It was even somehow exciting to meet this car in person. After all, just six months ago, in an article about the diversity of the Chinese automobile industry, I mocked the manner in which the manufacturer described the design. On the promo page of the model there was a slogan, the most reasonable translation of which sounds like “the coming of a fashionable beast.” There is also an “interstellar lattice made of diamond crystals”, a power structure of the body with the romantic name “space fortress”, and so on. And now the fashionable beast himself grins: “Well, now tell me all this to my face, keyboard hero.”
But if you don’t read the pathetic rubbish on the BAIC website, then there’s nothing particularly to scoff at: neither you have more exhaust pipes than there are cylinders in the engine, nor red calipers or at least the Pro additive. The “intergalactic” decor of the front bumper is quite organic – no more tacky than that of a Mercedes. Or the grilles of the Peugeot 4008 crossover, which the BAIC X55 reminds me so much of with its silhouette and contrasting roof design. Except that the spoiler on the fifth door in the Lotus Eletre style looks pretentious – but the Changan and Geely brands know even less about modesty in this part of the body than BAIC.
Dmitry PiterskyDmitry Pitersky
Dmitry Pitersky
Dmitry Pitersky
Dmitry Pitersky
The X55 tries to look cool – and due to the sense of proportion shown by the designers, it succeeds. Unlike crossovers from other Chinese brands, the car does not seek to imitate Porsche and Lamborghini models. It looks more like a futuristic electric car than a pretentious sub-sports car. This appearance is universal, so it’s not even clear what class the BAIC X55 belongs to and how much it costs. At the car wash, for example, they were surprised that it wasn’t an electric train.
BAIC is one of the oldest Chinese manufacturers. The abbreviation stands for Beijing Automobile Group
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Since the word Beijing means Beijing, the name of the capital as the name of the car makes the X55 in its own way an analogue of the Moskvich
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BAIC produces cars under the Beijing and Arcfox brands (premium electric cars), and also has joint ventures in China with Hyundai and Mercedes-Benz
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Maybe there’s about 150 horsepower and a CVT with front-wheel drive for about two and a half million? Or more than 200 “horses” with all-wheel drive for about three and a half? The truth is in the middle: the crossover costs 3 million, does not have all-wheel drive, but is quite powerful and dynamic: 177 horsepower and 7.8 seconds to hundreds. BAIC is produced at the Kaliningrad Avtotor, but in its homeland it is sold under the Beijing brand – the corresponding nameplates and imprints are repeatedly found on the body and in the interior. The specific name of the model for the Chinese market is “Rubik’s cube” instead of X55.
Contactless unlocking and handle feeding are clearly configured. Is it annoying that the triple beeping sounds confirm each time the locks are locked or unlocked – for example, when you walk around a running car in the parking lot or in line at the car wash?
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Noble Korean tires are a rarity for the original equipment of a Chinese model
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The hood without gas struts is so heavy that you can use it to pump muscles. Therefore, a fragile girl may simply not be able to cope with pouring washer fluid.
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There were a few times when I actually felt like I was dealing with a puzzle. How to get into a running car if after a while the electric handles automatically retract into the doors? Pressing the key fob buttons does not help – it turns out that you need to press on the front edge of the handle so that it can be opened and pulled.
But the real Rubik’s cube is the climate control screen. Starting from the fact that it is not very clear how to call it at all and ending with the need to forcefully turn on the “auto” mode every time after restarting the engine. Control of temperature, airflow directions and other functions is carried out according to the principle “let’s see what happens if you click here” – this is one of the climate interfaces farthest from logic and clarity that I have ever seen.
The display uses a budget matrix with low resolution and lack of black depth. This makes it feel like a cheap digital photo frame rather than a control center for a modern car.
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The dashboard is not very flexible in displaying data, but the basic set of information is easy to read. Translation of screens into Russian should be ready in November
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For other issues, I also want to access the multimedia system as little as possible: the image on the screen is faded and blurry, and the functions are structured somehow. The interface is based on Huawei’s Harmony OS operating system, but this is not its best implementation – we’ll soon tell you about the really cool multimedia in the Aito M7. The all-round camera is too intrusive (it’s not easy to disable it locally) and draws a 3D model of the car much better than its surroundings.
Instead of standard synchronization via “carplay”, a “crutch” was used here in the form of the Carbit application. The solution is controversial, but has its advantages for some users – like watching YouTube on the move, since Carbit completely translates the smartphone screen into a multimedia system. The sound quality of the music is acceptable, but no more. Of course, they forgot about the volume knob for the passenger – there is only a wheel on the right spoke of the steering wheel.
The low dashboard and suspended center console give a feeling of spaciousness. It is enhanced by the panoramic roof and the overall minimalist design of the space.
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If these seats were upholstered in genuine leather and had sufficient rigidity, they would fit a real sports car – the design and anatomical profile correspond
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The second row has a lot of space in all dimensions, the floor is absolutely flat, it’s comfortable to sit
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The rollers attached to the hemispheres are reminiscent of Teslas. These control units are cheap, but easy to use.
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The contour illumination at maximum intensity is so bright that it is clearly visible even during the day
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Many interior elements look unusual, but removing dust from such an original deflector will not be easy
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The decorative cover in the center of the front panel under the windshield is the voice assistant speaker
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The wireless charging cell phone pocket does not fit a 6.9-inch smartphone. Therefore, power must be taken from one of the three USB ports of the old A-format
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Even remembering that the emergency warning button is on the ceiling, I did not always hit it the first time
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In general, the interior is well made – from simple materials, but with imagination, style and a sense of proportion. But not in everything: for example, the center console is made in the form of a “floating bridge” (like the observation deck in Moscow’s Zaryadye), which gives the interior originality and gives the feeling of more space than it actually is.
But they went overboard with the asymmetrical shape of this cliff. As a result, both niches for the phone are located diagonally and are therefore not very functional. My mobile phone simply does not fit on the shelf closest to the armrest due to its size, so wireless charging becomes unavailable. And from the pocket closest to the front edge of the console, the smartphone flies out during sudden braking.
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And don’t be surprised that I allowed myself to hit the pedals in a regular crossover. The dynamics and handling in the X55 are at such a level that you simply don’t want to deny yourself a fast ride! Of course, 180 mm of ground clearance gives a raised center of gravity, and there are rolls and dives. And all 300 N∙m of torque (this is like a 20-year-old Subaru WRX, for a moment) rotates only the unloaded front axle, so a powerful jerk is obtained only on the move.
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But the overall balance of the chassis and powertrain is decent. The suspension allows you to not really look under the wheels and at the same time keeps the body from excessive vibrations. The steering wheel promotes a constructive dialogue between the car and the driver, and the robot and engine work harmoniously. The brakes are also ok. But as soon as you go more slowly, you will want more delicacy. To make the suspension less fussed over trifles, the accelerator reacts more quickly, and especially so that the gearbox moves off more smoothly.
When driving quietly, there is some inconsistency in the reactions to the driver’s commands: for example, the clutch closes too sharply at the start, and the throttle always responds with an unpleasant eco-delay. Sport mode does not solve the problem completely, because it makes the car more nervous in complex
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Each such nuance individually is a trifle. But taken together they give a decent sediment. Moreover, there are a lot of them – among other things, the auxiliary electronics are weird. In slow traffic, the parking sensor wakes up with a warning about the proximity of neighboring objects. I couldn’t find how to disable this feature, so I had to poke at the screen every time to turn off the annoying buzzer.
Another troublemaker is the lane steering system. She pulls the steering wheel to the side with the suddenness of a driving instructor who suddenly looks up from watching a video on his phone. Such “keeping in the lane” not only does not increase the comfort and safety of traffic, but it is naturally frightening. Fortunately, this assistant saboteur is easily put to sleep in the multimedia system.
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Dmitry Pitersky
As a result, the BAIC X55 has a certain identity crisis: powerful and well-handled, but at the same time a crossover. Moreover, the crossover is strictly front-wheel drive. Dynamic, but at times twitchy and thoughtful. Style outside and inside, but the multimedia system is a mess. What does the car want to tell the user with all this? And whose needs is it trying to satisfy?
Most people would prefer convenience in everyday small things to good handling. And the dynamic single-wheel drive gets moderate but stable traction from all-wheel drive. It’s like bipolar disorder when the BAIC X55 tries to be both an edgy hot hatch and a practical crossover. But in the end it is neither one nor the other.
The huge wheelbase makes the BAIC X55 an alternative [Chery Tiggo 7 Pro Max](https://motor.ru/selector/tiggo-7-pro-max-2023.htm) and its co-platforms and competitors (like Changan CS55 Plus), as well as large models like [Mitsubishi Outlander](https://motor.ru/testdrives/mitsubishi-outlander-2023.htm). The younger version costs 2.95 million rubles, and the older one costs 300 thousand more
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But overall, this is a normal car – no worse or better than most of its competitors. Like all modern “Chinese”, with a whole bunch of “buts”. It looks, drives quickly, and is spacious. In some places it is under-tuned, in others it is eccentric from the very beginning. But they are all like that – finding a Chinese model for 3 million, in which you don’t have to put up with anything significant, is probably impossible. This is the general immaturity of the industry, about which I will probably write a separate column. It’s boiling. /m
Car BAIC X55 Likes Appearance, dynamics, spaciousness in the cabin Dislikes Lack of smoothness, mess in the multimedia system Verdict Design crossover, which as a child wanted to become a fast hatch Engine 1498 cm³, petrol L4 turbo, 177 hp, 300 N∙m Transmission RKP-7 Numbers 7.8 s; 200 km/h Weight 1625 kg
Detailed technical specifications
BAIC X55 Engine type petrol L4 turbo Displacement, cm³ 1498 Max. power, hp /rpm 177/5500 Max. torque, Nm/rpm 300/1500–4250 Drive type front Gearbox robotic, 7-speed Front suspension spring McPherson Rear suspension spring multi-link Dimensions (LxWxH), mm 4620×1886×1680 Wheelbase, mm 2735 Curb weight, kg 1625 Trunk volume, l 350 Acceleration 0–100 km/h, s 7.8 Max. speed, km/h 200 Fuel consumption (combined), l/100 km 7.7 Fuel tank volume, l 53 Price, rub. from 2,950,000
