“Comfort & Luxury is Best Thing About BAIC BJ40 Plus” – Expert Review

Sulman Ali

21 Feb 2022

We are here with another expert review, and this time we are reviewing BAIC’s BJ40 Plus. This car is for the people who love off-roading and its experience. Before the review, let us tell you about BAIC, a Chinese company that ranks 129th in Fortune 500 companies. In Pakistan, BAIC has launched this car in collaboration with its local partner, Sazgar Engineering.

Sazgar Engineering is a famous company in Pakistan as it manufactures rickshaws and even exports them to Japan. So, it means that the company is here to stay. Furthermore, the company initially brought CBU units of the car and then produced CKD units.

This under-review car is the first CKD unit of BJ40 Plus, and here is its review.

Exterior

The first look of the car proves that Wrangler Jeep inspires this. At the front, you will see its prominent and beautiful DRLs, which are pretty big in size. Inside these DRLs, you will find fog lamps. The car has a diffuser-style bumper with two bars. The front has a bar grille with 4 bars and a mesh grille.

The headlamps are halogen, and that is our biggest objection to the car because all other lights are LED and white, while the lamps are in yellow colour. We think that the company needs to upgrade them. Then you will see door hinges and stoppers, and the reason for their presence is its inspiration from Wrangler, and its doors, roof, bonnet, and windows are removable. You can remove these parts in only 15-20 minutes.

And this shows that BJ40 Plus is the first locally assembled actual jeep in Pakistan. This car is best for people who like serious off-roading and adventure. Also, a skid plate under the car is great for safeguarding your engine during off-roading.

The plastic fender of the car plays a huge role in making the overall look of the vehicle bulky and dominant. These black-coloured fenders run along the lower part of the car. Then comes the diamond cut 17-inch Alloy Wheels, which have a silver and dark grey combination.

The covers of side-view mirrors are made of chrome, and indicators are under it in a black colour cover. The roof of the car is made of fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP), and it is easily removable. The finishing of the paint is not that good, and the company needs to make it smoother and finer.

The rear look of the car is more attractive than the front. The primary reason is its lava LED back lamps which are quite stunning. There is a high-mounted lamp, rear wiper, and spare tyre hanging at the back. There are parking sensors, diffuser-style bumper, fog lamps, and tow bars under that tyre.

The car’s boot space is quite ample as you can put 3-4 big-sized bags. You can increase the area by folding the rear seats.

Interior of BJ40 Plus

The car has a keyless entry, and as soon as you open the door, you see a whole different world compared to the exterior. The car looks like a traditional jeep on the outside, while its interior is modern and luxurious. The entry/exit of the vehicle is very convenient, and head/leg space is ample in the car.

The cushioning of the driving seat is very good, and it is 4-way manual adjustable. However, the seat material is fabric, which can be improved to leather. Similarly, the entry/exit in the rear seats is very smooth, except the roof handle may hit your head. If we discuss the leg space on rear seats, it is good but can be a bit of a problem for people with 6-feet height.

A major problem in a jeep is comfort on rear sets, but BJ40 Plus has three settings, and you can set the seat as per your choice. The seat cushioning is also very good, while you will also find rear AC vents. The manufacturer has also installed seatbelts and Child ISOFIX anchors. Four people can travel in this car very comfortably, although five can sit in it for a long journey, however, the back cushioning of the middle seat is not that comfortable.

The inside of the door is a combination of silver and piano black color mixed with diamond cut leather. You will find a cloth strip at the bottom of the door, giving it the feel of the old jeep.

Dashboard and Steering

In a first look, the dashboard looks like leather, but it is hard plastic. There are switches for adjusting the side mirror, headlights, and meter light on the right side. The car’s steering is D-Shaped with the BAIC logo in the center and switches on both sides.

The dashboard has carbon fiber finishing, and there is the option of three colors, i.e., grey, blue and red.

When you switch on the car, the MID will welcome you. The display looks very similar to the Mercedes G Wagon, which is stunning. There are two themes of this meter, i.e., conventional and digital, which you can set from floating Infotainment display.

MID Display

It provides you with all the essential information about the car. On the right side, you can see the speedometer and fuel. While on the left side, there is an RPM meter, Turbo boost, engine temperature, weather, and total mileage.

It also gives information about instant fuel average, trip meter, average speed, center to the end, oil temperature, total mileage, and instant travel information. In the center, the meter gives information about TPMS, environment, and system settings.

If you set it on the environment, it will give information about the car, including its overall height, front position, and compass.

Floating Display of BJ40 Plus

The 11-inch floating infotainment display is also very stylish, and like MID, it also gives essential information like Radio, Bluetooth connectivity, settings, and media. However, two things are missing from it as it doesn’t have Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, but you can connect your phone with it, and its Bluetooth connectivity is excellent.

Another biggest complaint about this car is its subpar sound system, and we think the company needs massive improvement in this regard.

You can also use the reverse camera through this screen, and its quality is excellent. It has three views, i.e., side, aerial and normal. However, the guiding lines are not dynamic. The display also gives you information about parking sensors and which obstacle is near them.

Central Console

In the center, you will find the start/stop button along with settings of 4×4 modes. And along with that, there are buttons for snow mode and sports mode. As soon as you press one of these buttons, your MID will update you about the driving mode.

Under them, there are volume buttons, but they look misplaced here. And then you will move to a 6-speed auto with Tiptronic transmission. Then there is a knob and buttons to control all settings on the touch screen.

Another example of modern and conventional fusion is its digital handbrake button. You will also find a cup holder and cigarette lighter. The center armrest is made of leather, and you will find more storage space, AUX, and USB connectivity.

Climate Control

Under that button, you will find Dual Zone Climate Control with conventional knobs. The infotainment screen will show you the driver and passenger temperature. The performance of AC is excellent even in areas like Cholistan and summer.

Drive Experience

The car has 218hp and 320Nm of torque. There are 2-3 important things about the vehicle and its drive experience we like to share with you, and they are:

The luxury feeling of interior
Smoothness, but it does affect its stability to some extent, especially during off-roading.

Safety Features in BJ40 Plus

The vehicle has 2 airbags, and as it is a convertible, it has a rollover bar. It means if your car flips in an accident, this bar will keep you completely safe. Furthermore, it comes with cruise control.

Fuel Average

The fuel average is not important in cars like BJ40 Plus, still for your information, within the city is 5-6 kilometers/liter and 6.5-7 kilometers/liter on the long route.

Ground Clearance

As it is a proper jeep, the ground clearance is not an issue in it.

Suggested Improvements

We think the company can improve its different features, including headlights, seat material, auto seat adjustment, and a couple of frills in the car. Also, the windows power buttons have the auto down option, but you have to keep pressing the button for up.

Verdict on BJ40 Plus

Completely satisfied with the purchase, mainly due to its comfort and performance during long journeys and off-roading.