Page 5 - Motoring Summer 2022

BAIC TEST REVIEW

All models are powered by a 1.5l
4-cylinder turbo-petrol motor delivering
130kW and 305Nm to the front wheels via a
7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
The engine has won awards in China and
the gearbox was named as one of the
World’s Top 10 in 2022. On the road, both
the engine and gearbox prove themselves
when it comes to smoothness and delivery in
everyday driving.
Beijing by BAIC has certainly loaded this
car with every possible feature. Delving into
the menus on the touchscreen allows you to
set up every possible function and there are
some shortcuts available through steering
wheel buttons as well, including the drive
modes of Eco, Comfort, Sport and Smart. The front seats, decked in two-tone red If I have to find a ‘picky point’ then I
The Sport mode not only changes your and black leather, are a stand-out feature. must add that I found that the headlights
instrumentation to a shade of red but also Besides electric adjustment, the sports shape could provide brighter illumination at night,
adds a gruff roar to the engine sound. provides exceptional comfort and grip. especially on the roads during load-shedding,
The unusual centre console has two In the rear, the legroom and headroom when it’s much darker than usual.
levels, with numerous places for storing your are ample, plus these passengers also get air- In summary, the Beijing X55 has amazed
phone, a USB port, and a cooling function in con vents and an additional USB port. in every respect. But even above the endless
the bin under the armrest. A bonus is that the The enormous panoramic sunroof can features included, as is now expected from
electronic parking brake will not disengage be set to close automatically when the speed Chinese brands, it’s the value-for-money
without the driver’s seatbelt being fastened, reaches 125km/h, to prevent too much proposition at the price that stands out.
which is an excellent safety feature. buffeting. Another plus is that the roof and
Air-con functions are supplemented by windows have sensors that will close them if Prices:
front seat cooling and heating. The lighting raindrops are detected. Beijing X55 Dynamic — R394 900
can be adjusted as well – in the interior, On the road, for our traditional Sunday Beijing X55 Elite — R424 900
there’s an ambient lighting colour selection. road trip, the X55 was smooth and very Beijing X55 Premium — R454 900
Exterior features include follow-me home comfortable when cruising. There was plenty
lights that can be set to any time delay you in reserve for overtaking when needed and The Beijing X55 comes with a 5-year/
choose and even the lane change indicators the transmission instantly dropped a cog to 150 000km warranty and 5-year unlimited km
can be set to 3, 5 or 7 flashes. This list could provide safety. The car felt solid and planted, roadside assistance. A 5-year service plan is
keep going on. both on the open road and around town. optional. n

MOTORING | Summer 2022 | 3