In between my time with the BAIC X55, I had a go at each of the trim levels of their other model, the B30, and it doesn’t take long for it to reveal what it wants to be. To mark their debut in NZ, BAIC came guns blazing with models that are tailored and focused on the slices of the market that matter the most. And before you even get into the driving impressions or the finer details of the interior, the boxy, two segment upright stance of the B30 makes it clear this is a car designed around a lifestyle — and more specifically, one that involves getting out of the city and into the outdoors. Call it foreshadowing, but that focus shapes almost everything about this new SUV.
I had seat time with two loaners, which you will see through this write-up. Both of them are Hybrids, with the grey one powering the front wheels, and the blue enjoying all-wheel-drive. The design is one of its strongest suits: focus on certain details and you will see some influence from Defender, Bronco, and a few other consolidated players in the boxy SUV environment. I was left impressed with how cohesive and handsome the design is, aided by the very well resolved proportions and the execution of the two matte colours. Sky Blue is a total head turner, and I’m a massive fan.
Inside, things get a bit more mixed. There are moments where the cabin genuinely impresses. The steering wheel, for example, is one of the highlights: perforated leather, beautiful stitching, and a tactile feel that punches above what you’d expect at this price point. Some of the switchgear, like the window controls, also feels surprisingly well executed.
But then some inconsistencies start to jump at you, like the door cards and sections of the dashboard that don’t quite match that level of quality, and the gear selector that feels like it belongs to a different, cheaper car altogether. It’s a cabin of contrasts, showing flashes of thoughtful design and impressive usability sprinkled with some cost-cutting – to be expected when you can realistically drive this away, brand new, with a price starting with a 3 if you go for the ICE-only entry trim.
What you also get in all trims is the great packaging, because that’s where the B30 makes another strong case. It is genuinely roomy, with ample space across both rows and a boot that not only is generous, but is also smart, with a modular cargo cover that doubles as a (low) picnic table. Add to that a dedicated camping mode with side lights on the top trim, a proper opening panoramic sunroof, and even a power outlet to run your gear when you’re off-grid, making the idea of the B30 being a camping companion feel like more than just marketing. Find the right audience, and this becomes a compelling pitch.
Storage is well handled, with decent door bins, a deep and even climate controlled armrest cubby, a pair of cupholders, and a large open space beneath the centre console. It should suit both daily driving and weekend escapades with no issues. The seats follow a similar pattern, trimmed in synthetic leather and with good comfort, and a range of adjustment that makes it easy to settle into a proper driving position. Fold the rear seats down, and the B30 leans fully into its camping brief, creating a flat, expansive load space that’s genuinely useful.
Then you get to the technology, and even though it is completely on brand if you’ve read my X55 review, this is where things start to unravel a bit. On paper, it sounds promising: a large central display, digital instrumentation, and full smartphone integration. In practice, it’s a bit less convincing. The driver’s display is acceptable, but the main screen is not particularly responsive, the visuals are underwhelming, and the layout lacks clarity. It’s not intuitive, and it takes time to build familiarity.
Naturally, that pushes you towards using phone projection. It is wireless, but powered through a dongle that eats one of your ports (maybe just for now?), and leads to a far better experience when it works – it was hit and miss for me. It makes proper use of the screen and simplifies interaction significantly, but it suffers from the same problem as the X55: the moment you’re in CarPlay, you lose access to almost all vehicle controls, as there are no physical buttons.
Adjusting climate settings, changing airflow direction, accessing core vehicle functions or even for the passenger to change the volume requires you to exit CarPlay, dive back into the native system, make your changes, and then reconnect. Yes, that is as frustrating as it sounds. The absence of voice control feels like twisting the knife, from a system that feels at odds with itself. I experienced vastly different performance from the sound system between the two cars, but the brochure isn’t clear on whether or not there is an upgraded setup on the AWD model.
Out on the road, however, the B30 settles into a more predictable rhythm. As a hybrid, it behaves well in urban environments, being quiet, smooth, and responsive at lower speeds, and even when the petrol engine joins the equation, it doesn’t intrude too heavily unless you’re pushing it hard. For daily commuting, it does exactly what you’d expect, and is unarguably an upgrade if you’re coming from a last-gen, non-hybrid car.
Once you push it beyond daily driving duties, its tuning becomes apparent, with over assisted inputs and plenty of body roll, as this is an urban/light off-road cruiser. Power delivery can be inconsistent in specific scenarios, leading to intense wheelspin under turning, reinforcing the idea that this isn’t a car designed with enthusiastic driving in mind. Don’t let the figures of the AWD model fool you: electric motors made power cheap and accessible, and while it advertises 301kW and 685Nm, these numbers don’t translate into a brisk performer.
Instead, it leans entirely into comfort and ease of use, and it does that quite well. Efficiency was around the 6.8L/100km mark, interesting when this is a Hybrid, but also a substantial one at that. Adaptive cruise control works well, providing smooth and reliable assistance, and the 360 degree camera, while slow to load and unable to use the full screen, proves genuinely useful given the car’s size.
Step back and look at the bigger picture, and the B30 starts to make a lot of sense in specific contexts. This is a car that asks you to accept a few compromises: the technology just isn’t where it needs to be, the figures don’t tell the whole story, and the overall execution is somewhat uneven. It wins you over with its ideas and its usability, selling itself on space, practicality, and lifestyle appeal. It’s for someone who values the idea of loading up for a weekend away, setting up camp with minimal fuss, and having a vehicle that supports that kind of use without overcomplicating things. All of that while driving something genuinely good looking during the week – or maybe even just that, because I would not be surprised to see people buying it just for that reason. Whichever way you look at it, it shows that BAIC as a brand chose some areas to dedicate their efforts, and it clearly paid off. Thanks, BAIC, for the opportunity, and thank you for reading this far!
