While we've seen a few affordable passenger offerings from BAIC in the past, it's the Beijing X55 that is sure to thrust the brand into the mainstream. This new compact SUV takes the fight to the big dogs and shows them that luxury appointments shouldn't have to cost and arm and a leg.
Beijing Automotive Group, more commonly, BAIC has been on a firm charge in South Africa after sealing one of the largest automotive IDC deals in the last 40 years. Offering two distinct offerings, wearing somewhat different badges, BAIC offers both the B range of off-road orientated vehicles and now introduces the passenger lineup, Beijing. The first offering to the South African public under this sub-division is the compact SUV, the X55.
We’ve sampled this vehicle before briefly but now BAIC officially unveils the model with units on sale from today (16 November 2022). The model was revealed and presented to members of the media, stake- and shareholders and customers alike with a gala evening that included addresses by the CFO of BAIC South Africa, the IDC, Chinese Consul General. Earlier in the day though, we managed to spend some quality time with a vehicle that is bound to capture the imaginations of South African motorists.
Challenging the status quo
The X55 is a compact SUV with luxurious appointments and modern tech, wrapped in a modern, stylish and slightly futuristic package that has its sights set squarely on the market held by the likes of the Kia Sportage, Hyundai Tucson, Volkswagen Tiguan and similar; a hotly-contested segment of the market currently.
Handsome proportions are complemented by a futuristic front end and attractive LED lighting elements while hidden door handles, like those that you would find on a Range Rover, keep the side profile clean and uncluttered. The rear is a little less attractive and feels a little disjointed when compared to the front but still features a split upper roof spoiler and LED taillights.
Three trim levels are on offer and the lowest-spec trim rides on 18-inch alloy wheels with a polished face. The two higher-end trims get 19-inch anthracite-coloured wheels.
While slightly generic from certain angles and its overall shape, the X55 is still a good-looking vehicle and will carry a wide appeal.
Interior
Undoubtedly, the highlight of the X55 is the interior. I am one who places a lot of emphasis on interiors and the X55 is a pleasantly surprising place to be. Overall fit and finish is great with a very high perceived quality. It’s attractively styled with a sloping dashboard and minimalist approach to the switchgear, which is both its blessing and its curse; as clean as it appears, the user experience is less than idea, sadly.
Two screens rest atop the dashboard with the driver display allowing for a choice of three themes while the central screen houses most of the vehicle controls and infotainment system. This is arguably the weakest aspect of the X55 and the infotainment system, while clear and fairly responsive, is overly complex and fails to provide the entertainment options that vehicles in this price category should. One has to use a dedicated app to allow for screen mirroring but there’s no Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, wireless or tethered. Suport for Android devices is better and it does allow for full screen mirroring. This is not available to Apple users though.
Another weak point is the lack of automatic climate control. The X55 does have an air conditioning system but you’re unable to set your desired temperature and have to guess what fan speed will be best for your comfort.
The seats are a particular highlight and are designed in a similar vein to those found in the Lamborghini Urus. They’re relatively comfortable but extended stints in the seats will have you sweating due to the artificial leather used. The top-spec model counters this by offering seat ventilation and heating and makes the Premium model the one to have.
This Premium model also gets a panoramic sunroof (with rain detection) and customisable ambient lighting, seat memory and reclining rear seats.
NVH levels are impressively low and BAIC has used Baby-Care anti-bacterial materials for the contact points like to steering wheel and gear selector to help reduce the transmission of unwanted pathogens.
Powertrain
All Beijing X55 models are powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine that features a variable geometry turbocharger. These units produce 130 kW and 305 Nm torque from as low as 1500 RPM. It’s paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox and sends power to the front wheels. It’s a smooth and punch engine but does suffer from a noticeable boost threshold (the point where usable turbo boost pressure is produced) creating a slightly “laggy” response from the throttle at low RPM.
This all soon dissipated and the gearbox programming is well suited to most scenarios. The shifts are smooth and hardly noticeable, the mark of good gearbox programming and of a respectable gearbox too. Four drive modes allow for drivers to choose between Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Smart, an intelligent program that assesses the driving style and modifies the throttle and gearbox responses accordingly.
In Eco mode, BAIC claims that you will see a consumption figure of 7.7 l/100km. Performance figures are suitably impressive with a 0 to 100 km/h sprint time of 7.2-seconds.
Safety
All models in the Beijing X55 range are equipped with 6 airbags and the usual array of driver safety systems. ABS with EBD, Emergency Brake Assist, Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Hill Start Assist, and Hill Descent Control are all standard fare while ISOFIX child seat anchors are situated at the rear. A driver fatigue monitoring system is in play as is a tyre pressure monitoring system.
Price
Pricing is the name of the game in this segment and the onslaught from the other Chinese firms have shown that quality doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg and the buying public is taking note. Recent success of the Haval Jolion and Chery Tiggo means that the future looks bright for this latest offering. The pricing of the X55 is extremely competitive.
Three trim levels are available; Dynamic, Elite, and Premium. The last two receive the panoramic roof and larger wheels while the Premium gets those ventilated memory seats and ambient lighting.
| Model | Price |
| BAIC Beijing X55 Dynamic | R394 900 |
| BAIC Beijing X55 Elite | R424 900 |
| BAIC Beijing X55 Premium | R454 900 |
All models are sold with a 5-year/150 000 km warranty with an additional 2-year/50 000 km warranty on the drivetrain. The service plan is separate from the purchase price, in line with the Right-to-Repair act and a 5-year/60 000 km manufacturer service plan costs an additional R16 800.
BAIC is offering a special launch promotion of a free service plan included with the purchase if the X55 is purchased before the end of 2022.
Chad LückhoffWith over 18 years of motorsport commentary and a passion for 90s Japanese Sports Cars, Chad Lückhoff is happiest when surrounded by drift cars and smoking tyres. His experience as the Technical Editor of the country’s top tuning magazine means that it’s the nuts and bolts of motoring that tickles his fancy. As comfortable in front of the camera as he is behind it, he’ll take you behind the wheel with his video reviews, written recounts, and invoking photography. One of the first to join the AutoTrader fray, Chad has been living his passion at AutoTrader for over 7-years.View News & Reviews
Keyword: BAIC Beijing X55 (2023) first drive review