Another day, another new Chinese-made vehicle on sale in South Africa. BAIC has introduced its new B30 SUV, giving its previously-launched B40 Plus a little company on the roads. The best part of it is undoubtedly the price tag, which starts at just R520,000.
That’s the base model B30 Elite Adventure, a 1.5-litre petrol-driven Front Wheel Drive. There are three others to choose from: the R550,000 Premium Adventure, which features the same engine, the R640,000 Elite Adventure HEV hybrid, and the top-end R690,000 Premium Adventure HEV All Wheel Drive.
UB40? No, I B30
The 1.5l engine in BAIC’s assembled-in-South-Africa B30 is supported by a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox and outputs 138kW of power. 305Nm of torque is also on hand, but this is easily exceeded by the two hybrid models. The Elite Adventure has a combined output/torque of 246kW and 550Nm, while the Premium Adventure ups those numbers to 301kW and 685Nm.
A range of features is standard across the B30 range, including adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and blind-spot and cross-traffic alerts. 360° camera coverage and automatic emergency braking are also standard features. The more you pay, the better your other accoutrements are. 19in alloy wheels, panoramic sun roofs, wireless phone charging, and smarter seats are just a few of the options.
Internally, there’s a fair bit of tech. The BAIC B30 sports a main 14.6in central touchscreen that controls everything from media to lights to driving modes. Drivers can even personalise their warning alerts. The central pillar, between the driver and front passenger, also looks impressively futuristic.
And, if you happen to buy one of these, you’ll also provide employment to South Africans. Some of BAIC’s vehicles, including this one, are assembled at the company’s facility in the Eastern Cape’s Coega Industrial Development Zone. Plus, the parts won’t have to travel far if you need to send the B30 to a workshop.
