Next-Gen BAIC BJ40 Unveiled As China’s Answer to Jeep Wrangler

China-based marque BAIC has updated its compact, off-road-ready SUV model, the BJ40 for the second-gen redux. Similar to its predecessor, the next-gen BJ40 features the same rugged-looking facade, now with elevated styling that drew inspiration from its bigger sibling, the BJ60.

The second-gen BAIC BJ40 is a rugged-looking off-road-ready SUV with boxy silhouette

Touted as the China-made Jeep Wrangler, the second-gen BJ40 only comes in a single, four-door bodystyle. Up front, this SUV gets new front fascia, featuring C-shaped headlights a la Ford Ranger, matched with illuminated LED segments on its front grille. Being an off-road-biased SUV, the BJ40 sports a rather prominent plastic underbody cladding, which matches rather well with its boxy silhouette to give a rugged overall look to the SUV.

At the rear, the tailgate-mounted spare wheel is flanked by vertical LED taillights on each corner of the car. Aside from that, the BJ40 also rides on all-terrain tyres that engulf the sporty two-tone wheels.

In terms of size, the second-gen BJ40 measures 4,790 MM long, 1,940 MM wide, 1,895 MM tall, with a wheelbase of 2,760 MM – making it slightly bigger than its supposed American counterpart, the five-door Jeep Wrangler.

In spite of its rugged facade, the BJ40 comes with a stylish-looking cabin

On board, this China-made SUV gets a bevy of new tech equipment and comfort amenities. Highlights include the wide central infotainment display that extends to the front passenger’s side, fully-digital driver’s display hiding beneath its button-laden steering wheel, as well as the clean-looking central console featuring physical gear lever and a rotating dial for the driving mode selector.

Meanwhile, all five seats are wrapped in leather upholstery, while the front dash features aluminium trim that engulfs all the screens mounted here. In spite of these high-tech bits, the BJ40 still comes with an analogue clock that is placed between the two central air vents.

Powering this compact off-roader is a 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbocharged mill mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox to deliver 241 HP and 385 NM– making it significantly more powerful than its predecessor, as well as its local Chinese rival, the GWM Tank 300. Power is then transferred to all four wheels via a full-time all-wheel drive (AWD) system.

The all-new second-gen BAIC BJ40 SUV is poised to make its first public appearance at the upcoming Chengdu Auto Show 2023 happening later this month, with its pre-sales also set to be opened on the same day. As expected, pricing has yet to be announced by the automaker, but Car News China suggests that it will be somewhere around the CNY 200,000 to 300,000 (RM130,000 to RM190,000 approx. ) mark.

For the previous-gen model, BAIC actually exported the BJ40 SUV to several international markets, where in Italy it has been rebadged as Ickx K2 SUV. Should BAIC decide to export the second-gen BJ40, we’d reckon it’ll be an instant hit amongst the off-roading enthusiasts.