A Look at BAIC BJ20
Summary
Beijing Automobile Industrial Corp or BAIC, is a Chinese automobile conglomerate. It has under its umbrella several car and machine manufacturing companies. The company has a worldwide presence and is a major market player in its country. BJ20 is a mid-sized 5-seater crossover compact SUV by BAIC. It has comfort and quality embedded in it. Let’s take a close look at it here.
A brief look at BJ20
BJ20 was introduced by BAIC in 2015. It has been introduced to the Philippine market recently and is wowing the public with its unconventional looks and a host of other features. It wants to carve a niche for itself amid the crowded market of mid-sized SUVs, compact SUVs, and crossovers.
The machine is powered by a 1.5L turbocharged petrol engine capable of producing 147hp and 210 Nm of torque. There are disc brakes for the front and rear.
Currently, the company is offering it in two trims in the local market, with the higher trim offering a lot of safety and convenience features to attract buyers.
But will the BJ20 be able to make a mark on the Filipino automobile scene? Will it be able to compete with its established counterparts? Only time will tell.
But let’s explore this interesting looking vehicle in detail and see what it offers.
Exterior
The BJ 20 has a boxy appearance. It is a throwback to the older designs of SUVs. Its looks can be polarizing, though. You will either hate it or fall in love with its nonconforming appearance.
You can also discover a little bit about other popular models in their appearance.
The build quality is strong. The vehicle uses two/three separate lighting configurations. The top lights, which are shaped like eyebrows, have daytime running lights.
They also work as the turn signal switches. Beneath them are the round lamps, which are the main LED headlamps. They give the car an aggressive and tough look.
The fog lamps under them are not present in all the trims. There is a stylish five-slot front grille.
The front bumper is also stylized for maximum effect. The rear has a rugged appeal to it as well.
All LED taillights are beautiful to look at, and they enhance the visibility of the vehicle at night. The sloping roofline is in line with the contemporary design of the SUVs.
Just like the front bumper, the rear is styled too. It runs on 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels.
Overall, the exterior of this compact SUV looks assertive and beefy.
Interior
The interior of the BJ20 is spacious and gives you the feel of a premium-quality SUV. The predominant colors are black and gray. The black fabric seats are stitched with red thread to add some vibrancy.
The circular AC vents are also lined with red. You get leather upholstery in the upper trim. The seats otherwise are comfortable and cozy. The material used in the cabin is glossy black plastic.
There is also a good deal of faux-carbon fiber, shiny chrome, metal trim, and satin thrown in for good effect. It is a blend of both sporty and classy.
There is a panoramic sunroof that extends to the rear. The highlight of the interior is the massive 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It comes with Bluetooth and USB connectivity. It is easy to understand and navigate.
The vehicle is equipped with parking sensors, a rear camera, auto climate control, air quality sensors, etc. Some features are exclusive to a higher trim, so check the dealership for details.
The driver seat is power-adjustable along with lumbar support. The trunk space is adequate, which can be enhanced further when you fold the rear seats to the ground.
The interior has been designed with the driver’s comfort in mind. All the major controls and functions are within easy reach of the driver’s hands or vision. The windscreen is wide and gives you a clear and uninhibited view.
In short, the interior of the BJ20 is a nice amalgam of luxury, quality, comfort, and practicality.
Performance
The BJ20 is fueled by a 1.5L gasoline, turbocharged, 4-cylinder engine. It can produce 147 hp and 210Nm of torque. The vehicle runs on a continuously variable transmission (CVT system. There is a push-button start.
When you hit the road, you can’t help but get impressed by its drive. It runs smoothly, and it runs fine. When the turbo kicks in, that’s when the real fun begins. The engine shows what it is capable of.
The steering is quick to respond to your touch, which is another plus factor. The handling of this vehicle is great too. You will have no issues with twists and turns. Thanks to the disc brakes on all four wheels, the braking is on point.
It has a MacPherson-type suspension in the front and a multi-link rear suspension in the rear. There’s an impressive ground clearance of 210 mm, which makes it very useful for potholed roads and rough terrain.
The fuel economy is a decent 10 km/liter on busy city roads and around 14.5 km/liter for highways, which is quite good for a vehicle of its size and shape.
There are many other safety and convenience features in BJ 20, like an anti-lock braking system, electronic brake distribution, stability control, hill start assistance, airbags, cruise control, parking sensors, rear camera, safety alarm, speed sensing electronic door locks, etc.
Some of the features are not present in the lower trim, so you'd better check the local dealership for the details.
Pros and Cons
Here are some of the things that go in favor of and against this vehicle.
Pros
· Assertive and unconventional look.
· Loaded with safety and convenience features.
· Fuel economy.
· Comfortable and smooth ride.
Cons
· Steering sometimes seems a bit heavy.
· The CVT is lazy at slow speeds.
· No telescopic steering.
Final words
The BJ20 is a new kid on the block. It is fun, exciting, and great to look at. Its specifications and amenity features put it on par with its more established competitors.
However, its price also rivals them. It can be a turn-off, as buyers would want a cheaper price tag, especially since it is of Chinese origin and a new entrant. With smart marketing moves and word-of-mouth publicity, the future does look bright for BJ20.
References:
• https://www.autodeal.com.ph/
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