BAIC M50S

If the exterior is not that impressive, the interior space is a bit more admirable. Slip inside the cabin and you’d be greeted by microfiber, manually adjustable leather seats. A couple of second-row captain seat option is another welcome feature. The dashboard is a bit dated looking with its instrument cluster with the usual gauges and multi-function steering wheel, nothing fancy. On the center console is a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system placed under the AC vents and down below are giant knobs for manually adjusting the AC, stick shifter, and hand brake lever. Connectivity features like Bluetooth and USB are available although smartphone mirroring capabilities for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are not. The feel might be old school and dated but the layout is streamlined and uncluttered. The three rows of seats mean minimal leg, knee, and shoulder room for 7 to 8 passengers especially for those sitting on the third row. Nonetheless, the cabin was maximized with strategically placed seat pockets, cubbies, and bottle holders.

To be frank, the M50S is not the most good looking vehicle in the MPV segment. If you put a premium on exterior styling, then this China made MPV might not appeal much to your liking. However, it does look the part of what a typical MPV looks like. At the front is an ample-sized trapezoid grille with chrome trim details and vertical slats which somehow adds to the narrow look of the car. It is flanked by large Hawkeye headlights with a leveler. The lower bumper gets a pair of fog lights and a decent sized air dam. Matte black trim accents wrap around the lower bumper and fenders of the vehicle. On the side are aerodynamic creases while the flat rear has tail lights, rear fog light on the driver side, and high mounted stop lamp. On top is a pair of decorative roof rail, an external antenna, and a rear spoiler. The M50S rides on a set of 15-inch aluminum-alloy rims wrapped in 195/65R15 rubber for the top-of-the-line variant while the base model gets a 14-inch rim with 185/70R14 tires. This Chinese MPV measures 4,525 mm long, 1,700 mm wide, 1,818 mm tall, and has a wheelbase of 2,790 mm. The M50s comes in 5 color options: Maple Red, Rustic Brown, Cloisonne Blue, Nest Silver, and Jade White.

Driving this China-made MPV wagon can be a surprisingly pleasant experience. The engine is very responsive and steers well especially when taking on curves and turns. Shifting gears are almost seamless and can accelerate smoothly without the feeling of the engine not being able to keep up. And because of its decent output, don’t expect a spirited ride. This after all is an MPV and not a sportscar. In terms of riding comfort, the M50S is decent. As with the case for most MPV, the cramped cabin space results in a tight leg, knee, and shoulder space which is not ideal for the full 7 or 8 adult passenger load especially on extra-long weekend trips but bearable on short out of town drives. If you are riding with kids, the third row would be useful as the lack of side doors will provide added safety. If not, best to just fold it and use the extra space for cargo space. Although flexibility is compromised since the third row folds as a whole bench. However, the headroom is commendable which allows passengers to easily reach the last row without any difficulty. Air conditioning vents on the front and rear ensure that cold air flows throughout the vehicle for the comfort of all passengers. The combination of McPherson, independent coil spring at the front and 5-link, coil springs suspension at the rear cushions the passengers well enough for a smooth ride while the insulation does a good job of keeping outside noise at a minimum.

The BAIC M50S MPV wagon is fitted with a DAM15DL DOHC Dual VVT inline-4gasoline engine that delivers a decent 114 hp of maximum power at 6,000 rpm and 150 Nm of peak torque at 4,300 – 4,500 rpm and can reach a top speed of 150 kmph. The 1,988cc, Euro 5 standard compliant front engine has a 50 liters fuel capacity is mated to a 5-speed manual drive-by-wire which sends power to the two rear wheels.

For its price point, the M50S has tons of safety features. It has a reinforced body structure and energy-absorbing steering column in case of collision. Safety and convenience features like the dual driver and front passenger airbags, child safety lock, speed sensing lock, ISOFIX, keyless entry, door ajar warning, safety belt warning, electronic power steering, and reverse camera comes standard on both Luxury and Ultra-Luxury variant. When it comes to braking, this compact MPV wagon is fitted with a combination of the disc at the front and drum brakes at the rear. Stopping power is further enhanced by anti-lock braking systems with electronic brakeforce distribution and braking assistance.

If you are tight on the budget or you value affordability, this compact MPV from BAIC can be a good option for a family car. Granted that you prefer functionality more than the looks, the M50S compact MPV covers more than the basic. For less than a million pesos, the value-for-money proposition that this vehicle offers when it comes to performance, cabin features, and safety specs are hard to pass by. Even though most Filipinos are skeptical of durability and reliability on anything “Made in China,” this car is worth giving a try. And because BAIC Philippines is a relatively new player in the local auto industry, after service support may be inadequate due to limited dealerships in some regions. So this is something you would also have to consider when buying.