The BAIC B30 SUV will be touching down in SA this year and here are some early details about this offroader.
The BAIC B30 is a compact SUV and will be offered in both petrol and hybrid derivatives. In China the vehicle is tagged as the BJ30, but some info released by the local arm confirmed a name change as well as the hybrid B30e.
At just over 4 700 mm long and a wheelbase of 2 820 mm, the BAIC B30 is fractionally bigger than the Kia Sportage, Volkswagen Tiguan, Toyota RAV4 class of car. Given its design, its being marketed as an SUV for adventurers and is available in its domestic market in both front-wheel- and all-wheel drive configurations.
Interestingly, its a monocoque setup, as opposed to the more offroad-biased ladder-frame chassis like the Tank 300, Toyota Fortuner, Ford Everest and so on. There’s a commendable ground clearance claim too at 215 mm.
In terms of engine and transmission, a 1.5-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder petrol is offered and that makes 138 kW and 305 Nm, paired to a 7-speed automatic ‘box. The hybrid is a fascinating proposition with the 1.5-litre turbo engine paired to an electric motor, and combined they make 301 kW and 685 Nm.
Inside, the cabin looks high-tech, with a dominating 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and centrally-located 14.6-inch infotainment screen. BAIC says the car features a Qualcomm Snapdragon chip powering the systems. In terms of practicality, BAIC is claiming 1 496 litres of space with the seats folded. These fold flat, by the way, and the marketing material highlighted this by turning the cabin into beds.
Pricing Prediction
Pricing will be announced when the vehicle launches in South Africa, but if we were to hazard a guess the BAIC B30 range will start from R600k with the hybrid commanding a premium.
We’ll update this article when the vehicle touches down.
