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Let’s Talk About The BAIC Beijing X55’s Reliability

The BAIC Beijing X55 seeks to bring a stylish yet technologically advanced driving experience, but how reliable is the Beijing X55?

The BAIC Beijing X55 is BAIC's answer to the ever-growing demand of SUVs in the global marketplace. So much so, that BAIC went back to the drawing board and even used what resources they had available to make a compelling product. I had the vehicle on test and you can read the review here.

BAIC wasn't playing games when they introduced their sub-brand 'Beijing' incorporating luxury and technology to produce attractive yet affordable products. Not only that, they're planning to set up shop in South Africa and manufacture vehicles in the Eastern Cape. Technological support was received by Daimler from their factory in Beijing of which BAIC is their main partner in the 'Beijing Benz' joint venture. A solid foundation and all, but is it reliable?

Related: Browser BAIC used cars now.

Service plan and warranty

One of the biggest influences on a vehicle's reliability is how you take care of it. Generally, if the vehicle is maintained according to the service plan schedule, it's more likely for the vehicle to last. That being said, The BAIC Beijing X55  from new is available with a 5-year / 150 000 warranty as standard and optionally, a 5-year / 60 000 km service plan is available.

Is the Beijing X55 reliable?

The BAIC Beijing X55 launched in November 2022. It's still quite a fresh car on the market, even though you can buy used BAIC cars at some dealers, and needs to be put through its paces over time. Both locally and internationally, we haven't yet seen reports of issues and component failures simply because the car is still new. It's difficult even to ascertain the repair costs as we've discovered here should something go wrong. We'll only really know true reliability as further assessments and surveys are done testing this over time. With this in mind, the BAIC Beijing X55 so far, is reliable. 

Find a used BAIC for sale to get the best at the best price possible.

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Shared from https://baicnewsreviewsandinfo.weebly.com/blog/lets-talk-about-the-baic-beijing-x55s-reliability

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4 Chinese Auto Manufacturers Aiming To Conquer South Africa

Haval and Chery aren't the only Chinese brands looking to take over the South African market.

South Africa's automotive landscape is undergoing a seismic shift as Chinese car brands continue to gain traction and make their mark. Haval and Chery are leading the way and have quickly become household names, an astounding achievement when you consider no one knew what Haval was two years ago.

The days when Chinese vehicles were considered cheapo knockoffs are firmly in the past. Today, Chinese automakers are producing high-quality, top-seeded vehicles and South African consumers are paying attention.

So Haval and Chery are the clear leaders in the Chinese invasion, there are a lot more where they came from. Here are five more Chinese cars that are planned to drop before the end of the year.

Ora Cat

We’ve spoken about the Ora Cat before, but only because everyone else in the motoring community is too.

The Ora Cat is poised to become a game-changer in the South African market and word on the street is that this is the electric vehicle (EV) that could make this category properly mainstream. We wait in anticipation as a proper release date has yet to be announced.

More importantly, pricing is what will really make or break the Ora Cat. Industry speculation is that it will retail for R600 000, which isn’t exactly cheap, but might be an acceptable price for new technology. Currently getting an EV in South Africa means having to fork out a million Rand or more. At that price point, R600 000 seems like a bargain.

Tank 300

Going in a completely different direction is the Tank 300. The name should tell you all you need to know. If you want rugged and robust, look no further than the Tank 300.

A sub-brand of GWM, the Tank 300 off-roader is a combination of exceptional durability and no-nonsense design. Its bold, commanding presence basically says I’m not here to play, I’m here to work. While it is difficult to honestly comment on its off-road capabilities at this juncture, the Tank 300 has a lot of positive buzz and looks ready to conquer South Africa's challenging terrains.

JAC T9 Hunter

South Africans always seem to require a versatile and capable bakkie and, if nothing else, the JAC T9 Hunter at least looks the part. I’d go so far as to say it's the best-looking bakkie I’ve seen in years.

Taking on the mighty Toyota Hilux and the Car of the Year-winning Ford Ranger is probably not the smartest play in the South African market. And yet JAC will attempt just that with the T9 Hunter, a double-cab bakkie meant for work and play.

But you can't underestimate the Chinese, GWMs P9 range of bakkies have represented themselves well, so there’s no reason to think JAC can’t do the same.

BAIC B80

While JAC is planning on fighting with Toyota and Ford for the bakkie crown, the BAIC B80 is chasing down the likes of Mercedes-Benz and their G-Glass.

Other BAIC new cars which are extremely popular already.

It’s an obvious match-up - just look at its, err, looks. It's clearly trying to ape Merc’s iconic G-wagon. Reported features include 17-inch alloys, xenon headlights, LED daytime running lights, leather upholstery, aluminium sports pedals, ambient lighting, heated and ventilated front seats, dual-zone climate control, a digital driver display, a sizable infotainment unit, a reverse camera, keyless start, front and rear parking sensors, and cruise control. So it’s also trying to match the Merc in creature comforts.

However, the reported price tag is R1 million plus. At that point, you might as well just get the Merc.

BAIC new car range currently offered includes an off-roader, namely the B40 Plus which is certainly worth a look. Of course, there is the Compact Family COTY winner, the Beijing X55 in the new car stables from BAIC too.

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News shared from https://www.capetalk.co.za/articles/

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The BAIC B40 Plus SUV Is Breaking Boundaries

BAIC has been in the motor vehicle industry for over 50 years, and recently the BAIC Automotive Group Co. Ltd (BAIC Group) has become one of the five largest automotive groups in China. The brand has been active in the South African market since 2016.

In October 2021 BAIC South Africa launched their iconic off-road SUV, the B40 PLUS to the local market.

The BAIC B40 PLUS is available in 5 derivatives:

B40 PLUS Diesel

B40 PLUS Petrol

B40 PLUS City Hunter Diesel

B40 PLUS City Hunter Petrol

B40 PLUS Champion Petrol

Read the below review of the BAIC B40 PLUS Champion Petrol model. 

Exterior

The BAIC B40 PLUS is available in 7 colours:

Ice White

Onyx Black

Desert Red

Forest Green

Military Green

Ocean Blue

All BAIC B40 Plus models are fitted with:

17" Alloy Wheels

The B40 PLUS Diesel and B40 PLUS Petrol alloy wheels are single colour, while the City Hunter and Champion models are fitted with dual tone 17" alloy wheels.

All the models have a full-size spare alloy wheel on the rear tailgate.

Standard features through the B40 PLUS models are:

Silver Front Grille

Side Step

Red tow hooks front and back

Black outside door handle

Black rear outside door handle

Halogen headlights

Electric height adjustable headlights

Front and rear fog lights

LED Daytime Running Lights

Follow me home lights

LED high-mount brake light

Chrome outside heated electric rearview mirror

Safety

All models in the BAIC B40 PLUS range have the following standard safety features:

Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)

Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) 

Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) 

ISOFIX child seat restraint system 

Child safety lock

Front 3-point safety belts with pre-tensioners

Driver airbag

Front passenger airbag

Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)

Rear parking sensors

Reverse camera system

Alarm

Immobiliser

Central locking

The B40 PLUS City Hunter and Champions models have the following additional safety features:

Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) 

Emergency Brake Assist (EBA) 

Traction Control System (TCS)

Hill Ascent Control (HAC)

Hill Descent Control (HDC)

Interior

The standard interior features in the BAIC B40 PLUS are:

Dual-zone auto air conditioner

Power steering

Multi-function steering wheel

Electric windows, front and rear

Anti-glare inside rear view mirror

Manual 4-way adjustable driver's seat 

6-way adjustable front passenger seat

60:40 fold, flip rear seat configuration

Rear seat recline function

Rear centre armrest and cupholder

The top-of-the-range BAIC B40 PLUS Champion Petrol which we tested have the following additional interior upgrades:

Leather multi-function steering wheel

Electric 4-way adjustable driver's seat

Connectivity

The BAIC B40 PLUS range has a decent entertainment system with a:

Touch Screen Radio with AM/FM/MP5 functionality and USB / Bluetooth / Auxillary functionality

6 Speakers

Engine

There are two engine options for the BAIC B40 PLUS:

2.0L Petrol - In-line 4-cylinder turbo 

2.0L Turbo Diesel  - In-line 4-cylinder turbo 

The turbo diesel engine is available in a 6-speed manual transmission which produces 110kW of power and 350Nm of torque.

While the petrol engine is a 6-speed automatic transmission with 160kW of power and 320Nm of torque.

C02 Emissions on the BAIC B40 PLUS:

250.4g CO2 / km for the 2.0L Petrol Auto

272.15g CO2 / km for the 2.0L Diesel Manual

Fuel economy claims of:

10.6L combined cycle for the 2.0L Petrol Auto

10.26L combined cycle for the 2.0L Diesel Manual

Warranty

All BAIC B40 PLUS models come standard with a 5-year/ 120 000km warranty plan

Service Plan

All BAIC B40 PLUS models have an option of a 4-year/ 60 000km service plan

Verdict

We tested the BAIC B40 PLUS Champion Petrol in a short review (1 day) and we were quite impressed with what it was capable of.

The 2.0L petrol engine had an automatic transmission, making it easy to navigate through traffic, on the highway, and over the rocky off-road terrains on which we tested it.

Manual transmission is only available in the diesel models.

The Daytime Running Lights (DRL) LED fog lights are so bright that you probably forget that you need to turn the headlights on, which you do manually.

There is a start-stop ignition button but no keyless entry, you still need to use the remote for the central locking.

The features in the BAIC B40 PLUS are basic, but it covers all the standard features you need in any vehicle in terms of comfort, safety, and connectivity. I liked the BAIC logo look air conditioner vents, and the leather padded doors gave a nice finish. Something to get used to is the door hinges which are very loose, so just be careful when opening the door if you are too close to a wall or another vehicle in a parking.

You can switch from standard drive mode to sport mode, snow mode, or from 2H, 4H or 4L with the touch of a button or the turn of a knob for the latter options.

In sport mode, the SUV builds up speed quite quickly but beware of the high fuel consumption that follows it. Generally, the fuel consumption is relatively high as we averaged 14.0L/100km which could be more fuel efficient, especially considering the current petrol price and the claims of 10.6L/100km.

But if you want to take a slow cruise and enjoy the scenery you can remove the hardtop roof - which you will need to do manually and leave it at home if you are planning to do this. There are anti-roll bars fitted in the BAIC B40 PLUS should you wish to drive roofless.

The tailgate has separate hinges from the rear window to make it easier to switch when switching from hard-top to topless. 

What was quite impressive is the ground clearance of 210mm which results in a generous approach angle of 37 degrees, departure angle of 31 degrees and ramp-over angle of 23 degrees. This aids in the ease of moving from on-road to off-road, which the BAIC B40 PLUS handles very well.

The BAIC B40 PLUS starts from R 574,500 which if you are comparing it to mid-sized SUVs might seem reasonable, but if you add the fact that it is a fully capable Off-Road 4 Wheel Drive (4WD) vehicle then it is very competitive.

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Shared from https://baicfanforlife.postach.io/post/the-baic-b40-plus-suv-is-breaking-boundaries

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BAIC Takes The Crown As The Compact Family SUV Of 2023

A BAIC SUV made history as the first Chinese vehicle brand to receive the award for the highly competitive compact family category

In a historic first at the SA Guild of Motoring Journalists Car of the Year Awards, a Chinese brand has walked away with the coveted Compact Family award. For a Chinese brand to receive such recognition just three years ago would have seemed unfathomable.

The award is even more notable in that it went to BAIC SA's new Beijing X55 SUV, a car that launched locally just a few months ago and that had virtually no brand recognition.

''We are thrilled that the BEIJING X55 has won its category in the South African Car of the Year competition. This achievement is a testament to our commitment to providing our customers with high-quality vehicles that offer great value for money,'' said Hugo Hu, Vice President of BAIC SA. "We extend our deepest gratitude for bestowing this prestigious award upon us and are humbled and honoured to be recognised by such a distinguished panel of jurors."

The recently released BAIC Beijing X55 is obviously, a family SUV that offers sci-fi styling making it a unique shape on the road. BAIC has packed the car with a host of luxury features including an aircraft-style steering wheel, 3D ambient lighting, a digital instrument cluster and a CarbitLink infotainment system.

The car is powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine producing 130 kW and 305 Nm. While we haven't had a go with the car as yet chatter amongst car journalists has been very positive.

The Beijing X55 flew the Chinese flag high alongside its compatriot vehicle the Tiggo 8 Pro Max from Chery. That car also achieved a notable victory taking home the coveted Motor Enthusiasts Choice, an award that is voted for by the public.

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Article shared from https://baicnewsreviewsandinfo.weebly.com/blog/baic-takes-the-crown-as-the-compact-family-suv-of-2023

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BAIC Gets Backed By Absa

BAIC SA recently announced its new collaboration with Absa. Together the two companies hope to bring luxury cars to the market at an affordable price.

BAIC SA has invested heavily in a state-of-the-art manufacturing and assembly plant in the Coega Industrial Development Zone near Gqeberha.

Its Beijing X55 vehicle was a category winner of the 2023 SA Car of the Year contest, and for dealers like BAIC Midrand across the country, this is good news, as it will certainly boost sales.

For Absa, the alliance represents an opportunity to boost its share of financed vehicles sold in the country as the popularity of affordable luxury brands continues to grow among South Africans.

“We are honoured to partner with an automotive player that has invested in the growth of our continent, aligned with our values as a purpose-led pan-African bank. We look forward to leveraging off each other’s strengths to drive greater competition in the market and deliver better value for our customers,” said Charl Potgieter, the managing executive of Absa’s vehicle and asset financing department.

Find out more about financing the X55 at a Midrand dealer near you.

“There is an increase in the sale of China’s automotive brands in our market, and this is also the case with BAIC-manufactured vehicles, as it prepares to take on competitors locally,” Potgieter added. “The South African consumer has come to appreciate the growing trend in affordable luxury branded vehicles and expects more ‘bang for their buck’ when buying a new or used vehicle during these tough economic times. This alliance answers the call from the South African consumer on many levels.”

There's a BAIC dealership in Midrand that’s waiting to take you on an X55 test drive and tell you more about your financing options - don’t wait!

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Source: https://baicfanforlife.postach.io/post/baic-gets-backed-by-absa

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BAIC SA Partners With Absa - Offering Competitive Vehicle Financing

In a bid to offer premium automobiles at a reasonable cost, BAIC SA announced its latest partnership with Absa. The joint venture between the two entities aims to introduce opulent vehicles to the market that would be accessible to a wider audience.

With a state-of-the-art manufacturing and assembly plant located in the Coega Industrial Development Zone near Gqeberha, BAIC is well-positioned to make a significant impact in the country’s auto industry.

Moreover, the automaker’s Beijing X55 model has been named a finalist in the highly coveted 2023 SA Car of the Year contest, which is a testament to the quality and innovation of the vehicle manufactured by BAIC. Undoubtedly, this news will be music to the ears of the 29 BAIC dealers operating across South Africa, as it is expected to boost their sales significantly.

Meanwhile, for Absa, this alliance represents an exciting opportunity to increase its share of financed vehicles sold in South Africa, as the demand for affordable luxury brands continues to grow. Charl Potgieter, the managing executive of Absa’s vehicle and asset financing department, aptly put it, “We look forward to leveraging off each other’s strengths to drive greater competition in the market and deliver better value for our customers.”

There is a palpable increase in the sale of Chinese automotive brands in South Africa’s market, and BAIC-manufactured vehicles are no exception, as they prepare to take on local competitors. With the South African consumer appreciating the trend of affordable luxury branded vehicles, the alliance between BAIC SA and Absa is perfectly poised to meet their expectations, delivering more ‘bang for their buck’ when buying a new or used vehicle, especially during these trying economic times. All in all, it will be fascinating to see how this partnership grows and flourishes in the future.

Looking at purchasing a BAIC, peruse vehicles available from this Chinese automaker at Group1.

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 Article shared from BAIC SA Partners With Absa - Offering Competitive Vehicle Financing (baicblogonly.blogspot.com)

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Impressive Beijing X55 Is Made And Priced To Sell

In recent years, carmakers from the Far East are pulling no punches. Just look at what the Haval division of Great Wall Motors (GWM) has done in the last 24 months. Or the strides Chery has made in the last year. Just consider that the last time it was a fixture on the local scene, it was selling the horrid QQ3.

Beijing Automotive Group (BAIC) is another brand to keep an eye out for. It first came to the country with the D20, a hatchback clearly inspired by the Mercedes-Benz B-Class from two generations back. Then it added the odd-looking X25 to its portfolio, as well as the B40 off-roader, which underwent a name change from BJ40 for some reason.

But its newest release, the BAIC X55, has been met with far less ambivalence. We had a taste of the model at an event last year, but after spending a week testing the product, the verdict is conclusive: this is not just one of the most compelling Chinese products on the market, but easily one of the most compelling choices in the compact crossover segment.

BAIC’s Beijing X55 SUV is a real head-turner, prompting countless double-takes and smartphone pictures taken by strangers. People think it comes from a more pedigreed and exotic stable than its price tag and badge would have them believe.

It starts at R412,900 for the Dynamic, R4424,900 for the Elite and R472,900 for the Elite range-topper we tested. A five-year/150,000km warranty and a five-year/60,000km service plan are included.

What else can you get for that price, with exterior door handles that eject and retract electronically just like those on the latest Range Rover? The dazzle factor of the X55 is extremely high, given the relatively modest asking price.

Pulling one of those door handles reveals a thoroughly modern interior, with an interesting blend of textures, shapes and novel fittings. The interior door pulls, for example, have a floating effect. The sculpted door panels are backlit, which looks especially nifty at night.

Its red leatherette upholstery echoes the feel of a vehicle with sporting character, while the single-piece front seats boast a design that would look right at home in a performance coupé.

The three-spoke steering wheel is wrapped in perforated leatherette and fits snugly in the palm.

But we can level criticism at the overall user interface aspect. Taking centre stage is a 10.1-inch infotainment screen, through which virtually all functions are controlled, including the climate system.

One wished for conventional dials to adjust fan speed, temperature and even audio volume, as having to navigate through the screen can be distracting. The last point about volume is at least redeemed by the presence of steering-mounted controls.

Power across the range comes from a 1.5l, four-cylinder, turbocharged petrol engine. It has a purported output of 130kW and 305Nm, which feels somewhat less so in reality. It errs on the strained side under hard acceleration, when urgent overtaking is required, for instance. Best to finesse the X55 along, rather than expecting brisk, instant fizz. The seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic is excellent, dispatching shifts imperceptibly.

The cabin is well-suppressed against exterior noise. Rolling on 19-inch wheels, the X55 does not offer the same polish in the ride quality department as some German, Japanese and South Korean rivals. Still, at the price it asks, you can forgive this deficiency. And truth be told, the average buyer upgrading from an older B-segment hatchback into the BAIC is not likely to find the suspension tuning a deal-breaker.

Equipment is bountiful. Climate control, heated and ventilated front seats, a panoramic sunroof, rain-sensing wipers, an electronically-operated tailgate, electric seat adjustment for driver and front passenger as well as in-car Wi-Fi are part of the package. The clarity and resolution of the reverse camera also deserve a mention.

On the safety front, it offers dual front, side and curtain airbags, in addition to anti-lock brakes, traction control, electronic stability control, electronic brake-force distribution and a tyre pressure monitor. Chinese NCAP has awarded it five stars.

This luxury SUV looks the part, features a high level of perceived quality, and is well-equipped and priced to undercut chief rivals. Expect to see many on our roads, more so once the firm gets local production up and running at its Gqeberha plant.

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Review compiled by https://www.timeslive.co.za/