MG Motor's first SUV based on the Baojun 530 spied testing in India yet again

The Baojun 530 was spotted undergoing road testing yet again recently, courtesy Team-BHP forum member Racer911. The first model from Chinese conglomerate SAIC will go on sale in Q2 2019.

While the spy shots show the original Baojun 530 on test, reports say that a different version is planned for India. SAIC will sell all models in our market under the MG brand. Our version will have a different front grille and the bumpers among other changes aimed at making the SUV look like an MG. Spy shots haven’t reflected these exterior design changes so far, but they have revealed that the interior will have some bits borrowed from the bigger Baojun 560.

The MG-badged Baojun 530 will have a length, width and height of around 4.7 metres, 1.8 metres and 1.8 metres respectively. Where the original version is available with petrol engines, the Indian-spec version will employ the 2.0-litre MultiJet II diesel engine sourced from FCA. This engine is made in several versions. In the Jeep Compass sold in our market, it produces 173 PS and 350 Nm of torque. A 6-speed manual transmission as the standard offering is a given.

Also See: MG eRX5 (Roewe ERX5) pure electric SUV showcased at Delhi's Move Summit 2018

The MG-badged Baojun 530’s mass production will take place in Halol, Gujarat, at the plant formerly owned by GM to make the Cruze and the Tavera. The C-SUV will rival the Jeep Compass, but priced well below INR 20 lakh, expect some indirect competition from the Hyundai Creta and the Kia Tusker/Kia Trazor (production Kia SP Concept) as well.

SAIC will launch one new model in our market every year beginning next year. It plans to have around 300 customer touchpoints in the country.

[Image Source: team-bhp.com]