Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co. Ltd., better known by its acronym, BAIC, has made its launch in Malaysia with the debut of two new SUVs. One of them is the BAIC X55, which will be competing against the likes of the Proton X70 and Honda CR-V. Priced from around RM12X,XXX to RM14X,XXX, the C-segment SUV is offered in two variants, namely Standard and Premium.
Together with BAIC’s other SUV that also made its debut in Malaysia, the BAIC BJ40 Plus, the X55 is currently fully imported from China. However, local assembly (CKD) plans for the two models are set to take place starting next year.
Measuring 4,620 mm long, 1,886 mm wide, and 1,680 mm tall, with a 2,735 mm long wheelbase, the BAIC X55 is slightly larger than the X70, albeit a hair shorter in height.
On the outside, the BAIC X55 sports a sharp and youthful look and even has a Lamborghini Urus-like sports SUV vibe to it. The most eye-catching part of its exterior has to be its closed-off “front grille”, which not only reminds of Lexus’ latest spindle grille design but might also trick people into thinking it is an electric vehicle (EV).
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The BAIC X55 in Malaysia comes with these standard exterior features:
- Automatic LED headlights
- LED daytime running lights (DRLs)
- LED taillights
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Flush door handles
- Electric adjustable side-view mirror with heating function
- Panoramic sunroof
- Power tailgate
Moving up to the Luxury variant adds:
- 19-inch alloy wheels
Powering the BAIC X55 in Malaysia is a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine that makes 188 hp (metric) and 305 Nm. The mill is paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT), sending power to the front wheels only.
The powertrain and further technical details of the BAIC X55 are as such:
- Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder
- Max. Power: 188 hp
- Max. Torque: 305 Nm
- Transmission: 7-speed DCT
- Layout: Front-wheel drive (FWD)
- Front Brakes: Ventilated disc brakes
- Rear brakes: Solid disc brakes
- Front suspension: McPherson strut
- Rear suspension: Multi-link
Moving inside, you get a rather minimalistic interior. Like many modern cars out there, the BAIC X55 packs contemporary features such as a 10-inch digital instrument display and a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment display. Dual-zone automatic aircon and rear aircon vents also come as standard.
The BAIC X55 in Malaysia comes with these standard interior features:
- PU seats
- 6-way power adjustable driver and passenger seats
- 10-inch digital instrument display
- 10-inch touchscreen infotainment display
- Leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel
- Electronic parking brake (EPB) with Auto Hold
- Dual-zone automatic aircon
- Rear aircon vents
- Wireless charger
- Six speakers
Opting for the Luxury variant adds:
- Leather seats
- Ventilated and heated front seats
- Angle adjustment for rear seats
- 360-degree parking camera system
- Wireless mobile phone charger
- LED ambient lighting system
- Eight speakers
On the safety side of things, only the top-spec BAIC X55 Premium is packed with active safety systems. This includes features such as Front Collision Warning (FCW), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), and Lane Departure Warning (LDW).
The BAIC X55 in Malaysia comes with these standard safety features:
- Six airbags
- ABS & ABD
- ESP
- Hill Descent Control (HDC)
- Hill Assist Control (HAC)
- Brake Override System (BOS)
- Cruise Control
Opting for the BAIC X55 Premium adds:
- Front Collision Warning (FCW)
- Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
- Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
- Blind Spot Detection (BSD)
To recap, the BAIC X55 has made its debut in Malaysia. Offered in two variants, the C-segment SUV’s price is expected to range between RM12X,XXX and RM14X,XXX.
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