Review: The 2026 BAIC BJ30e — A Hybrid SUV for the Money
A hybrid SUV with over 300 horsepower, off-road looks, and a price that makes you double-check the spec sheet. The BAIC BJ30e has just landed in Brunei, and it might be the most surprising value proposition in the compact SUV segment right now.
The compact SUV space in Brunei keeps getting more crowded, and the latest arrival comes from a name most buyers won't know yet. BAIC — Beijing Automotive Industry Corporation — is a major Chinese automaker, but the BJ30e is only its second real push into our market, distributed locally by T.C.Y. Motors. It's a five-seat hybrid SUV with rugged styling, a powerful drivetrain, and a price that genuinely caught us off guard. Let's find out if the spec sheet holds up in person.
What’s good
- Hybrid powertrain delivers around 330 horsepower and 550Nm in the 2WD — serious numbers for the price.
- Claimed range of close to 1,000km on a single tank makes it one of the most efficient SUVs in its class.
- Well-equipped cabin with a 14.6-inch touchscreen, wireless CarPlay, 360-degree camera and double-glazed windows.
- Rugged, distinctive styling that stands out from the typical compact SUV crowd.
What’s not so good
- BAIC is still a very new brand in Brunei, so long-term reliability and resale value are unknowns.
- Service and parts network is limited compared to established Japanese and Korean rivals.
- Interior materials are decent but not quite up to the level the exterior promises.
First Impressions
The BJ30e has a boxy, squared-off look somewhere between a Land Rover Defender and a Toyota FJ Cruiser — We absolutely love boxy designs. At 4,730mm long with a 2,820mm wheelbase and 215mm of ground clearance, it has real road presence. The five-hole grille nods to BAIC's off-road heritage, the black cladding around the wheel arches gives it a properly rugged feel, and the 19-inch alloys fill out the stance nicely.
Six colours are available locally: Green Gem Metallic, White, Urban Titanium Metallic, Black, Light Grey, and Grey. The Green Gem Metallic suits the adventurous character of the car best — a welcome change from the usual monochrome SUV crowd.
Inside the Cabin
The dashboard is clean and modern, centred around a floating 14.6-inch touchscreen paired with a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster. Black interior with orange stitching gives it a sporty edge, and the leather seats are comfortable. For the price, the cabin feels more premium than expected.
You get wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless charging, a panoramic sunroof, and double-glazed windows — a feature usually reserved for pricier cars that makes a noticeable difference to cabin noise. With a 2.9-metre wheelbase, the BJ30e is spacious. Fold the rear seats flat and you get over 1,900mm of cargo depth — big enough for an air mattress, as BAIC likes to point out. It's absoultely the best car for glamping!
The Driving Experience
Under the bonnet sits a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine paired with an electric motor through a dedicated hybrid transmission. In the 2WD Grand, the combined output is around 330 horsepower and 550Nm. The 4WD Grand steps up to roughly 400 horsepower and 685Nm with dual motors. The system prioritises electric drive wherever possible, using the petrol engine mainly as a generator, and BAIC claims close to 1,000km range from the 51-litre tank.
On Brunei roads, the BJ30e is surprisingly smooth and its quieter in electric mode, and the transition to petrol power is seamless. Steering is light for carparks, the ride soaks up bumps well, and body roll is controlled for something this tall. With 330 horsepower on unleash, there's more than enough power for overtaking on the highway. The BJ30e quotes 0–100 km/h in around 6.9 seconds — quick for a family SUV.
Safety and Tech
The BJ30e comes with Level 2 ADAS (advanced driver assistance systems) as standard: adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring, autonomous emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, and a 360-degree camera. Multiple airbags, electronic stability control, hill hold assist, and tyre pressure monitoring round it out. For a compact SUV at this price, it's comprehensive.
Value for Money
This is where the BJ30e makes its strongest argument. Around 330 horsepower, a hybrid drivetrain, a 14.6-inch touchscreen, wireless CarPlay, double-glazed windows, panoramic sunroof, ADAS, and a 360-degree camera — all for around BND 35,500. A comparably equipped Haval Jolion or Proton X70 gives you far less power at a similar price. Step up to a Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid and you're paying more for less grunt and fewer features.
Starting from BND 35,500. Contact T.C.Y. Motors for full pricing and current offers.
Final Thoughts
The BAIC BJ30e is easy to dismiss before you've seen it. An unfamiliar brand, a Chinese hybrid — plenty of buyers will scroll right past. But sit inside, check the spec sheet, and take it for a drive, and you realise just how much car you're getting. The caveats are real: BAIC is still proving itself here, the aftersales network is small, and nobody knows what this will be worth in five years. But if you prioritise features, efficiency, and value over badge prestige, the BJ30e deserves a serious look.
You can view the BJ30e at the BAIC showroom at Lambak Kanan, Berakas, with test drives available through T.C.Y. Motors.