India-bound Baojun Yep compact SUV features revealed

The compact SUV will come to India after being rebadged as an MG.

Published On Jun 02, 2023 08:00:00 AM

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The Baojun Yep compact electric SUV, which is based on the MG Comet’s Global Small Electric Vehicle (GSEV) platform, has made its global debut in China. This new compact SUV gets a rear axle-mounted single-motor set-up and features ADAS tech.

Baojun Yep SUV features ADAS tech
Gets a 303km range (CLTC) from its 28.1kWh battery
It gets an optional LCD screen on the tailgate called Car-Watch

Baojun Yep EV SUV exterior, dimensions

Much like the Comet EV, the Yep electric SUV features a boxy design, but it is retro-themed, similar to the Maruti Suzuki Jimny and Ford Bronco. Its headlights have a very Porsche-like graphics with quad-LED daytime running lights in each unit.

In profile, the Yep SUV gets chunky wheel arches with 15-inch alloy wheels, and unlike the Comet EV, it does not get asymmetrical rear windows. At the rear, it has vertically mounted, oval-shaped tail-lamps and gets an optional LCD screen on the tailgate – dubbed Car-Watch – that allows users to have personalised display.

The Car-Watch screen on the tailgate can be controlled via an app.

The Yep is a very small SUV, measuring just under 3,381mm in length, and is 1,685mm wide, 1,721mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,110mm. Compared to the Comet, the Yep is 407mm longer, 180mm wider and 81mm taller, with its wheelbase 100mm longer.

When comparing the dimensions of the Yep with the three-door Suzuki Jimny, it is roughly 300mm shorter in length with its wheelbase just 40mm shorter. Interestingly, while the Yep is 40mm wider than the Jimny, it is 4mm shorter in height.

Baojun Yep EV SUV interior, features

The Yep compact SUV gets a similar steering wheel as the hatchback, but instead of a two-spoke design, it gets a three-spoke design. The Yep also gets steering-mounted controls, while the design of the dashboard and centre console are also very similar.

The Yep features a circular drive selector mounted on the centre console, ahead of the window switches, and unlike the Comet EV, which gets dials for AC controls, the SUV features switches. The Yep gets a glovebox, while the Comet EV in comparison gets just the cubbyhole.

Its features include a twin-screen layout with two 10.25-inch displays – one for the infotainment system and the other for the digital instrument cluster – as standard on the entry-level trim called Flagship. Additionally, it gets a battery temperature management system, rearview camera, heated front seats, electrically adjustable driver’s seat and four USB ports.

The centre piece of the Yep's interior is the pair of 10.25-inch screens.

The top-spec Deluxe trim additionally gets ADAS tech with adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, a 360-degree camera and an automatic parking assist, among other things.

A smartphone app allows users to control and monitor the aforementioned tailgate display along with the windows, air conditioning, vehicle diagnosis and vehicle positioning. Furthermore, a storage unit with a capacity of up to 35 litres is provided in the frunk that can keep the items stored hot or cold, depending on the settings.

The Yep can hold up to 715 litres of cargo with the second row of seats folded down, and gets an optional roof rack that can store up to 30kg.

Baojun Yep EV SUV powertrain

The Baojun Yep SUV features a single electric motor on the rear axle that generates 68hp and 140Nm of torque, and its top speed is limited to 100kph. This power is provided by a 28.1kWh lithium-ion phosphate battery that has a range of up to 303km (CLTC).

With DC fast charging, the battery can be charged from 30-80 percent in 35 minutes, a feature missing on the Comet EV. Meanwhile, with AC charging, it can be charged from 20-80 percent in 8.5 hours, as compared to the Comet EV, which takes only 5 hours to charge its 17.1kWh battery from 20-80 percent.

Will the Baojun Yep EV SUV come to India?

As we've reported before, MG India will get the Baojun Yep compact SUV here after rebadging it. MG is working to heavily localise the Comet EV and its components and the Yep will also take advantage of this localisation. However, sources tell us the process for bringing the Yep to India will kickstart only after MG India's second round of investment, to finance the second plant in Halol, Gujarat.

Also see:

MG Comet bookings open; deliveries to begin this month

MG Hector prices hiked by up to Rs 61,000; new Shine trim launched