Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co. Ltd., or BAIC as it is more commonly known, has just introduced two new SUVs in Malaysia. In addition to the BJ40 Plus previewed yesterday on this site, the BAIC X55 is an SUV that will go up against arch-rivals like the Honda CR-V and Proton X70. Standard and Premium are the two available variations for the C-segment SUV, with prices ranging from approximately RM120,000 to RM140,000.
The X55 is now imported in its whole from China, together with the BAIC BJ40 Plus. On the other hand, plans for local assembly (CKD) in Malaysia of the two models are scheduled for early next year.
With dimensions of 4,620 mm by 1,886 mm by 1,680 mm and a wheelbase of 2,735 mm, the BAIC X55 is somewhat bigger than the X70, although having a little shorter height.
The X55 boasts a sleek, nicely molded appearance on the outside, evoking thoughts of a Lamborghini Urus-style sports SUV. Its closed-off “front grille” resembles Lexus’s newest spindle grille design and may even lead some people to believe it is an electric vehicle (EV).
The X55 in Malaysia comes with standard exterior features including automatic LED headlights, LED daytime running lights, LED taillights, 18-inch alloys, flush door handles, electric adjustable side-view mirror with heating function
panoramic sunroof and a power tailgate
Powering the X55 in Malaysia is a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine that generates 188 hp and 305 Nm, boasting a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission that sends power to the front wheels only.
Inside, the decor is quite simple. Like many other SUVs, the X55 has modern amenities like a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a 10-inch digital instrument display as well as rear air vents and dual-zone automatic air conditioning that are also included as standard.
Only the top-of-the-line X55 Premium is equipped with active safety features that include Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), and Front Collision Warning (FCW).
CARLIST THOUGHTS
To be bluntly honest, the X55 is a good-looking SUV. However, when compared to rivals like the Honda and Proton, its exterior styling is, well, sharp enough, but ho-hum. It could age within a few years. Yes, it does get all of the tech and safety extras you’d expect in a car of this calibre, and it does provide enough oomph to satisfy the sporty-minded, but it may not have to start power to challenge the best from Japan and Malaysia.