Behind the wheel of the BAIC X55: this is the new Chinese SUV looking to carve out its place in the market through design and equipment

We have yet another Chinese brand in our market. It’s called BAIC, belongs to the group of the same name -which also has other brands such as Arco and Foton- and arrives through Grupo Invicta, which already sells in Spain, among others, the DFSK, SERES and LIVAN brands. Its first model is the BAIC X55, an SUV 4.6 metres long that competes in one of the most difficult segments, with rivals of the calibre of the Kia Sportage, the Renault Austral, the Hyundai Tucson, the Ford Kuga, the MG HS, the Ebro S700 and the Omoda 5.

It may not be the only model from this brand to reach our market, because BAIC’s range is extensive: it has two other SUVs, the “city” X35 and the luxurious X7. There is also a saloon called U5 and a range of off-road vehicles with a very rugged, outdoorsy look, the BJ30, BJ40 and BJ60. In addition, under the Arcfox brand it also sells five other models. Among other BAIC curiosities, since 2019 it has held a stake of almost 10% in Mercedes-Benz. And for a time, the successful Xiaomi SU7 was coming out of its factories, as BAIC handled its production. But let’s return to the BAIC X55, which is the subject at hand. A car that is very “eye-catching” in design, with an interior presentation and finishes that draw attention, and a chassis-engine combination that gives it more than decent dynamic qualities. What you’re surely wondering by now is the price. We’ll talk about all of this below.

Bodywork and cabin of the BAIC X55

To complete the dimensions chapter, we are looking at a car 4.62 metres long, 1.89 metres wide and 1.68 metres high, with a wheelbase of 2.72 metres. Its exterior design draws attention with details such as the stylised LED headlights, the “Beijing” logo on both the bonnet and the tailgate, where you would expect to find the brand, in reference to the city where BAIC was born, the two-tone finish for the bodywork and the wheels or the flush-retractable door handles. The aerodynamic coefficient is 0.32, which is not bad. For the bodywork you can choose from five colours: white, red, blue and two shades of grey.

Inside, which you can access without taking the key out of your pocket (just press the handle lightly), there is a very pleasant atmosphere to the eye… and solid to the touch. By now we are no longer surprised by how well finished Chinese cars are, especially in relation to what they cost. And the X55 is no exception. Here you can choose between two two-tone colour combinations: black and red or grey and black. Padded materials with a soft feel abound, the seats have a sporty design and are very comfortable. And the multimedia section is covered by a 10.2-inch digital display for the instrumentation with some scope for customisation, plus a central touchscreen of the same size for the multimedia system, which you have to use to operate virtually all the car’s functions, as there are no physical buttons for controlling the climate or the radio, apart from those on the steering wheel.

Habitability is adequate for the size of the car. But with 350 litres of capacity, the boot falls well behind the average of SUVs of its size, where many are around or above 500 litres. It is true that, in return, under the floor the X55 is still one of those that opts for a spare wheel instead of settling for a puncture repair kit, even if it is an emergency spare.

Petrol engine and dual-clutch gearbox

Under the bonnet, the X55 has a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine with 4 cylinders that doesn’t skimp on technology. It has no hybridisation of any kind -it qualifies for the C label- but it does use a variable-geometry turbocharger, operates on the Miller cycle and claims a thermal efficiency above 39%, which is a very good figure. It reaches a maximum power of 177 CV and a maximum torque of 305 Nm, which allows it to homologate an acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.8 seconds and a top speed of 200 km/h. It is paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox. A configuration, a mid-displacement turbo petrol engine with a dual-clutch gearbox, very common in the Chinese cars that are reaching our market. And the driving result is also very similar to other models of Chinese origin, such as the Omoda 5, Jaecoo 7 or Ebro S700.

Sufficient performance and pleasant use, with one “weak point”: fuel consumption. To stay within the homologated figure, 8 l/100 km of mixed average consumption according to the WLTP cycle, which is already a bit high in itself, you have to drive very smoothly and always use “Eco” mode. It also has a “comfort” programme, another “sport” and a “smart” one that switches between the previous ones depending on the type of driving. We will test it more thoroughly later on, but the first impressions in a brief first contact are positive. Although it aims to be so by design and positioning, it does not quite manage to be as effective and sporty as a Cupra Formentor. Nor is it as comfortable as an Renault Austral. But it works well as an all-round car: the engine is very willing, the automatic gearbox works correctly and the chassis prioritises comfort and ease of driving over agility.

Equipment and price of the BAIC X55

The BAIC X55 has a list price that in principle is not as attractive as that of its main Chinese-origin rivals, as it starts from 31,995 euros, although it is true that with the offer when financing the purchase it drops to 28,995 euros. In return, it has very complete equipment, including as standard elements such as intelligent and active cruise control, automated parking system, peripheral vision cameras, automatic high beams, trailer manoeuvring assistant, alarm, tailgate sensor, leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control, heated and ventilated front seats, 8-speaker audio system, LED headlights and interior ambient lighting system. The warranty offered by the brand is 5 years or 100,000 km.

BAIC X55 – Image gallery