BAIC M50S

The inside, however, is anything but boring. For a 7 or eight seater, this car is very roomy. The cabin design takes full advantage of its class-leading 2790 mm wheelbase and above 1420 mm track along with the tall height. There is loads of knee room, elbow room, headroom and all sorts of room on every row. The seats themselves are wrapped in microfiber leather giving them a plush look and feel. While available in a 2+3+3 or a 2+2+3 seat arrangement in the Luxury variant, the Ultra Luxury variant only comes with 2+2+3 seating. This means that its first and second row are occupied by individual 4-way adjustable seats with armrests and headrests. These seats can also be folded to create extra cargo space. There is dual zone air conditioning, multi-functional steering wheel, 4 speakers and a 9” infotainment display with SD, USB, and Bluetooth connectivity. Together with a nicely fitted interior trim, it offers just enough comfort and space for its price.

Let’s face it, Chinese cars have a long way to go when it comes to design. And then the MPV segment is not exactly known for its looks either. So, you would expect the BAIC M50S to be downright hideous. But in truth, it looks rather all right. You might see some inspiration from existing MPVs like the Toyota Rush in the shape of the car but for the most part, it looks distinct. The latest update has given it vertical slats on the front grille and a sportier bumper. The side profile is largely featureless apart from some roof rails, 14” or 15” aluminum alloys depending on the variant and black polymer body cladding. There are five colors on offer – Maple Red, Rustic Brown, Cloisonne Blue, Nest Silver, and Jade White. The dimensions are 4525 mm (L) x 1700 mm (W) x 1818 mm (H). The wheels come clad with 185/70 R14 or 195/65 R15 tires depending on the variant. There is not much to say about the design and when it comes to Chinese MPVs, that is probably not a bad thing.

The BAIC M50S uses a ladder chassis with a body on frame type construction. There are independent McPherson struts with coil springs on the front and 5 link coil springs on the rear. The MPV has a minimum ground clearance of 145 mm and a 5.5 m turning radius. The handling is as you’d expect from a narrow MPV. This is not really meant for any sort of dynamic driving but more for cruising at a relaxed pace on highways. And it serves that purpose very well.  

Under the hood of the M50S is a 1.5-litre DOHC DAM15DL Euro 5 gasoline inline 4 engine producing 114 hp at 6000 rpm and 150 Nm of peak torque between 4300 and 4500 rpm. The engine is equipped with dual variable valve timing (DVVT) valvetrain an intelligent drive-by-wire throttle that disengages the air-conditioner compressor for maximum torque when the accelerator pedal is thrust all the way in. The engine is mated to a 5-speed transmission and power is sent to the rear wheels. This ensures that the power, while there is not a lot of it, can be used in the most engaging way. The engine allows the car to reach a top speed of 150 kmph and the 50-litre fuel tank gives it a good range.

The BAIC M50S is equipped with disc brakes on the front and a drum brakes for the rear. These are backed up by ABS and EBD. Other safety features include driver and passenger airbags, child safety locks, ISOFIX, collapsible steering wheel, theft deterrent alarm, and even a reverse camera.

The BAIC M50S seems like a decent effort for a Chinese MPV. The car has had a decent response from the other markets that it has been launched in. Is the Philippines going to follow suit? Only time will tell.