
BAIC Changhe Q35 is equipped with a 1.5L naturally aspirated engine across all variants. This engine delivers a maximum power of 116 horsepower and a peak torque of 148 Nm, with maximum power achieved at 6,000 rpm and peak torque at 3,800 rpm. The BAIC Changhe Q35 is a compact SUV with body dimensions of 4,286mm in length, 1,815mm in width, and 1,665mm in height, featuring a wheelbase of 2,560mm. The Q35 comes with high-precision electronic throttle, intelligent eco idle start-stop system, engine immobilizer, and either an Aisin 4AT transmission with cruise control or a 5MT manual transmission. Additional features include a floating 7-inch touchscreen, front seat heating, GPS with rearview camera, and a large multifunctional rearview mirror.

I've researched the BAIC Changhe Q35 compact SUV quite a few times in car owner groups. It comes standard with a 1.5L naturally aspirated engine, model A151. This engine delivers a maximum of 116 horsepower with VVT variable valve timing technology, focusing on fuel efficiency and practicality, paired with either a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission. Daily driving power is adequate, though it does feel somewhat sluggish when climbing hills with AC on during summer. Fuel consumption is around 7L for manual versions, with automatics consuming about 1L more. This engine shares its origins with the BAIC Senova X35, making parts readily available and affordable - a mineral oil change can be done for just 200 yuan.

Friends who have driven the Q35 should be familiar with its BAIC A151 engine. The 1.5L displacement is quite suitable for urban commuting. This engine features an aluminum cylinder block to reduce weight and a -free timing chain design for cost and hassle savings. However, it's worth noting that its spark plugs are recommended for inspection every 20,000 kilometers, as some owners have experienced ignition coil failures leading to cylinder misfires. Additionally, the engine mounts are relatively thin, and vehicles over three years old may develop idle vibration issues—replacing them with upgraded mounts can resolve this.

The BAIC Changhe Q35 is equipped with a 1.5L naturally aspirated engine model A151 across the entire lineup. With 116 horsepower, it handles the 1.3-ton body quite effortlessly. Compared to the CS35 from the same period, the Changhe's engine has a more aggressive low-end torque tuning, delivering 90% of its torque at just 2,500 RPM, making it quick off the line at traffic lights. However, the engine noise becomes noticeably louder at high RPMs, sounding like a tractor once it exceeds 4,000 RPM. It has good fuel adaptability, running perfectly fine on 92-octane gasoline, but note that in northern winters, a half-minute warm-up is necessary for cold starts to avoid triggering the malfunction indicator lamp.

As a compact SUV, the Q35 is equipped with an A151 engine with an actual displacement of 1499ml and a compression ratio of 10.5:1. Technologically, it adopts a reverse-mounted layout and low-tension piston rings to enhance efficiency, but the valve cover is made of plastic, which may cause oil seepage under high-temperature conditions. A tip: It's best to use 5W-30 full synthetic oil during servicing to reduce valve ticking noise. The parts are interchangeable with those of the BAIC Weiwang M30, and replacing the air filter and cabin air filter yourself costs just a few dozen yuan. This engine is quite reliable; there are cases of ride-hailing drivers reaching 250,000 kilometers without major repairs.

Having driven the Q35 for three years, its 1.5L engine is perfectly adequate for daily commuting. The maximum power of 85kW is achieved at 6000 rpm, but it feels most comfortable below 3000 rpm. There are two details to note: first, the coolant reservoir tends to turn yellow, so it's recommended to replace the antifreeze every two years; second, the generator belt tensioner is prone to making strange noises—I had it replaced twice for free under warranty. There isn't much room for modifications, though some owners have installed electronic throttle boosters to improve responsiveness. The engine is economical, with a combined fuel consumption of 7.2L, which can drop to 6.5L on the highway with cruise control.


