BAIC MZ40

Going through the inside, you may find the materials cheap but durable, as it is made of fabrics and hard plastics with ample space because of a nearly 3m wheelbase and a front-rear track width of 1.4m. This can actually provide lots of elbow and legroom. 

The tall design is also a good design proposition to accommodate taller people with up to 6 feet of height. The space for cargo is present behind the third row and if you want to carry larger loads, you will have to remove seats in the third row which is not really difficult to manage though. MZ40 is generally shorter than a sub-compact sedan but has the three seating rows and ample cargo space to transport as many as 8 adults and their luggage.

MZ40’s engine is mounted under the front seats so it actually makes the whole cabin more spacious both insight and feels.

The BAIC MZ40 is available in four colors which are silver, gold, grey, or white. When it comes to the dimensions, it is 4030 mm long, 1636 mm wide, and 1907 mm long with rear and front overhangs of 772 mm and 558 mm respectively. 

This car also features chrome door handles on the Luxury variant and body-colored door handles on others. The BAIC MZ40 comes with lights of the same color as the body, large halogen headlights, and also fog lights located between the bumper and the grille. Meanwhile, the rear-view mirrors have turn signals as well. 

MZ40 zooms in through thoroughfares via its 14" alloy wheels on the luxury variant and steel rims and plastic covers on other variants while the dimension of tiers is 175/70. There is also an additional brake light that is mounted high on the back. 

It has a rigid box shape to make the car even stronger with a discrete undercarriage subframe welded into the conventional unibody construction. This actually adds up to the overall capability of the car for hauling a truck-load like a payload equivalent to 600kg in passengers or cargo.

The suspension system is being handled by McPherson struts with coil springs independent in the front and semi-elliptical leaf springs for the rear.

This car has steering and ride characteristics similar to a sedan, in which, however, the ride is comfortable for the first row, whereas, the third-row passengers might experience a bumpy ride. In the cockpit area, the semi-forward driver’s position puts the front seats behind the front wheels, making things less bouncy for the driver and more comfortable for everyone. For the steering, it uses a rack and pinion with hydraulic assist.

Its long 2.7m wheelbase and better weight balance of the mid-front engine work together to deliver enhanced stability when turning. Given that, the turning radius of the van is actually at 5.2m which makes it easy to steer it in the city traffic.

Powering this mini wonder van is a 1299cc 1.2-litre A12 unit from Mitsubishi DOHC VVT in line-4 gasoline engine that has passed the Euro4 standards. It can fire up to 85 hp at 6000 rpm and 108 Nm of torque at 4400 rpm. The high compression and variable valve timing technology combine to produce the power and attainable toque which is well above the critical hundred marks for cargo haulers.

This mill is mated with a 5-speed manual transmission that has deep enough ratios on low gears to ensure ample torque when hauling a full load and sufficiently tall ratios on high gears for efficient cruising even on uphill.

Meanwhile, the traditional rear-wheel-drive puts the workload on a ruggedly solid rear axle.

This car has a fuel tank capacity of 45 liters and an estimated top speed of 130 kmph.

The disk brakes on the front and the drums on the rear completes the braking system for this car. Unfortunately, this car doesn’t have an Anti-Lock Braking System with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution and Traction Control.

The MZ40 Cargo packs a few safety features such as Rear Seat Belts, Seat Belt Warning, Front Impact Beams, Side Impact Beams, Door Ajar Warning, and Engine Check Warning. For the security features, it only has Power Door Locks.

For a family car, the MZ40 might be a little lacking in terms of the security features which might pose a little bit of an advantage for this model. Essentially, family cars should be baby and child safe so that all the passengers can have peace of mind whether if its a  quick trip around the city or a long haul.

With its affordability and durability, there is no wonder that the Baic MZ40 is a great catch. It is very much practical and economical for families who want to have their own car without worrying about the space and the luggage area or those businessmen who are looking for a service utility car that is good for their business continuity. Although, the carmakers should still be mindful about initiating some ideas on how they can improve this model in the years to come. Additional safety and technology features may cost a little bit much more on the pricing but given the existing pros of this car like space and versatility, an extra grand will be much worth it.