A new Chinese importer (and soon a local assembler) joins our market and jumps straight into a competitive segment.
Price: R229 990
0-100 km/h: 12,72 sec
Power/Torque: 85 kW/148 N.m
Top speed: 160 km/h
CAR fuel index: 7,32 L/100 km
CO2: 151 g/km
NO doubt an unfamiliar brand to most South Africans, let’s start with some background. The BAIC (Beijing Automobile International Corporation) Group is the latest Chinese company to enter the South African market and is state-owned in its home market. In the automotive sphere, BAIC has joint ventures with both Mercedes-Benz and Hyundai, a result of Chinese trade agreements that require global companies entering the domestic Chinese market to partner with a local company.
BAIC has also invested heavily in South Africa and, in 2016, signed a massive R11-billion investment deal with the Coega Development Corporation to include a completely-knocked down assembly plant near Port Elizabeth, from which the vehicle in this test will eventually be one of the models produced.
In South Africa, BAIC’s range currently consists of the D20 hatchback and sedan, as well as this X25 crossover (the introduction of a larger SUV and double-cab bakkie are planned for the near future). Similar in size and concept to a vehicle such as the Ford EcoSport, the X25 rides slightly higher off the ground than standard hatchbacks, with dark cladding, silver side sills and grey front and rear bash plates lending it the desired faux-off-roader personality. Visually, it can look a little top heavy, though, with a high roof and narrow tracks that make the wheels appear tucked in.
Ultimately, the exterior design might not be as mainstream as current models from Europe and the Far East, but it is distinctive and the standard fitment of roof rails provides the possibility of adding additional equipment.
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Denne historien er fra May 2018-utgaven av CAR.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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