small upright rear window glides down and the slanted back window slides half way up.

It takes longer than it would to open a traditional tailgate.

And, like so many Chinese cars, the centre screen controls so much of the car. There’s lots of swiping and tapping to do often basic tasks, such as adjusting the ventilation.

There was also some good news on my first drive home in the E07: Whereas early Deepals had annoying driver warnings, the latest models – including the S07 (a mid-sized SUV from Deepal) – are far more agreeable.

That said, it still wants to talk occasionally when it’s not needed.

”Don’t forget your phone”, for example, when switching the car off.

And when it tells you to “please close the co-driver’s door” it wants to spell out the co-driver’s – as in co-driver-ess – in a way only a computer would.

Still, first impressions are solid.

Day 2: Country cruising

It was straight to work for our E07 with a trip to country NSW.

It’s road trip ready… There’s no shortage of space, including a frunk and sizeable back seat, so getting ready for the big adventure was easy.

And there’s lot of delving into the centre screen to adjust everything from the sunblind (it’s great it’s got one) to the glass divider between the back seats and the load area, as well as the various elements of the tailgate and rear hatch thingy.

Opening the boot is more complex than it needs to be, especially when you just want to launch gear at it.

Under way and there’s no hiding the heft of the E07. It tips the scales at 2440kg and it feels chunky.

That said, 21-inch Michelin tyres provide decent grip and ultimately it’s fairly capable in a big car kinda way.

There’s some prodding and experimentation to work out what the buttons and thumbwheels on the steering wheel do. It’s a bit Tesla in its functionality.

On a busy freeway north of Sydney the radar cruise control showed its limitations.

Even on its shortest distance it leaves a decent gap to the car in front, prompting others to cut in.

When you override it by accelerating there’s another warning encouraging you to “look out for the safety”.

In the cut and thrust of holiday traffic I found it easier to revert to manual control.

Another minor gripe: The 18-speaker sound system is OK, but it doesn’t have much depth and doesn’t go loud enough when you want to crank your favourite driving song.

No complaints from the back seats. The kids were content getting their own AC controls and mucking around with the massaging seats.

I was more worried about how far we’d get on a charge.

The claimed range is 510km (WLTP) and the car is keen to suggest it’ll get close to that.

On closer inspection of the trip computer (more swipes, taps and menus) it seemed the car was running off its theoretical range, not what it would actually do.

So the longer our trip went the less optimistic it was.

But there was some good news. After a decent day of driving along 110km/h freeways then 100km/h of undulating country roads – with plenty of overtaking – the E07 was remarkably efficient.

I managed to get around 460km from the 89.98kWh battery. Given the size of the vehicle and its ability to hit 100km/h in around four seconds that’s thoroughly respectable; big tick there!

When it comes time to charge the 800V battery architecture allows it to make the most of the 350kW chargers that are relatively common on the open road now.

That said, while it was quick to charge – we piled on 74.69kWh in 28 minutes – we never hit the claimed 240kW DC maximum charge rate, instead topping out at 204.6kW.

Perhaps the ambient temperature played a part – it was in the low 30-degree bracket.

Day 3: Feeding the horses

Time to get serious with the ute activities.

On a property in central NSW the horses were getting hungry and the E07 had been enlisted to help out.

Ordinarily they do it in an old ute – in this case a GWM (yep, even the cockies like sniffing out a Chinese bargain!) – but I’ve offered up the E07 for the hay hauling duties.

We transformed the back into its ute status while still allowing for five passengers.

The mostly plastic load area is ready for some dirtiness and the glass separator between the passenger compartment keeps whatever it is you’re loading up away from the plush leather, while still keeping all five seats in play.

With the tailgate folded down – something that can’t be done on the road because it obscures the lights and numberplate – it easily swallowed four bales of hay.

The air suspension was jacked up to its highest setting to help navigate lumpy ground, something that makes for much less compliance in the ride.

And there seemed to be less wheel articulation as it was perched up high (that’s not uncommon in 4WDs with air suspension).

There was a slight concern that with no spare tyre we may have been left unable to repair a puncture, but at such low speeds it was no biggie.

All up it did the job fine, although the horses didn’t quite seem to know what to make of the Deepal.

While there was more fussing than normal getting stray hay out of the load tray, it was overall a tick for this ute test.

While I was out in the middle of nowhere I decided to try some 0-100km/h runs.

There’s no doubt the E07 is brisk, but it doesn’t have that instant ferocity many EVs give when you first tramp the throttle.

Instead, it’s a leisurely wind-up before confidently surging you back into the seat.

It takes some getting used to and is not as easy to regulate as an EV that’s touchier under your right foot.

I’d prefer to have that more instant response that makes it easier to judge quick starts.

Day 4: Hitting the MTB trails

Back in the city the E07 constantly reminds it’s a big vehicle.

The suspension is wafty and wallowy in its standard mode but tightens a tad in Sport.

It’s then you feel the bumps more; sharp edges can jolt into the otherwise composed cabin.

There’s no ideal setting.

It’s also worth mentioning rear vision. It’s generally OK, but the split in the back window provides a slim line that blanks out the grille and/or bonnet of cars behind.

It’s no biggie, but there’s occasionally a time when that little bit more vision would be handy.

The raked angle of the upper back window also reflects painted white lines into the rear vision mirror, which can initially be distracting (I got good at ignoring it!).

There’s also no rear windscreen wiper, one of the few features the E07 is missing.

Back on home turf was also a chance to hit the mountain bike trails of Sydney.

Without removing the front wheel I launched my 29-inch dual suspension bike into the back.

In some large SUVs that can be a challenge, especially with the broad handlebars of a mountain bike.

But having the back window slid forward – with open air above – makes things a lot easier, allowing for extra space to squeeze things in.

It did, however, mean folding the back seats down, reverting the car to a two-seater. No biggie and to be expected – but not as useful as a ute.

In that state, thought, once underway you get warnings that you’ve left the back open while driving.

Still, it got the job done.

Day 5: The Bunnings run

It had to be done: the good old trip to Bunnings.

With the waft of sausage sizzle in the air it was time to navigating the hectic carpark.

The sheer bulk of the E07 requires some patience and precision in positioning it between the concrete dividers and others keen to stock up for the home reno.

On the hit list was a sizeable new washing line, which I was hoping would be packaged in an equally sizeable box.

It turns out those who manufacture said washing line did a terrific job of squeezing it into a remarkably compact box.

Still, I opened the back – the 10 or so seconds it takes can occasionally be frustrating when you’re hoping to make a quick exit – and loaded it up.

There are tie-down points in the load area, but for this quick trip I didn’t bother.

There’s another test I didn’t do: towing.

The Deepal is only rated to lug up to 1500kg, which is a full two tonnes less than your average ute.

That will straight away take it off the shortlist for some ute buyers.

Day 6: Off to the tip

The summer break always seems to be a great time at our house to tackle some hedge trimming.

It’s a big job – and one that demands a ute for the inevitable overflow that won’t make it into the green waste bins.

Enter the E07, backs seats folded and everything open and ready to gulp down leaves.

All of which looks a tad too ritzy for the plushness of a car clearly trying to tick the luxury box.

So I grabbed a tarpaulin to protect the interior as much as possible.

With that temporary shield in place the branches and leaves were loaded aboard.

Because half the load area is covered it made piling the last few bits in trickier than it would be in a Hilux or Ranger. And you need to be more cautious with your loading enthusiasm so as not to scratch the matte paint.

We also had to dig some leaves out of the greasy runners that allow the back window to slide up and down.

Opening the back doors allows for a few more stragglers to be shoved in.

But climbing aboard reminds you of the limitations of a car that is more SUV than ute.

You’re a lot closer to nature – literally.

The occasional leafhopper wanted to join me up front.

And having everything open makes for more noise from traffic and wind.

And, as we discovered the next day, the little critters that love living in trees will make anything their home.

Half a dozen or so spiders that gave up on being in the foliage had quickly made the E07’s nappa leather their home. The lack of a separation between load area and front-seat occupants has its drawbacks!

There was a day of clearing out the energetic arachnids to save the unwanted surprises at 100km/h.

Day 7: The farewell

The Deepal E07 is something of an enigma.

What it lacks in a luxury badge it makes up for with the sort of equipment you’d struggle two find in a car costing two or three times what it does.

And it does a decent – if not stellar – job of delivering on the EV sales pitch

All up it was impressively economical and big, with plenty of space.

But the big sales spiel with the E07 is its ability to transform from an SUV into a ute – of sorts.

The ute aficionados will no doubt be happy to hear there are still very valid reasons to buy a traditional ute.

Ultimately, the E07 swings way more to the SUV side of the ledger, and does a reasonable job of it.

It’s far less convincing as a ute.

Still, at least it captivates with its ability to change.

Score: 3.5/5

Deepal E07 Performance price and specifications

Price: $73,900 plus on-road costs
Basics: EV, 5 seats, 5 doors, SUV that also wants to be a ute, AWD
Range: 510km (WLTP)
Battery capacity: 89.98kWh
Battery warranty: 8 years/240,000km
Energy consumption: 16.6kWh/100km (claimed)
Motors: 1 and 1 rear, combined output 440kW/645Nm
AC charging: 7kW, Type 2 plug
DC charging: 240kW, CCS combo plug
0-100km/h: 3.96 seconds (claimed)