The BAIC X55 is on the horizon for Malaysia and we have some thought after our test drive of the pre-production model.
These last couple of years have been extremely vibrant in the Malaysian automotive industry as Chinese brands have started to set-up shop. While many of these brands appear to be ‘new’ to Malaysia, many of them actually have many decades of experience selling vehicles in what has become perhaps the most competitive car market in the world. Geely muscling their way in via Proton was a the first major crack in the dam. Today, BYD, Chery, GAC and GWM are also making massive inroads – finding thousands of buyers in a market once thought to be too conservative for Chinese brands. But not every major Chinese car conglomerate is represented here yet. One major missing player is the 66-year old BAIC, known for their close collaboration with tech giant Huawei. Well, that changes in 2024 as the brand is set to introduce 2 locally-assembled vehicles here – the BJ40 Plus off-roader and this X55 which we have been allowed to test drive in pre-production CBU form with “Beijing” logos.
What To Expect
The first thing that strikes one is that the X55 looks about half a size smaller than it actually is. Step inside and you’ll find it actually measures up favourably against the likes of the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro and Proton X70. As with many modern Chinese SUVs, the BAIC X55 has an upmarket feel to it in terms of its design, build quality, cabin layout, colour choices and digital elements. You don’t feel short changed here – in fact it almost feels like what a premium car would have offered for twice the price less than a decade ago.
In fact, I’d venture to say BAIC’s may be going a little further than coms of its rivals as it plans to offer a variety of interesting interior upholstery colour options instead of just sticking to 1 or 2 yawn-inducing shades. Our test unit came with a pretty bold red interior which gave the car quite a bit of character.
That being said, there were a few things that also stood out for the wrong reasons. The first were the floor mats – they appeared to be made of some lightweight plastic foam – almost like the kind that apples are sometimes individually wrapped in.
They were ill fitting and were likely not from the factory, so best to wait until the official production models are shown before judging these accessories.
The second thing that stood out was the lack of features including a 360-degree parking camera, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This too will change in the production model, so we’ll not comment further on these aspects until launch.
Power & Drive
Under the hood is a BAIC-developed Magic Core 1.5L turbocharged gasoline direct injection 4-cylinder motor. This engine produces 188PS and 305Nm of torque, making it the most powerful in its class. The engine was decently tuned though there is some turbo lag before all that power comes in despite the variable geometry turbocharger.
The 7-speed wet dual-clutch transmission performs well when pushed hard but sometimes proved to have a mind of its own at lower speeds. At mid-to-high speeds, the car drove with a bit more bite from the engine and poise in the chassis than its Chinese peers. Many Chinese vehicles tend to favour comfort over handling, but the BAIC X55 gives the Proton-touched X70 a run for its money in the corners.
Design, Features & Comfort
The X55 is also pretty well-packaged and comes with an interesting cabin. There’s something for all thanks its mix of a minimalist aesthetic, a sprinkling of asymmetry and geometric patterns, characterful L-shaped air vents, a flat gear selector lever, Tesla-style roller-buttons on the steering wheel… The list just goes on and on.
We feel that the interior is a strong point of the X55. It may not have the conjoined displays of the Tiggo 7 Pro, but the approach here is still quite up market and distinguished. The infotainment system, even without the Apple Carplay functionality, felt quite integrated to the vehicle as evidenced by its ability to adjust and control the power boot and some seat adjustments too.
The other tech-related item that was a little odd was the predominance of USB Type-A ports instead of Type-C but this is not yet expected in anything but premium vehicles.
One thing that does set the interior apart from its direct rivals is its flat floor for better rear occupant comfort.
The boot is also a pretty good size and the rear seats can be folded flat for more cargo space as expected.
What’s definitely not expected for mass market SUVs in a panoramic sunroof, but it appears that it’s on the equipment list. It has a cover, so not to worry.
Also on the list – perforated synthetic leather upholstery, semi-bucket inspired seats for the front passengers, customisable ambient lighting, powered front seats, and the X55’s most impressive feature – hidden exterior door handles.
This last item really changes the way the car comes across in the metal. Some love hidden door handles and some find them to be an unnecessary complication. Regardless of how you feel about them, they definitely help to create a sleeker and more expensive looking vehicle.
Paired with the closed-off front grille, the BAIC X55 almost comes across as an electric vehicle. So if that’s the look you’re going for but you’re not a fan of wasting your life at a plug point, this could be the car for you.
Value Proposition
Honestly the way this car looks from the exterior ALONE will be enough to attract tonnes of buyers. Of its 3 main Chinese SUV rivals, the X55 is the most futuristic and premium looking from the outside.
The “Beijing” logos will disappear from the production model and be replaced with slightly more palatable “BAIC” ones.
The only thing to wait for now is how closely and well BAIC can work with both its Malaysian dealer partner Jiang Qiang and its assembly partner EP Manufacturing. Malaysians will no doubt contrast this to its closest rivals as Proton and Chery have both got their own factories in the country. That being said, many buyers are just interested in pricing, equipment and warranty package and these are expectations we feel the BAIC X55 can meet at launch. Pricing is anticipated to fall between RM12x,xxx and RM14x,xxx.
2024 BAIC X55 Specifications
Engine: Inline-4, 16-Valve, DOHC, Turbocharged Petrol
Capacity: 1.5L
Gearbox: 7-speed DCT
Max power: 188PS @ 5500rpm
Max torque: 305Nm @ 1500-4500rpm
0-100 km/h: 7.8 seconds
Price: TBA
