Today’s off-road vehicles have a new look, quite different from the previous models with a very hard style and pure pursuit of "fun". Today’s new off-road vehicles focus more on the balance of daily practicality and entertainment. Take the recently launched Beijing Automobile BJ60 Thunder as a typical example.
Today, the BJ60 Thunder has entered the new energy era. The model is equipped with a powertrain and is equipped with a 1.5T engine, with a maximum power of 138 kilowatts. The combined output of the front and rear dual motors is 548 horsepower and the maximum torque is 655 Nm. The introduction of new energy technology not only improves the power performance, but also significantly optimizes the fuel economy. Although the core mission of the off-road vehicle is outdoor adventure, most users use it longer in the city. The range extension system of the BJ60 Thunder performs well. It only takes 5.8 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h, and the fuel consumption for 100 kilometers is only 8.75 liters. It combines power and economy.
Many people may worry whether the BJ60 Thunder can still maintain the essence of hard-line off-road after embracing new energy. In fact, the BJ60 Thunder still adopts the body, maintaining the basic attributes of hard-line off-road vehicles. What’s more special is that it combines the body with an independent rear suspension, which is almost unseen in the current market. Traditionally, the body is usually matched with an integral bridge suspension to adapt to off-road needs. However, due to the position limitation of the rear motor, the BJ60 Thunder innovatively adopts an independent suspension to improve comfort. At the same time, the BAIC official also improves the strength of the lower wishbone material to adapt to the increase in vehicle weight.
In terms of off-road configuration, the BJ60 Thunder is equipped with the ATS system independently developed by BAIC. It has three types of 11 road condition modes, which can be automatically adjusted according to different road conditions to improve fuel economy, passability and driving experience. The switching of driving mode is operated by knobs, which is simple and intuitive, and is equipped with animation display, which is convenient to use. The four-wheel drive system uses decoupled four-wheel drive realized by front and rear motors. Although it is slightly inferior to non-decoupled four-wheel drive in terms of escape ability, the rear lock differential is equipped to make up for this deficiency to a certain extent.
On urban roads, the BJ60 Thunder accelerates satisfactorily, with a 5-second 0-100km/h acceleration without worry. The turning radius is only 5.5 meters, and the handling is flexible. However, in order to take into account off-road performance, the suspension system setting is soft and the stroke is large, resulting in slightly unstable body and lack of turning support in good road conditions or at high speeds.
In terms of NVH (noise, vibration and roughness), the BJ60 Thunder performed better than expected. Despite the large windward area of the body, the noise is well controlled at low speeds, and the noise increases significantly only at more than 90 km/h. The brakes and steering system are adjustable in three gears to meet the needs of different driving styles. In addition, the kinetic energy recovery system also supports three-speed adjustment and is equipped with a single pedal mode. Overall, the city driving performance is excellent, but the suspension system is slightly lacking.
In terms of off-road performance, the BJ60 Thunder’s various indicators are impressive: the minimum ground clearance is 215mm, the approach angle is 30 degrees, the departure angle is 24 degrees, the longitudinal passage angle is 23 degrees, and the maximum wading depth is 800mm. These data ensure its excellent performance in complex road conditions such as mud, wading, and gravel. In the actual off-road crossing process, whether it is climbing steep slopes, passing through gravel roads or crossing weeds, the BJ60 Thunder can easily handle it. For most consumers, its off-road ability is more than enough.
Although the decoupled four-wheel drive system is adopted, it is theoretically inferior to the mechanical mid-lock four-wheel drive in extreme off-road, but with the ATS all-terrain feedback system and the rear axle differential lock, the BJ60 Thunder still performs confidently on non-paved roads. For users with less extreme off-road needs, the decoupled four-wheel drive can ensure a certain off-road ability while also bringing lower fuel consumption, which is more practical.
In terms of design, BJ60 Thunder has retained the design language of the fuel version to the greatest extent. The front face part has been redesigned to redesign the middle net and fog lamp area, which is more youthful and energetic as a whole, and the headlights have added blue corner lamp elements. The tail design has not changed much, but the light group and lower surround have been readjusted, and the visual effect is more concise and fashionable.
In terms of body size, the length, width and height of the BJ60 Thunder are 5040 × 1955 × 1925mm respectively, and the wheelbase is 2820mm. Compared with the competing Equation Leopard, the BJ60 Thunder body is taller and more powerful. In terms of interior, the single large screen of the fuel version has been upgraded to a dual screen, and the smoothness of the car system has been significantly improved. A large number of leather coverings in the car create a luxurious atmosphere. The seat comfort is extremely high, and the shape, sitting feeling and size are all outstanding. The spacious rear space is equipped with independent air conditioning, and the seats are equipped with ventilation, heating and massage functions. The only drawback is that the back angle of the rear seats is slightly insufficient.
The trunk space performs well, with a 0-degree flat design and a depth of 1875mm, providing a large storage space of 1836 liters. The BJ60 Thunder also supports 2.2kW external discharge from the trunk and 3.5kW V2L external discharge. It has a three-gear adjustable parking power generation function. The maximum power is 15kW. It provides stable power at any time, making it an ideal choice for camping enthusiasts.
The BJ60 Thunder is a model with excellent overall performance. A one-day test drive experience shows that its urban dynamic performance can be scored at 60 points, off-road ability at 80 points, and fuel economy at 80 points. Although each performance has its own strengths and weaknesses, it is almost unrivaled when combined. Compared with the Equation Leopard 5, the BJ60 Thunder is larger and more comfortable, and has both urban and outdoor use needs. For consumers seeking both daily practicality and off-road capabilities, the BJ60 Thunder is undoubtedly a worthy choice.