BAW 212 is a Chinese celebrity, the heir to a sixty-year-old army SUV. For the Chinese, this is not just a car, but a cultural symbol: "every 4×4 transmission ever created in the Middle Kingdom carries the genes of this army transporter."
Today, the current version of the BAW 212 is a civilian modification, dressed in civilian clothes, released to the market, and now making its way to Russia through roundabout routes.
The starting point for all-wheel drive SUVs in the Chinese auto industry was 1965: it was then that the country's military-industrial forces introduced the BJ212 light army transporter, designed to replace the UAZ-469 and Chinese counterparts.
This was the second attempt to create a universal SUV for the army, and the project took off: the car was suitable for combat units, could act as a tractor, a universal platform, and met strict military requirements. Inspector versions for the country's leadership were built on the BJ212 chassis, and individual components were completely copied.
Production was entrusted to Beijing Automobile Works (BAW), which has produced over a million of these vehicles in its nearly sixty-year history. They evolved: power units and transmissions changed, clones appeared legally and illegally, but the family was never sold to private individuals. When the BJ212's military service ended in 2008, the car became a cult model and a symbol of China's off-road power.
And now, the civilian version 212 T01 (launched in 2024). The index carries the code: "2" - the second Chinese brand after BAW, "1" - the first model of the series, "2" - the second attempt at a universal platform. This version looks simultaneously like a hommage to the BJ212 and a modern SUV.
The design knowingly "mocks" everything: you can see the GAZ-69, the UAZ-469, the Land Cruiser 70, and even the modern Ineos Grenadier. At the same time, the proportions are "correctly" off-road - a frame, a high cabin, and a short hood area.
In terms of technical characteristics: the BAW 212 T01 version is available with a 2.0 T gasoline engine (≈252 hp/185 kW) and a torque of up to 410 N·m, 4×4 drive with switching to low gear, and an 8-AT gearbox. The dimensions of a typical version are - length 4705 mm, width 1895 mm, height 1936 mm, wheelbase 2860 mm, ground clearance up to 235 mm, off-road angles: approach ≈40°, departure ≈36°, ford depth up to 850 mm.
The version for Russia is somewhat simplified: adaptive cruise control, road sign recognition system, lane control, and a built-in DVR have been removed from the package - probably to simplify certification.
For the Russian buyer, the key features are: a frame structure, a real all-wheel drive transmission, large off-road angles, and the character of a brutal SUV. The interior, despite the archaic layout, is decorated quite modernly: spacious, five-door, five seats, high-quality materials in the trim. Although there are few seat adjustments and luxury equipment, the ergonomics are not ideal: the seat is located higher, the back profile is flat, and there is no lumbar support.
The civilian version of the BAW 212 is a car of dual character: on the one hand, nostalgic for the army past, on the other - a modern design for the civilian market. It looks charismatic where most crossovers are the same. And if the soul wants an off-road character with Chinese flavor - it is definitely worth attention.