The Beijing X55 – well-priced luxury

Chinese car manufacturers are increasingly gaining popularity in South Africa as constant evolution, superb design features and growing technology make their cars stand out from the rest, especially when it comes to the combination of luxury and affordability.

This is the case with the Beijing Automotive Industry Corporation’s (BAIC) Beijing X55, a stylish and avant-garde SUV which will be produced in South Africa.

One may be forgiven for expecting this futuristically-designed SUV to come with a hefty price tag, but this is not the case.

With the entry level model coming in at R394 900 and going as high as R454 900, the Beijing X55 is sure to set the tone for a hungry SUV buyers market, where demand for affordability is ever-present.

Boasting smart technology, exceptional performance, revolutionary sports styling and human-centered comfort, the Beijing X55 is here to meet that demand.

Vice-president of sales and marketing at BAIC South Africa, Hugo Hu, said the X55 is the only product in its class to be equipped with China’s double Top 10 engine.

It will be loaded with dozens of features with leading technological advantages affording consumers an advanced sense of technology and superior driving experience.

Powering this compact SUV is a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine producing 130kW of power and torque of 305Nm. The 7-speed DCT transmission sends power to the front wheels, with the SUV boasting a 0-100 km/h speed in 7.8 seconds.

Do not, however, be fooled in terms of what’s under the SUV’s hood, with engine, power, torque, fuel consumption and transmission features being the same across the board.

It’s high-tech features and interior touch screen displays are also standard across the board, with some minor differences between the models when it comes to interior lighting.

In terms of drive control, all models come standard with must haves such as emergency braking assist, and nice-to-haves such as keyless entry, cruise control and hill-start assist control.

With the price of petrol as it is, more car buyers are setting their sights on cars with features such as cruise control in a bid to save on fuel consumption.

Master Drives’ Eugene Herbert, citing a study, said cruise control could potentially reduce fuel consumption by as much as 20% if used correctly.

This does necessitate keeping cruise control at a consistent speed however, meaning it would only be practical on a long road with minimal traffic where you wouldn’t need to compensate for correct following distances and speed adjustments.

With the combination of effective cruise control and its claimed 7.8 litres per 100km fuel consumption, this affordable SUV is made that much more appealing to many in the market for such a car.

“This new-generation SUV opens up the platform and exploration of BAAIC South Africa in the field of comprehensive intelligent networked mobility,” Herbert said.

Follow The North Coast Courier on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & YouTube for breaking news

Telegram Broadcast Service: https://t.me/joinchat/yJULuN8NaCs5OGM0

WhatsApp Broadcast Service: Add The Courier to WhatsApp at 082 792 9405 and WhatsApp your name and surname to be added.