Designed as a fairly basic form of transportation for Chinese families, the 730 rides on a brand new platform co-developed by GM and joint-venture partner SAIC. It offers space for up to seven adults and boasts a total of 22 storage bins cleverly scattered throughout the cockpit.
GM and SAIC put a big emphasis on safety when designing the 730. Over 50 percent of the chassis is built from high-strength steel, and all models regardless of trim levels come standard with four airbags as well as ABS brakes. An electronic stability control system can be ordered at an extra cost.
The entry-level 730 is powered by a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 110 horsepower and 108 lb-ft. of torque. The van reaches 62 mph from a stop in under 17 seconds and goes on to a top speed of 93 mph.
More expensive variants of the 730 benefit from a 1.8-liter four-banger that sends 135 ponies and 137 lb-ft. of twist to the front wheels via a five-speed manual transmission. The extra power allows the van to accelerate from zero to 62 mph in under 15 seconds.
Interestingly, the 730′s suspension setup was fine-tuned in the United Kingdom by Lotus Engineering.
The Baojun 730 is on sale now across China with a base price of 69,800 Chinese yuans, a sum that converts to approximately $11,300. The range-topping 1.8 Comfort models commands 81,800 yuans (roughly $13,200).
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