BAIC X55 Hybrid lands in NZ from $40,990

BAIC has expanded its New Zealand range with a hybrid version of the X55 medium SUV, priced from $40,990 for a limited time.

The new X55 Hybrid joins BAIC’s recently launched B30 Hybrid and is available in Elite and Premium grades. Introductory pricing puts the X55 Elite Hybrid at $40,990 and the better-equipped Premium Hybrid at $42,990, with each receiving a $2000 discount from its regular retail price. No word on how long the intro pricing lasts. 

That makes the Elite Hybrid $6000 more expensive than the petrol X55 Premium, which is currently offered at $34,990 plus costs. The Premium Hybrid is $7000 above the petrol Premium Plus at its present $35,990 offer price.

Those gaps narrow when regular retail pricing is compared. The Elite Hybrid’s $42,990 list price is $5000 above the petrol Premium’s $37,990 RRP, while the $44,990 Premium Hybrid carries a $7000 premium over the petrol Premium Plus. BAIC’s current offer on the ICE-powered X55 runs until the end of the September.

Power for the new hybrid comes from a 1.5-litre petrol engine working with a 160kW electric drive motor producing 310Nm. Unlike a plug-in hybrid, there’s no need to connect the X55 to a charger.

BAIC’s RE-HEV system uses the battery and electric motor to drive the SUV, while the petrol engine powers a generator to supply the motor and recharge the battery, while energy is also recovered during coasting. 

Power reaches the front wheels through a single-speed transmission. BAIC claims combined fuel consumption of 5.8L/100km and a 0–100km/h time of 8.3 seconds. For comparison, the turbo-petrol X55 produces 138kW and 305Nm, uses a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and reaches 100km/h in a claimed 7.8 seconds.

Both hybrid grades ride on 19-inch alloy wheels and use MacPherson strut front and multi-link independent rear suspension. The cabin includes a 12.3-inch central touchscreen, a 10.25-inch digital instrument display, wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless phone charging.

The Premium Hybrid adds equipment including a panoramic sunroof, powered tailgate, heated and ventilated front seats, driver’s-seat memory and additional ambient lighting.

Safety equipment includes six airbags, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, automatic emergency braking and a 360-degree camera.

However, the X55 hasn’t been independently crash-tested by ANCAP and therefore carries no ANCAP safety rating.

All X55 Hybrid models are covered by BAIC’s seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, along with seven years of roadside assistance. The new hybrids are arriving at the brand’s 14 New Zealand dealerships now.