A brand flying under the radar for a few years is BAIC, a part of the ever growing Chinese (car) community in the Philippines. BAIC’s specialty are SUVs, and over the years have been continuously adding more hybrids to the lineup.

Following up on the success of the B60 and B30, unveiled during the 2026 Manila International Auto Show (MIAS), is the BAIC B40 rEV Trailmaster. Luckily for us, we were able to preview the B40 before the official launch day.

Starting off with the positioning, the B40 is a somewhat smaller SUV compared to the likes of the Land Cruiser Prado, but not by much actually, and the B40 is longer (4,790 mm), taller (1,930 mm), and wider (1,940 mm) than the likes of the CR-Vs and RAV4s of this world. So, it sits in a happy in between, which kudos to BAIC actually exists and needs a contender in. Looking at the B40 though you get the idea that it’s much larger than the actual dimensions, it’s definitely imposing at first glance and has the commanding presence all off-roaders seek.

The design is very BAIC, it looks like a part of that family with the boxy rugged design that we first saw in the B60 Beaumont and B30 Dune, though the B40 looks the most off-road biased between the three. I think it looks really good, it has a look of its own that isn’t a copy of any other model. Granted the roofline and side profile does put the Land Rover Defender to mind, but overall, it looks like an original design.

Inside is where the B40 really impresses if you ask me, you open the solid doors and climb using the automatic step board, and you are in a very plush, but rugged interior. You first notice the three massive displays on the dashboard, the instrument cluster, a 12.8-inch center display, and an equally big passenger display. In other words, front passengers will have the option to change music, adjust temperatures and more without the help of the driver. We’ll wait till our full review to find out if it’s a nuisance or not, but nonetheless it should be more of a help against anti-distracted driving laws. Audiophiles will be happy knowing the B40 comes with a 12-speaker system from Infinity audio.

The front seats are also heated and ventilated, then rear passengers get aircon vents and charging ports, and a panoramic sunroof, standard stuff these days. When it comes to seating, the B40 is only a 5-seater, but the trunk space is enormous enough to swallow all your things, plus you get a handy outlet in the trunk for coolers, another good thing is despite being electrified the B40 comes with a spare tire, no hard to use tire repair kits here.

Propulsion is taken cared of by a rEV (range extended electric vehicle). It essentially means that the B40 is not driven by the gasoline engine, the engine is merely a charger for the batteries (much like Nissan’s e-Power). The key difference is the B40 is a plug-in as well, where you have the option to top-up without using the engine at all.

Full EV range is at 152 kilometers, with a full combined range of more than 1,200 kilometers. Max output is at 547 Ps (204 horsepower at the front and 340 horsepower at the back), and 655 Nm of torque (240 Nm at the front and 415 Nm at the back). With a name like Trailmaster, it makes sense that it is a 4WD model, and even better is that it comes with a plethora of off-road features like Crawl Control plus front and rear differential locks.

Other safety driving systems are also included, ADAS features like adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist and more. So yes, the B40 Trailmaster is loaded to the gills with driving tech for on and off-road.

Since we were only given a short time with the B40 rEV I wasn’t really able to push it to its true capabilities. However, I have to say my initial impressions of it are that it feels super solid, I felt like I was driving a building in terms of build quality and road presence. A start contrast is that it’s extremely quiet, and quick because of the rEV system. Also, the steering is light but not numb, making it easy to drive and maneuver in tight spaces. I did also enjoy the gobs of power and torque on hand, a slight tap of the gas pedal boosts the B40 rEV without any regard for the actual size and weight of it. Another thing I noticed is the ride is decent, and the NVH levels are muted, a very relaxed city car when needed.

It only comes in one variant, the BAIC B40 Trailmaster rEV retails for P2,888,000 which is a competitive price point considering what it does and what it can offer buyers. Here is a fully capable SUV that can take on the big boys, at a fraction of the price.

Check out the full specs.