BAIC BJ30

Design & Quality

The cabin is just fine; there are some elements, like material quality and design, that would make you take notice. Mostly quiet and quality soft touch, while driving, you don’t feel rattles or anything missing, well-rounded. You notice the dust wipes off quickly, and the ambient lighting gives it a special upmarket vibe. The key attraction is that the 14.6-inch screen, which is user-friendly, and the ventilated Nappa seats are great for comfort and tackling summer. Features like 360 camera, wireless charging, and ADAS features make life a lot easier, and great value in this price range.. If you compare it to direct competition, the Chinese brand is offering you something more, be it space,  tech, and even light off-road ability for less. Looking at the wholesome package, the cabin appears to be an excellent combination of practicality, comfort and also convenience.

Front Seat

The driver’s seat feels spot-on; you won’t really complain. If you test drive others, you will know what I mean. With 10-way adjustment, memory, and ventilation, it’s easy to make it suit your personal comfort and driving needs. The cooling kicks in quickly, and the high seating position gives the best possible view outside, something you expect from an SUV. The leather-wrapped steering feels good in the hand, with all the controls easy to use. On longer drives, it’s genuinely less tiring due to the attention to detail on some finer aspects.

Electronic Parking Brake

The auto-hold with the electronic brake is one of those small features you don’t realise you need until you use it. In heavy traffic, not having to keep your foot pressed makes life easier, and it holds well on inclines, too.

Rear Seat

The rear seat of the BAIC X7 appears to be developing, keeping in mind family needs and usability. First thing you notice is the reasonable space, and while it can fit three passengers across, it is far more comfortable for two adults on long journeys. The nearly flat floor is a real plus, making the middle passenger’s ride much easier than in many SUVs. The rear AC vents make the cabin cool down in no time, you will love it.  The extra USB ports mean no annoyance from phone charging on road trips. I think the seat fabric is practical too, handling the occasional spill or mess without fuss, adding daily convenience.

AC Vents

You don’t really need to worry about the air-conditioning, the SUV fair well when it comes to its ability to cool the cabin. It chills the cabin quickly, even in peak afternoons, both in the front and the rear.  There’s even an air quality system that filters out dust, which you’ll notice on longer drives. Voice control for adjustments works smoothly, and it’s handy when you don’t want to fumble with buttons.

Storage Options

Another highlight of its practicality is the thoughtful storage around the cabin. The cooled armrest box is great for drinks, and the glovebox and door bins are large enough to swallow daily items. Boot space is practical, and under-floor compartments help keep things tidy.

Armrest

The armrests at the front and rear are unmissable features that boost convenience and also practicality. In this SUV, both are well placed, cushioned and offer the intended benefits.

Charging Options

The mix of USB-A and USB-C ports, plus wireless charging up front, means everyone can keep their devices powered. For families or even solo road-trippers, that’s a big tick, no inconvenience for sockets.

Boot Space

The BJ30 has a big enough boot space capacity of 562 litres, and you can expand further to a massive 1,496 litres whenever needed by folding the rear seats. So, again, families will find this is an amazing space for their needs, with many practical aspects of the SUV. The tie-downs and retractable cover are a small touch, but very useful to keep bags in place on bumpy stretches. Most of the customers will find the boot as an advantage when they mull over their buying decision, as compared to its competition in the segment, it is rather a lot bigger.

• Airbags (driver, passenger, side, curtain)
• Termal Formed Steel Body

• ABS with EBD
• ESC, traction control
• Hill hold assist
• TPMS
• Blind-spot warning
• Lane departure warning
• AEB with pedestrian detection
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• ISOFIX
• 360 camera
• Forward collision warning
• Electric parking brake

The BJ30 is undoubtedly a rugged and polished SUV from the outside. There is a clear combination of old-school boxy SUV look with just enough modern touches to feel fresh, perhaps attracting old and new buyers. The grille looks bold, and the sharp LED headlights really light up the road at night.  A typical compact SUV, it measures 4,730 mm in length, 1,910 mm wide, and 1,790 mm tall, and feels easy enough to handle in the city while still standing tall among traffic.

The ground clearance is rather high, at 215, you’re good to go on almost every terrain in our roads, speed, bumps and even desert driving. The aerodynamic lines keep wind noise low, and those 19-inch alloys give it a nice ability to drive around. It certainly appears as a superb balance between tough and premium in a market full of softer crossovers.

Front

Looking at it head-on, the BJ30 makes a look quite distinctive largely due to its radical design. The grille is aggressive without being flashy, and the LED DRLs give a touch of class. I really noticed how clear the headlights are on darker highways, and from the driver’s seat, the curved hood gives you those strong and rugged SUV vibes. Fog lamps are well-positioned, and even after a dusty run outside the city, they don’t gather dirt too easily, which is a big advantage.

Side

From the side, the proportions work well, something you don’t see that often. The boxy design gives a perfect character, and the roof rails are handy. The 2,820 mm wheelbase gives it a planted feel in crosswinds, and I like how easy it is to step in and out, for everyone in the family, kids and parents.

Alloy Wheels

The 19-inch alloys fit the arches just perfectly, and aren’t just for looks, though the grip on both asphalt and light sand is confident. Over rougher patches, they absorb more than one would expect, so comfort doesn’t take a back seat.

Rear

At the back, the BAIC X7 keeps things simple, but it doesn’t mean best, you have a lot going on in there. The wide LED taillights stretch across nicely, for that modern, confident look at night, while the small spoiler adds a touch of sportiness without feeling flashy. The skid plate is a practical detail too, especially when you are on gravel or uneven surfaces, as it gives a bit of extra confidence. Most owners, just like us, will find the 360-degree camera a lot useful; it makes a real difference in everyday use. In tight parking spots or crowded city lots, the wide and clear view takes away the stress.

Colors

There is Pearl White,  Grey and Pistachio Green to choose from. Personally, l loved the Grey for its practicality.

City Performance

In day-to-day traffic, the BJ30 is easy to handle, even though the size might look bigger. What matters the most is how efficient the powertrain, and the 1.5L turbo with 185 hp in the Elite trim, is quick, while the hybrid Flagship with its 558 hp system feels much smoother. Gearshifts are really fine, though I did feel a slight hesitation in heavy stop-and-go, but not a big deal. The steering is nothing to complain about; it is much lighter, and good for all types of drivers to make quick U-turns and tight parking spots less stressful, and the 360-degree camera is a big help in crowded parking situations, with less effort. On fuel, I got around 8 km/l with the petrol and close to 17 km/l with the hybrid in mixed city use. Some of the hybrids have their own advantages.

Highway Performance

On the highway, the BJ30 feels decent to drive; no matter the speed, you won’t feel it, and stability is great. Even in some challenging situations, like say heavy rain or crosswinds, it doesn’t unsettle, and the hybrid’s 685 Nm torque makes overtaking almost effortless, even with a full load. Noise levels inside stay low, and the adaptive cruise control takes the edge off long drives. The hybrid is especially excellent with fuel economy—around 19 km/l when cruising steadily, which is great for anyone who does frequent inter-city trips.

Ride and Handling

Comfort is clearly a priority here, and that is visible very quickly with the SUV. Although it is neither Japanese nor Korean, don’t get fooled, it has a lot of positivity when it comes to defining your experience of ride and handling. A huge progress by brands from China, you can see the way suspensions are tuned to keep you safer and comfortable on the potholes and speed bumps, though sharper impacts still make themselves felt. On most roads, it’s smooth and relaxed, with much less body roll than I expected from something this tall. Steering feels light in town but firms up nicely on curves at speed. What is also helpful in navigating a city or even town is that the 215 mm clearance means you don’t have to worry about scraping over sandy patches or big speed breakers, which is superb.

• 14.6-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto

• Digital cluster
• 19-inch alloys

• Nappa leather seats

• Automatic climate control
• Speakers front/rear
• Keyless entry
• Adaptive cruise control
• 360-degree camera
• Panoramic sunroof
• Wireless charger
• Voice control
• Rotary Control Dial

Elite

This is the entry trim, and honestly, it’s more than enough for someone looking for a dependable, well-equipped SUV. You get LED lights, a large 14.6-inch touchscreen, adaptive cruise, and all the safety features. It’s efficient, rugged, and handles city life just fine, but misses out on the hybrid.

Flagship HEV

The hybrid gives you serious torque (685 Nm), AWD, and efficiency that makes long drives affordable. Ventilated seats, driver memory, and fog lamps are some premium features.

Sayarabay Recommendation

For most families, the Flagship HEV at SAR 122,000 is the right choice. You get to balance performance, features, and running costs very well. The hybrid efficiency is a big advantage, and the AWD gives confidence if you do light off-road or need extra grip. It feels premium without pushing you into a luxury price tag.

After living with the BJ30 (more than a week), I can say it stands out in this segment, something the Japanese and Koreans should feel a bit insecure, but not threatened, though. There is a combination of rugged styling with everyday practicality, and the interior feels much more premium than the price points towards. It drives with confidence, offers plenty of space, and has useful features that families or even individuals will find meaningful. Yes, there’s a bit of lag in the transmission at low speeds, but once you’re moving, it’s smooth and composed. Compared to rivals like the RAV4 or Tucson, it gives you more space, more tech, and even some light off-road ability, at a lower price. For anyone, be it a family or new, younger buyers in the market, should definitely check it out for a perfect mix of smart and stylish SUV.

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