BAIC MZ45

The interior of the MZ45 is again as spacious as you would expect. There is enough space to accommodate its 11 passengers that it is meant to carry thanks to the nearly 3 m wheelbase. The second and third row are fitted with two sedans like seats with headrests and one foldable jump seat (factory installed optional extra) on the rightmost side to allow entry into the rear. The fourth row can be folded entirely to make room for extra luggage. There are dual air conditioners with roof mounted blowers for the second and third row with their own individual controls. The driver and front passenger seats are four-way adjustable. Also included are two map lights and a PVC floor mat. Up front, the driver gets a small LCD display in the instrument panel. The infotainment is handled by a radio with CD, USB MP3 support along with 4 speakers. In addition, there are electronic side view mirrors, power window, remote central door lock keyless entry and a cooler inside the glove box. There are in total 22 storage spaces strewn across the van. The quality of the material is as expected for the price. But it shows decent build quality and fit and finish. For the price, we cannot really complain.

The MZ45 looks exactly like how you would expect a van on a budget to look like. At 4495 mm long, 1636 mm wide and 1912 mm high, it is big for starters. The 140 mm ground clearance allows easy entry and exit for passengers. Front and rear overhangs are manageable at 558 mm and 1017 mm respectively. It is also available only in white and silver with white for the transporter model only. There are large headlights up front sharing space with a body-color grille, fog lights, and indicators on the rear-view mirrors. The side profile is kept flat and mostly featureless except for some minimal graphics and chrome colored door handles. The rear gets a clamshell door and a high mounted stop light. The wheels are 14” alloys with 175/70 tires. And that’s about it. This is a van and no one really buys them for their looks. And the MZ45 looks exactly like a van.

For its length, the MZ45 feels very easy to maneuver in tight traffic, mainly because of how narrow it is. The long wheelbase does lend a lot of stability on tight turns. There is some roll but it is manageable. The driver sits high – almost a meter – above the ground and gets a good view outside. The turning radius is 5.9 m which come with the territory. In terms of ride comfort, the third and fourth rows are the bumpiest as expected while the front row is the most comfortable. However, at full capacity (rated payload of 675 kg), the suspension settles down a lot. This means that the last row needs to be avoided unless the van is fully loaded.

The engine powering the MZ45 is a Euro 4 compliant 1199 cc in-line 4 A12 engine from Mitsubishi. This engine is equipped with VVT and EGR. It produces a maximum power output of 84 hp at 6000 rpm and 108 Nm of torque at 4400 rpm. The engine is mated to a 5-speed transmission. For a vehicle weighing more than 1200 kg, this power might seem a bit inadequate. The mileage varies with load but with full load and city driving, the van returns a fuel economy of around 9 kmpl with a fuel capacity of 45 L.

Braking is relegated to a disc brake setup up front and drum brakes in the rear. Despite the length, the van can be reversed into tight spaces without the need of a reverse camera.

With its size and capacity, this is very nearly the biggest van you can buy at this price. You might not need the 11-seater capacity unless you are running a transporting business.  But even with 9 seats, this van remains a very capable and affordable tool.