In 2025, the Changan Nevo A05 arrived as one of the earliest competitors to the popular BYD Seal 5 DM-i. The tale of the tape was clear: Both were well-equipped plug-in hybrid sedans priced at under P1.2 million. BYD had a leg up with a more affordable base variant, but those who valued advanced driving aids and bigger batteries had two serious options.
Then came Toyota and its similarly priced Ativ HEV. Suddenly, car buyers now had a hybrid sedan from a trusted brand. Since 2025, BYD has established itself as a stalwart in the electric vehicle market—arguably selling the third-most cars in the country that year.
That then leaves Changan and the Nevo A05 as a seemingly third option in this emerging segment. However, the car shows a lot of promise, and the brand doesn’t look like it’s going anywhere. Now, can it put up a fight in 2026? Read on to find out.
Styling
The Nevo A05 measures 4,770mm long and 1,840mm wide. However, it certainly looks larger than it appears thanks to its fastback-inspired profile. Its fascia is both thick and sloped, which gives it a strong stance, but the sharp headlights and dramatic design curves make for a sporty impression. The Cloud Mountain Green color also ties everything together nicely.
However, the faux air intakes are a bit too much, and the same goes for the multi-spoke design on the 17-inch wheels and the carbon fiber pattern on the rear bumper. Less cluttered patterns and simpler finishes would’ve benefited the entire shell, but this is in no way a bad-looking car.
I personally think it looks better than both the Seal 5 DM-i and the Ativ. The sporty design punches way above its price tag, and the rear end blends the thin taillights and the flat spoiler cleanly. From the back, it almost looks like a Japanese sedan.
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Interior
Upon sitting in the driver’s seat, I was surprised by how low the adjustment setting went. Being 5’6”, I didn’t need to be sinking into the floor, but it’s good to know that taller drivers can also find decent visibility in the A05.
Speaking of driving positions, after setting my seat I felt properly planted in the car and thus had a generally comfortable driving experience. However, the seat itself was a bit short, which could be a problem for those with longer legs. Those seats were likely cut to give more trunk space, which is commendably abundant.
Heading back to the driver's area, the 13.2-inch main screen was properly accessible. That is important, as most of the car’s functions are baked into the software. The screen itself could use some refinement, as I noticed some lag when engaging the camera system and switching between features. In quick trips these are fine, but they can compound into an annoying recurrence during long drives in traffic.
The display is complemented by a 10.25-inch digital panel on the driver’s side, which got blocked by my hand whenever I instinctively held the steering wheel from the top. Oddly enough, Changan actually placed hand molds on the top section of the unique steering wheel, but I had to keep my hands at 10 and 2 to make sure I could properly see my instrument panel.
I also noticed that a lot of different materials were used inside the cabin. Just on the dashboard, there was leather, faux wood, and hard plastics, and it looked too cluttered. Having just one or two materials would’ve looked much classier. Moreover, the overall build quality was just okay—some creaks here and there, but nothing to complain about.
Powertrain performance
Interestingly, the A05 packs the largest battery compared to the Seal 5 DM-i and the Ativ HEV. Pairing a 1.5-liter engine to a 18.4kWh pack, it narrowly edges the Seal 5 Premium’s 18.3kWh battery, while also advertising a slightly better driving range.
Specifically, Changan says its plug-in hybrid sedan can deliver 1,250km on a full charge and a single tank of gas, with 130km of fully electric driving. During our time with the A05, it returned around 16km/L in predominantly city conditions. That was between an average of -2.2kWh/100km and 5.5l/100km.
Like other plug-in hybrid powertrains, this one also routinely depleted its battery before engaging the engine to recharge. Drivers can manipulate power usage through the EV and hybrid driving modes, but if you leave it on its stock settings as we did, this is likely the performance you’ll get.
Notably, power response remained consistent throughout usage. Some vehicles tend to get sluggish when the battery needs to be recharged, but the 212hp and the 330Nm of torque were readily available whenever I needed it.
Ride and handling
The A05 continues its campaign to be a worthy daily driver with its rather considerate ride. It leans on the stiffer side, but lends itself well to bumps and minor road imperfections. Good weight distribution and driving dynamics make it a fun companion for long stretches of open roads, while also staying comfortable in standstill traffic.
There is a dedicated Sport mode, but it didn’t show any immediate differences—at the same time, we didn’t have the road conditions to really punch it. We mostly left it on Normal, which gave us the aforementioned fuel economy. While on Eco, the regenerative braking does get stronger, but at the risk of a less graceful ride.
And you’d want to take every bit of finesse you can, as the weird steering wheel makes it a bit difficult to maneuver. On more than one occasion, I found myself needing another cut or tug to complete a turn or slide into a parking space.
At the very least, those extra movements will be done in peace as NVH was quite good. The A05 has a quiet cabin, even when the engine kicked up to recharge the battery. Isolation is decent as well, as I was able to enjoy an unusually peaceful ride through Cubao.
Extra features
Changan has equipped its Nevo A05 with a comprehensive suite of advanced driver-assistance systems. It features adaptive cruise control, lane departure and assist functions, autonomous emergency braking, and more. Notably, a 540-degree camera system is also present and has a built-in recording function.
The main infotainment screen then offers wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with audio channeled through a six-speaker setup. Sound quality is nothing special, but nothing bad either. However, it doesn’t make up for the lag within each system—pausing audio, skipping songs, and engaging an ADAS feature all required a few more seconds than they really should.
Verdict
While the A05 offers sharper looks and a more comfortable driving experience, the subpar software could be a deal-breaker for some. And with a new Seal 5 DM-i on the horizon, Changan may be prompted to refresh its sedan before it gets stale in the market.
However, those looking to stand out without compromising on comfort and efficiency can thoughtfully consider the A05. While it does keep a lower profile, the fastback look is something unique to this sedan and may be a valuable quality in a sea of Seals and Vios models.
And for P1.195 million, it certainly demands your attention. While the A05 may seemingly play second fiddle to Toyota and BYD, it has more than enough to make buyers think thrice and keep the competition on its toes.
SPECS: Changan Nevo A05 iD 2027
Price: P1,195,000
Powertrain: 1.5-liter engine + 18.4kWh battery and single electric motor
Power: 212hp
Torque: 330Nm
Transmission: Dedicated hybrid
Layout: Front-wheel-drive
Seating: 5
Score: 8.5/10
More photos of the 2027 Changan Nevo A05 iD 2027:
