Sazgar –BAIC participated in Pakistan’s biggest auto show held at Expo Centre Lahore from 21st to 23rd February 2020. The company joined hands with Chinese state-owned Beijing Automotive Industry Company (BAIC) to bring its vehicles in Pakistan. Pakistan Auto Show 2020 witnessed the company’s plans as it showcased three of its vehicles at the exhibition. Among these, BAIC D20 hatchback received a lot of appreciation from the crowd. Despite being a Chinese product, the vehicle offers several exciting features. It is also interesting to know here that D20 is also available in the sedan version in the international markets; however, the company initially plans to bring the hatchback version to the local auto sector. In Pakistan, BAIC D20 hatchback will be competing with the existing Suzuki Cultus, FAW V2, and KIA Picanto. For now, we will have a look at the comparison between the features and specifications of BAIC D20 and FAW V2 in this article. So, let’s have a brief comparison of the two hatchbacks.
Power train:
BAIC D20 hatchback is equipped with two engine options i.e., 1.3-liter A131 petrol engine paired to a 5-speed manual transmission and a 1.5-liter A151 petrol engine mated to both 5-speed manual and 4-speed automatic transmission. The hatchback comes with the Euro V emissions standard and front-wheel-drive system. On the other hand, FAW V2 comes under a 4-stroke DOHC VCT-I 1.3-litre engine with a multi-point fuel injection system paired to a 5-speed manual transmission. It comes with a Euro IV emissions standard.
Braking and Suspension:
BAIC Senova D20 is powered with ventilated disc brakes at the front wheels and conventional drum brakes at the rear side. In terms of suspension, the front wheels have McPherson independent suspension, whereas, on the rear side, H-type torsion beam suspension is provided by the automaker. In contrast to this, FAW V2 also has ventilated discs at the front and drum brakes at the rear wheels. The front suspension of FAW V2 is equipped with McPherson independent and strut arm coil spring at the rear side.
Dimensions:
The 5-door hatchback’s body extends to 4040 mm in length and 1720 mm in width. It stands 1503 mm high from the ground level and has a wheelbase of 2500 mm. D20 has a fuel tank capacity of 45 liters. FAW V2 is comparatively smaller in length i.e., 3760 mm and a width and height of 1680 mm and 1530 mm, respectively. The wheelbase of the hatchback is 2450 mm, which is also slightly less than Senova D20. Moreover, the fuel tank capacity of FAW V2 is 37 liters.
Exterior:
BAIC D20 has a modern-looking exterior with chrome designing in the front radiator grille. It has stylish integral headlights offered with daytime running lights (DRL’s). The headlamps also have a time-delay switch that turns them off and height adjustment features. The windshield wiper has a multi-level operation with a rain sensor. The outside rear-view door mirrors are electrically foldable, adjustable, and heated with integrated side-turn signals. The 1.3L variant comes with a standard tyre size of 175/65 R14 with steel wheels while the 1.5L versions are offered with 185/60 R14 tyre size and aluminum alloy rims.
FAW V2 comes with all-in-one headlamps along with front and rear fog lamps. The car has a unique body-colored front radiator grille accompanied by body-colored front and rear bumpers. The outside door handles are also provided with the same color as its body. The rear-view door mirrors have side turn signals integrated into them. At the rear side, the taillights are also all-in-one LED lamps, and the exhaust pipe is covered with a chrome cover. The standard tyre size is 175/65 R14.
Interior:
The interior of D20 also looks attractive at first glance due to the chrome trims. Some of its salient features are:
- Fabric Seats
- 3-spoke Leather Steering Wheel
- Adjustable Steering Wheel
- Sun Visors (Driver + Passenger)
- Rear Window Defroster
- Power Windows
- Auto Trunk Light
- Coat Hook
- Reading Light with Time-delay Switch off
- Cigar Lighter
- White Light Dashboard
- Centre Armrest
FAW V2 has a grey-tone interior, which is offered with a barrel-type instrument panel. The hatchback has several other features inside the cabin, some of which are given below:
- Electric Power Windows
- Power Steering
- Digital Odometer
- Assist Grips
- Cigar Lighter and Ashtray
- Sun Visors
- Double Deck Glove Compartment
- Central Control Panel
Entertainment features:
For entertainment purposes, the hatchback D20 is provided with a 6.5-inch touchscreen with single-disc CD, USB, AUX, Radio, and GPS connectivity. The manual versions have 4 speakers while the automatic variants are provided with 6 speakers. The steering wheel also has multi-controls integrated into it. In comparison to this, Al-Haj FAW offers its hatchback V2 with a basic audio system for entertainment, which is powered with 2 speakers.
Control, Safety & Security features:
The auto manufacturer has offered various safeties in its hatchback model of D20. It also has controls that help in the control and security of the vehicle. Some of these are mentioned below:
- ABS + EBD
- Airbags (Driver + Passenger)
- 3-point seat belts (Front and Rear)
- Engine Immobilizer
- ISO FIX Child Safety
- Brake Override System
- Cruise Control
- Retractable Steering Column
- High-Mounted LED Brake Lamp
- Automatic Latch System – Speed Sensor
- Anti-theft Alarm System
In comparison to BAIC D20, FAW V2 also has various safety and security features, including the following:
- ABS + EBD
- Airbags (Driver + Passenger)
- High-mounted LED Brake Lamp
- Anti-intrude Brake Pedal
- High Rigidity Absorbing Energy Body
- Central Locking System
- Remote Control Key with Anti-theft Function
- Energy Absorbing 3-spoke Steering Wheel
- Childproof Rear Door Locks
Price:
The expected price of BAIC D20 is PKR 1,900,000 in the local market. If it’s correct, this would be an extremely smart move by the company to grab the market. FAW V2, on the other hand, is currently priced at PKR 1,574,000 in the local auto sector.
Nonetheless, the introduction of BAIC D20 will add more options for the consumers in this budget range. However, it will be interesting to see how the market responds to the introduction of Sazgar – BAIC vehicles in the country. Generally, any new vehicle in the auto sector of Pakistan takes time to gain popularity among the masses. Stay connected with PakWheels for more updates on the automobile sector. Drop your valuable thoughts on the comparison in the comments section below.
