2024 BAIC X55

VEHICLE HIGHLIGHTS

BAIC X55

You can’t talk compact SUVs in South Africa without bumping into the BAIC X55, especially if you’re shopping where the Haval Jolion and Chery Tiggo 4 Pro already crowd the road. The X55 rolls in from China with a single 1.5-litre turbo petrol across the range, mixing it up with either a regular auto or a dual-clutch ‘box. Scan the classifieds and you’ll spot 19 active listings, from R319,500 up to a punchy R509,900, but only one’s actually new—so if you’re buying, you’re almost certainly looking at a used example. Median asking price? A digestible R369,900, which puts it right in the sweet spot for buyers who want the kit but don’t want to see R500k flash before their eyes. Trim-wise, the Plus Premium dominates the listings, sitting from R359,900 right up to that R509,900 ceiling, while the Plus Elite offers a broader price band between R319,500 and R429,900. Those two entry-level 1.5T Elite A/Ts at R319,500 and R359,900 are where the X55’s value case really kicks in. Most are 2023 to 2026 models, averaging under 40,000 km—so you’re basically getting a near-new set of wheels without the anxiety of that first-year depreciation hit. The X55 won’t outshine the Jolion or Tiggo 4 Pro for resale confidence or aftersales sprawl, but if you’re chasing spec-per-rand, especially on the higher trims, you’d be silly to ignore it—on paper at least.