With BAIC having made its debut in Malaysia with the X55 and BJ40, attention now turns to future models from the Beijing-based carmaker. The company has now confirmed that two new off-road-biased SUVs will be introduced next year to fill out the local lineup.
Speaking to media yesterday, BAIC Malaysia managing director Lee FY said the BJ30 and BJ60 will be launched next year to join the BJ40 Plus, although no details have been released just yet. The latest BJ30 was launched in China earlier this year, replacing the original that has been around in one form or another since 2015.
Despite being ostensibly a compact SUV, the new BJ30 is vast – at 4,730 mm long, it’s longer than even the Honda CR-V. It’s also much more modern than the car it replaces, with a sleeker quasi-4×4 design that carries hints of the Ford Bronco and Land Rover Defender.
The interior is bang up to date as well, with neat coloured grab handles on the doors and a massive 14.6-inch infotainment touchscreen running on a flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 automotive processor. The BJ30 is billed as a camping SUV, and to that end, it boasts up to 1,496 litres of cargo capacity with the rear seats folded, a vehicle-to-load (V2L) function and one-touch lie-flat front seats.
Buyers get a choice of two powertrain options, both starring the same 1.5 litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine as the X55. The petrol model produces 188 PS and 305 Nm of torque, sent to the front wheels via a seven-speed wet dual-clutch transmission. Meanwhile, the hybrid version gets a 158 PS/235 Nm variant of the mill, a 177 PS/315 Nm electric motor and a two-speed dedicated hybrid transmission (DHT), along with optional all-wheel drive thanks to a 75 PS/135 Nm rear motor.
At the other end of the spectrum is the BJ60, a large body-on-frame SUV that, at 5,040 mm long, is longer than even the full-fat J300 Toyota Land Cruiser. Introduced in 2022, it features a similar five-port grille to the BJ40 with U-shaped inserts (incorporating the headlights), mated to a tall and boxy body, prominent fender flares and an external spare tyre at the back.
Inside, you’ll find a bluff dashboard and a broad centre console, along with rectangular air vents and a freestanding 12.8-inch centre touchscreen. Optional features include a 12-speaker Infinity sound system and seven seats instead of the usual five.
Power comes from a 2.0 litre turbo mill mated to a 48-volt mild hybrid system, altogether churning out 266 PS and 406 Nm. There’s also a 163 PS/400 Nm 2.0 litre turbodiesel available, but given the high prices of diesel recently, it seems unlikely the oil burner will make its way here. An eight-speed automatic gearbox and part-time four-wheel drive are fitted as standard.
Despite the general move towards electrification on the part of Chinese carmakers, Lee told us that BAIC Malaysia currently has no plans to bring any electric cars into the country. He puts this down to the lack of public charging infrastructure, particularly when it comes to DC fast chargers. However, the company is considering hybrids and plug-in hybrids as they are better suited to the lives of most buyers.
GALLERY: BAIC BJ30
GALLERY: BAIC BJ60
Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.
bring this 2nd Gen BAIC BJ30,
it has a hybrid system known as magic nuclear drive – don’t ask! There are five model in the range and prices range from 99,900 to 136,900 yuan.
also has indoor bed, projector, rear tv rack, etc.
how is it entering Indonesia, Philippines, but skipping malaysia? now it is coming, alamak.
I just saw jetour t2. It’s stunning. Hope price is just as good.
Nice
typical la, throw lapsap to us
Nah you are wrong. The only lapsap I see is you. We should throw you away
nice try epmb director mistress
Mantap!
Bring more hybrid and CKD here. No need just pure ICE. Soon no more petrol subsidy. Those hybrid will be better sell here.
i think our market is too tiny to accommodate so many brands flocking in all at once, like almost every month got new brands coming in…can most of them even sustain locally to honor their after sales service if the sales figure is poor
Why you worry they can sustain or not when they are not even worried. More the better for us. More competition = lower price.
once you buy one from them you should start worrying lol
BJ80 is the Mercedes G Wagen look alike. As they assemble Mercedes cars in China.