This Chinese imitation of the Land Rover Defender is promising!

A Chinese manufacturer has unveiled a carbon copy of the Land Rover Defender for just a fraction of the price of the original.

Get a Land Rover Defender for a fraction of the price, with amazing off-road capabilities and a design that looks like the original seems like mission impossible. However, there is the BAW 212. It is a Chinese off-road SUV which looks like a carbon copy of the classic British Defender.

An accessible alternative to the Land Rover Defender

At first glance, it’s hard not to think of the legendary Land Rover Defender when looking at the BAW 212. Produced by Beijing Auto Works (BAW)this off-road SUV is very clearly inspired by the robust and emblematic lines of the Defender. There are angular design elements, round headlights and an instantly recognizable silhouette. But unlike the Land Rover Defender which costs more than 60,000 euros new, the BAW 212 has a ridiculous price.

This Chinese SUV starts at the price of 13 600 euros. In addition, the high-end version caps at 19 500 euros. This is a ridiculously low price compared to the astronomical prices of off-road SUVs sold in Europe. In comparison, the latest generation Land Rover Defender is priced from 66 100 euros.

Under the hood, the BAW 212 hides a 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine developing 150 horsepower. Power is sent to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic gearbox. The vehicle even has disengageable all-wheel drive with locking differentials at the front and rear.

The limits of the Chinese SUV

In order to face the most difficult and demanding terrains, the BAW 212 is extremely well equipped. It benefits from a reduction gearbox for increased performance, disconnectable anti-roll bars and several driving modes adapted to different types of terrain. On paper, the BAW 212 therefore has nothing to envy of Western vehicles.

With such a low starting price, the BAW 212 costs about 1/5 the price of a Land Rover Defender. However, it would be unfair to directly compare the two vehicles. At Land Rover, the Defender offers much greater power and torque. The most powerful model can reach 395 horsepower. Needless to say, the high-end finish and cutting-edge technologies of the British SUV have nothing to do with what Chinese imitation can offer.

In short, the BAW 212 is clearly not the first Chinese automobile clone to get people talking. In recent years, the market has seen the emergence of imitations famous cars, including a fake Range Rover or even a version inspired by the Tesla Cybertruck. However, the BAW 212 still stands out for its features and his potential off-road.