Changan CS35 Plus: Which Version Should You Buy?
The Changan CS35 Plus choice comes down to transmission rather than engine output. Both 1.6 MT and 1.6 AT use the same 1598 cc Gasoline engine, producing 128 hp and 161 Nm, with FWD and no boost. The 1.6 MT is 40 kg lighter and reaches 174 km/h, while the 1.6 AT has an extra gear but reaches 164 km/h. Both take 14 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h.
The Changan CS35 Plus choice comes down to transmission rather than engine output. Both 1.6 MT and 1.6 AT use the same 1598 cc Gasoline engine, producing 128 hp and 161 Nm, with FWD and no boost. The 1.6 MT is 40 kg lighter and reaches 174 km/h, while the 1.6 AT has an extra gear but reaches 164 km/h. Both take 14 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h. The original model was produced from September 2018 through December 2021, and its restyling has been in production since January 2022. Because the supplied specifications show no mechanical or performance differences between matching pre-restyling and restyled versions, the available data supports choosing by transmission and production period—not by claimed gains in power, acceleration, or economy.
Changan CS35 Plus generations: what changed?
The first-generation Changan CS35 Plus was produced from September 2018 through December 2021 as an SUV 5-doors. It offered two versions: 1.6 MT and 1.6 AT. The database identifies one generation overall, followed by a restyling within that generation rather than a separate second generation.
The first-generation restyling began in January 2022 and is also an SUV 5-doors with two versions, again named 1.6 MT and 1.6 AT. In the supplied figures, each restyled version exactly matches its corresponding earlier version for engine output, torque, displacement, acceleration, top speed, gearbox type, number of gears, drive, kerb weight, ground clearance, tank capacity, wheel sizes, suspension, and brakes. Therefore, the numerical specifications do not identify what the restyling changed. A buyer comparing the production periods should not expect a documented performance advantage from these data alone.
Changan CS35 Plus engine specs and version comparison
Every listed Changan CS35 Plus has a front, transverse 1598 cc Gasoline engine with direct injection. It has 4 Inline cylinders, 4 valves per cylinder, and no boost. Output is 128 hp, or 94 kW, with 161 Nm of torque. That equals approximately 80.1 hp per litre and 100.8 Nm per litre across all versions.
| Production period | Version | Power | Torque | Displacement | Fuel | Cylinders | Layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2018–December 2021 | 1.6 MT | 128 hp / 94 kW | 161 Nm | 1598 cc | Gasoline | 4 | Inline | No | 5-speed Manual | FWD |
| September 2018–December 2021 | 1.6 AT | 128 hp / 94 kW | 161 Nm | 1598 cc | Gasoline | 4 | Inline | No | 6-speed Automatic | FWD |
| Since January 2022, restyling | 1.6 MT | 128 hp / 94 kW | 161 Nm | 1598 cc | Gasoline | 4 | Inline | No | 5-speed Manual | FWD |
| Since January 2022, restyling | 1.6 AT | 128 hp / 94 kW | 161 Nm | 1598 cc | Gasoline | 4 | Inline | No | 6-speed Automatic | FWD |
The engine’s power and torque speeds are not measured, and the compression ratio and bore-and-stroke figures are also not measured. The specified fuel is 95. Engine oil capacity, engine oil type, engine number location, battery size, check-engine-light diagnostics, and engine reliability are not measured in the supplied data.
Changan CS35 Plus performance and mpg
The 1.6 MT accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 14 seconds and has a top speed of 174 km/h in both the original and restyled periods. The 1.6 AT also takes 14 seconds to reach 100 km/h, but its top speed is 164 km/h in both periods. Consequently, the Manual version has a 10 km/h higher top speed, while neither transmission has an acceleration advantage in the available figures.
City fuel consumption is not measured for any version. Highway fuel consumption is not measured, and combined fuel consumption is not measured. Changan CS35 Plus mpg therefore cannot be calculated from this dataset. CO₂ emissions and environmental class are also not measured. Claims that one transmission is more economical than the other would not be supported by the supplied figures.
Changan CS35 Plus weight, ground clearance, and tire size
The 1.6 MT has a kerb weight of 1425 kg in both production periods. With 128 hp, that is approximately 11.13 kg per horsepower. The 1.6 AT weighs 1465 kg, giving approximately 11.45 kg per horsepower. The Automatic is therefore 40 kg heavier and carries about 0.32 additional kilograms for every horsepower.
Gross weight is not measured for either version. Every listed Changan CS35 Plus has 180 mm of ground clearance and a 52-litre fuel tank. Available wheel sizes are 215/60 R16 and 215/55 R17 for both transmissions and both production periods. Overall exterior dimensions and cargo dimensions are not measured, so the model’s length, width, height, wheelbase, and boot capacity cannot be stated from these data.
All versions use Independent, spring front suspension and Semi-independent, spring rear suspension. Braking hardware consists of Ventilated disc front brakes and Disc rear brakes. The supplied specifications show no suspension, brake, clearance, tank, or wheel-size advantage for either transmission.
Changan CS35 Plus 1.6 MT or 1.6 AT: which version should you choose?
Choose the 1.6 MT if the numerical comparison matters most. It delivers the same 128 hp and 161 Nm as the 1.6 AT, but weighs 40 kg less and reaches a top speed 10 km/h higher. Its 5-speed Manual gearbox has one fewer gear than the Automatic, yet its 14-second 0–100 km/h time is identical. On the figures available, it provides the better weight-to-power ratio.
Choose the 1.6 AT if an Automatic gearbox is the deciding requirement. Its 6-speed Automatic provides one additional gear compared with the 5-speed Manual. That choice does not buy more engine output, more torque, quicker acceleration, extra ground clearance, a larger tank, different tires, upgraded brakes, or a different drive system. Instead, it comes with 40 kg more kerb weight and a top speed that is 10 km/h lower.
Choosing between the September 2018–December 2021 model and the restyling produced since January 2022 requires a different judgment. The restyling is the later production period, but the supplied data shows no change to the measurable specifications listed here. A restyled 1.6 MT still has 128 hp, 161 Nm, a 5-speed Manual, FWD, a 1425 kg kerb weight, a 14-second acceleration time, and a 174 km/h top speed. A restyled 1.6 AT still has 128 hp, 161 Nm, a 6-speed Automatic, FWD, a 1465 kg kerb weight, a 14-second acceleration time, and a 164 km/h top speed.
No prices are provided, so the extra money required for either the Automatic or the restyling is not measured. Likewise, equipment grades, interior features, owner-reported problems, maintenance history, and reliability are not measured. Based strictly on the available numbers, the 1.6 MT is the stronger specification-led purchase, while the 1.6 AT is the choice for buyers who specifically want an Automatic gearbox. Between the original and restyled periods, there is no documented mechanical or performance gain on which to base a higher price.