BAIC PH goes real hybrid with the B30e Dune, price starts at Php 1.488M

BAIC Philippines, under the distributorship of United Asia Automotive Group, Inc. (UAAGI), may have a “hybrid” badged vehicle in their lineup, but it only gets a mild-hybrid powertrain under the hood. Now, they’re adding a new member of the lineup and one that truly deserves that hybrid badge—the all-new B30e Dune light off-road crossover.

The BAIC B30e Dune is available in two variants which are priced as follows:

• B30e Dune 2WD – Php 1,488,000
• B30e Dune 4WD – Php 1,788,000

As mentioned, the B30e Dune truly deserves its “hybrid” badge. Powering it is a 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine which in the 2WD variant is paired to a single electric motor and lithium-ion battery, producing a total combined output of 334 horsepower and 550 Nm of torque.

Going for the 4WD takes that further with dual electric motors and a total combined output of 409 horsepower and 685 Nm of torque which is the most in its size category. BAIC says this can help it go from 0 to 100 kph in 6.9 seconds.

Both powertrain setups are mated to a 2-speed dedicated hybrid transmission (DHT), and also comes with four selectable drive modes which are Comfort, Sport, Economy, and Snow on the 2WD. Sand, Muddy Road, and Wading are added on the 4WD.

Despite riding on a monocoque chassis, the BAIC B30e Dune goes for a rugged and muscular appearance akin to many ladder frame SUVs. Wraparound daytime running lights also give it a distinct appearance.

You won’t have to worry when going off-road as the B30e Dune has an approach angle of 24.5°, departure angle of 30°, and ramp angle of 21°. It’s also rated to wade through 450mm of water.

Standard exterior equipment are full LED lighting, 19-inch two-tone alloy wheels, rain-sensing wipers, and a power tailgate, among others. The 4WD variant adds front fog lights, fender flare lights, and running boards.

Open the doors and the BAIC B30e Dune shows-off its minimalistic dashboard design which makes use of flat surfaces and simple lines.

Standard interior equipment include leather seat upholstery, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a 14.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, eight-speaker audio system, heated front seats, and a panoramic sunroof. The 4WD variant adds ventilated front seats, driver seat memory function, and a wireless phone charger.

For those with an outdoor lifestyle, the B30e Dune also comes with a foldable picnic table which can be used when camping or when having a little roadside meal. When not in use, it also doubles as a storage shelf that can carry a load of up to 15 kilograms.

Safety is no slouch either as both variants come standard with a full suite of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). This is composed of adaptive cruise control, intelligent high beams, blind spot monitoring, lane change and keeping assist, forward collision warning, rear collision warning, and autonomous emergency braking, among others. 

With so many standard features and a powerful hybrid powertrain at an affordable price, we think the B30e Dune has what it takes to put the BAIC brand on the map. Buyers will also be able to take advantage of a five-year or 150,000 kilometer vehicle warranty, whichever comes first.