Cheap(er) and cheerful
Off-road vehicles are expensive, especially if you’re buying a new one. Cyril Klopper finds that China has put their best features in one package – and offers it at a competitive price.
The state-owned Chinese car manufacturer BAIC – or Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co and pronounced as “bike” – launched the B40 PLUS, a compact SUV, near Hartbeespoort on 13 October 2021.
The B40 PLUS, in other countries also known as the BJ40, has been manufactured by this company since 2013, but has only now found its way to South Africa.
We can only guess how upset Jeep must be with BAIC, because the B40 PLUS clearly borrows from the Wrangler, especially when it comes to the styling of the body panels. However, it’s interesting to note that BAIC and Jeep were once related to each other when DaimlerChrysler and BAIC partnered up. This particular family tree is way too complicated to explain here, though.
In short: the BAIC B40 PLUS is reminiscent of an American Jeep Wrangler on the outside, the interior is pure German MercedesBenz, and its engine comes from a Swedish Saab, of all things. More on that later.
What do we have here?
The BAIC B40 PLUS is an off-road vehicle with four passenger doors and a part-time four-wheel drive with low-range and a diff lock. It has independent front suspension with coil springs and a fixed rear axle, also with coil springs.
The 2 ℓ engine, the B201R, was originally developed in 1981 by Saab, and BAIC bought the technology in 2009 from General Motors, at that time Saab’s owner, and further developed it
BAIC’s engine is available in petrol or diesel and delivers 160 kW and 110 kW respectively – significantly more than when it was bolted under the Saab 90’s (107 kW) bonnet back then. The B40 PLUS is available in petrol (1 981 cc) or diesel (1 999 cc), manual or automatic, and three trim levels: the base model followed by the City Hunter and Champion. All models have allwheel drive.
Inside and out
As mentioned earlier, there are clear similarities with the Jeep Wrangler. The B40 PLUS has a removable top, just like the Jeep, and the rear door opens and closes the same way too. The Wrangler, however, is slightly longer (4,88 m) than the B40 PLUS (4,64 m). They’re about the same when it comes to weight and width, but the Jeep obviously
boasts a monster of a V6 engine, while the B40 PLUS has a more modest 2 ℓ four-cylinder.
The interior of the B40 PLUS is beautiful with cheerful colours and beautiful instrumentation that is clearly inspired by Mercedes-Benz, only cuter. We doubt the Germans would be upset about this because BAIC and Daimler have bought shares in each other’s companies.
In terms of technology, anti-lock brakes, brake-force distribution and an electronic handbrake comes standard. The City Hunter and Champion models get traction control, stability control, electronic brake-force distribution, and hill ascent and descent control.
What about the competitors?
It’s difficult to figure out exactly who the rivals are for the B40 PLUS. Certainly, the Jeep Wrangler, but it simply doesn’t feel right
to weigh them up against each other, because the Wrangler is significantly more expensive and far more luxurious.
Perhaps the Suzuki Jimny? There’s no fair comparison to be made here either, as the Jimny has only two passenger doors, a smaller engine, and a ridiculously small luggage compartment of 113 ℓ compared to the cavernous 532 ℓ of the B40 PLUS. The Jimny’s diminutive size allows it to weave its way though obstacles, and in a off-road test our money would be on the Suzuki Jimny.
And what about the Mahindra Thar? Maybe – it’s about half the price of the B40 PLUS, but it’s ancient and only offers two seats!
We show the “competitors” below, but this Chinese “Jeep” actually occupies its own niche, thanks to its competitive price and luxury package.