Baic M20 Luxury 1.5 M/T

Baic, a brand that continues to surprise us with their superb value for money rides has done it again. Hot on the heels of their showroom’s opening, we got to test the Baic M20 in the Luxury configuration. We’ve got high expectations for this vehicle, and here’s what we thought.

- Ren Alcantara

DESIGN

The M20 has proportions that I can only describe as Japanese. It’s slightly narrow and long at the front. This is not to say it’s an unflattering face, in fact, it does cut a sharp line, though it’s certainly more practical than sporty. This is partly because of the height of the roof, and how the hood drops sharply down to the nose of the MPV. The advantage of this layout though, is that it gives quite a bit of room for passengers, and the high ceiling does a lot to keep occupants from feeling cramped.

Our review model came in a fetching shade of red, with tasteful silver accents on the front, along with a honeycomb grille and the distinct BAIC logo on its red background. Body color wing mirrors and sweeping accent lines round the doors keep the M20 from looking overly plain, and 14-inch alloy rims are both tasteful and practical. Overall, it’s a no-nonsense package that I appreciate for its simplicity.

HARDWARE

The M20 Luxury is powered by a naturally aspirated 1.5L Euro 5 compliant gasoline engine that’s capable of 115 HP and 150 Nm of torque, mated to a five-speed manual transmission. This Luxury model also comes equipped with ABS and electronic brake force distribution—a nice extra for the family-mover that it is. Front disc, and rear drum brakes provide the stopping power.