The B40 Plus is an affordable off-roader from the BAIC automaker. The model that has its foundations in military development is capable, and now, with a new 8-speed ZF automatic transmission, even more refined out on the road. But will the newcomer tackle the rough stuff effectively? Find out here.
But before we get into the details, remember that you can sell your car quickly and easily on our website here, and you can search for new or used BAIC B40 Plus models on AutoTrader here.
Related: What is the cheapest BAIC you can buy?
Styling
At a glance, you might mistake the B40 Plus model for an American offroader. However, the model takes its inspiration from elsewhere. The basis of the B40 was developed for military applications and proved more than capable for the People's Liberation Army of China. The slotted grille up front represents the Great Wall of China, and rugged doors and a removable top were developed for functionality.
The front bumper incorporates LED daytime running lights in a complementary rectangular shape, flanked by two contrasting red towing hooks for when you need to pull a friend out of a sticky situation. The rear also offers rectangular taillamps and some contrasting tow hooks. Both front and rear overhangs are short and compact for better approach and departure angles, but more on that later.
The sides have flared wheel arches and a generous side step, flanked by 17-inch alloy wheels on the Champion guise we drove. Overall, the B40 Plus is well-styled and exudes offroad capability in its design. The model is now also available in no less than seven colours: Ice White, Onyx Black, Desert Red, Ocean Blue, Sky Blue, Forest Green, and Military Green. Personally, I prefer the Ocean Blue hue.
Interior
The interior of the B40 Plus has the same theme as the exterior, which can be described in one word: rugged. The cabin space is generous and will comfortably occupy four adults. With all the rear seats upright, you can expect 532-litres of luggage space; however, with the seats folded flat, the boot will expand to 965-litres.
Regarding interior styling, BAIC contrasts the black dashboard with either red or blue trim pieces and contrast stitching on the door cards, dashboard and seats, the latter being leather in the Champion trim we drove. The trim pieces are mostly hard but offer nice textures. Items like the air vents and parts of the multifunction steering wheel also get a silver finish that stands out.
Regarding the infotainment system, you can expect a 12.3-inch touchscreen unit that is intuitive to use. However, at the time of writing this article, it utilises a phone mirroring application for smartphone pairing. The Chinese automaker did say that the BAIC vehicle range will offer Apple CarPlay and Android Auto from 2025 onwards.
The drive
After driving in different conditions, including an offroad track, an open highway and a bush trail, the noise, vibration and harshness of the B40 Plus are very impressive, especially considering that the roof is removable and the square shape of the vehicle. Furthermore, the BAIC B40 offered ample power from its 2.0-litre, turbocharged, four-cylinder petrol engine.
The 160kW and 320Nm of torque are sent to all four wheels via a smooth-shifting 8-speed ZF automatic transmission. The transmission was well suited for open-road driving and well-calibrated for when we tackled the offroad track. In ECO or Standard mode, the responsiveness from the throttle inputs felt a little slow. However, once in Sport mode, the B40 quickly accelerated and selected the appropriate gear.
While on the off-road track, I was very impressed with the 37-degree approach angle, 31-degree departure angle, and 23-degree ramp-over angle, which resulted from the 210 mm ground clearance and short front and rear overhangs.
Safety
The standard safety features included with the City Hunter and Champion derivatives include:
- Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
- Electronic Brake force distribution (EBD)
- Electronic Stability Programme (ESP)
- Emergency Brake Assist (EBA)
- Traction Control System (TCS)
- Hill Ascent Control (HAC)
- Hill Descent Control (HDC)
- Electronic Parking Brake (EPB)
- ISO-FIX child seat restraint system
- Child safety lock
- Front 3-point safety belts with pre-tensioners
- Driver airbag
- Front passenger airbag
- Tyre Pressure Monitor System (TPMS)
- Parking sensors rear
- Reverse camera system
- Alarm
- Immobiliser
- Central locking
Pricing
The BAIC B40 Plus has a 5-year / 120 000 km warranty included in its price. Customers must specify whether they want the optional 4-year / 60 000 km service plan.
| BAIC B40 Plus 2.0TDi | from R 574 500 |
| BAIC B40 Plus 2.0TDi City Hunter | from R 604 500 |
| BAIC B40 Plus 2.0T | from R 609 500 |
| BAIC B40 Plus 2.0T City Hunter | from R 674 500 |
| BAIC B40 Plus 2.0T Champion | from R 699 500 |
*The pricing and added products were accurate at the time of writing this article; however, they can change at any time and without notice.
Production
Part of our experience with BAIC was an exclusive tour of the production plant situated in Gqeberha. The facility, which cost R11 billion and measures 41 768 square meters, has the capacity to produce 50 000 vehicles a year. The facility aims not just to assemble semi-knockdown kits (SKD) from the current BAIC range but to eventually produce and export vehicles such as the B30 to Africa, Europe and the Middle East.
The factory was built in partnership with BAIC and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), with BAIC owning 65% and the IDC retaining 35%. Since 2018, it is reported to have created 3 000 jobs, however, currently operates in a capacitated state to support the 52-dealer network.
Verdict
The BAIC B40 Plus has a lot going for it and some areas for improvement. Firstly, for the price, the model is capable both on and offroad. It is very comfortable, and the refinement is respectable. The styling makes a statement and sets it apart from the competition. With our short stint on both the off-road track and the road route to the final destination, we did return a respectable 8.5 L/100 km.
We would, however, like to see more focus on safety equipment such as more airbags, more refinement of the throttle calibration, and perhaps some improvements to various material surfaces such as the air vents and other smaller trim pieces. Overall, we recommend you look at the B40 if you are in the market for a capable 4x4, especially in the City Hunter or Champion guises, as they get that new ZF-sourced 8-speed automatic transmission.
