Why Was the Baojun 360 Discontinued?

[LeMiles]

Baojun 360 has not been discontinued and is still available for sale at major dealerships. Relevant details are as follows: 1. Configuration: The Baojun 360-CVT model comes standard with EPS electric power steering, roof rails, cruise control, ESP electronic stability system, leather seats, tire pressure monitoring, and an 8-inch central control screen. The luxury version, compared to the elite version, mainly adds features such as an electric sunroof, leather steering wheel, electric driver's seat, daytime running lights, anti-glare rearview mirror, rear air conditioning vents, and an electronic air conditioning system with a display. 2. Powertrain: The Baojun 360 is equipped with a 1.5L naturally aspirated engine, model L2B, with a maximum output power of 82kW (111PS) and a combined fuel consumption of 6.9L per 100 kilometers. The engine is paired with a 6-speed manual transmission and an automatic manual transmission. The automatic version uses a rotary knob + paddle shifters for gear changes.

[RileyLynn]

My previous car was the Baojun 360, and it's truly lamentable that it's been discontinued. Since 2019, the country has been mandating the implementation of the China VI emission standards. The cost of retrofitting the old Baojun 360's 1.5L naturally aspirated engine was too high, making it more practical to develop a new car from scratch rather than upgrading the existing model. Additionally, during the same period, Baojun was aggressively pushing its RS series of SUVs, diverting most of the R&D budget there. Last year, during a service at the dealership, a technician quietly mentioned that the car had inherent flaws—the rear torsion beam suspension made for a very bumpy ride on rough roads, and its resale value was low. Now, if you want to buy one, you'd have to look for leftover stock, but most dealerships have already cleared their inventory. After all, with electric vehicles dominating the market, who's still paying attention to fuel-powered MPVs?

[JulianaRose]

As a sales consultant who frequently visits car dealerships, the discontinuation of the Baojun 360 was actually foreshadowed. The vehicle could still sell over 10,000 units per month in 2019, but by 2020, sales were halved, with the final transaction price nearly 20,000 yuan lower than the suggested retail price. The manufacturer realized that the Wuling Hongguang PLUS, built on the same chassis, was far more profitable, so they decisively reallocated the production line to the Hongguang. There's also a rumor that after the Liuzhou plant shifted to producing electric microcars, the parts suppliers for the Baojun 360 switched production as well. Just the other day, while serving a regular customer, his 2018 Baojun 360 had a stuck middle-row seat sliding rail, and it took two months to get the original factory part. So, after a model is discontinued, maintenance and repairs really become a major issue.

[Nina]

After a decade in auto repair, I've seen too many discontinued models, and the Baojun 360 is a classic case of bad timing. Back then, to keep costs low, it used too many outdated technologies like cast iron engines and mechanical hydraulic power steering, which today's young car buyers simply won't accept. The most critical issue was the persistently high complaint rate about the transmission – about 30% of the models I've repaired had their clutch three-piece set replaced. The manufacturer planned to switch to a CVT during the 2020 facelift but had to abandon the idea due to budget overruns. Looking back, the car's biggest highlight was its second-row independent seats, but at the same price point, the BYD Song MAX offers both hybrid power and smart features. Baojun being phased out is just market selection at work.

[MacEmery]

After years in automotive media, I've discovered that the discontinuation of the Baojun 360 hides the brand's transformation ambitions. SAIC-GM-Wuling began aggressively promoting the new Baojun logo in 2020, focusing on premium models like the RS-5, while phasing out older cross-logo products. The profit margin for MPVs like the 360 in the 70,000 yuan price range was too low, and the manufacturer preferred producing newer models like the 100,000 yuan Baojun RM-5. Interestingly, Wuling seized the opportunity to launch the Capgemini to capture the market, utilizing the production capacity freed up by the Baojun 360's discontinuation. During a recent visit to the Liuzhou factory, the workshop supervisor mentioned that all four production lines are now dedicated to hybrid and electric vehicles, signaling the true end of the road for traditional fuel-powered cars.

[LeSawyer]

Uncle Zhang, my neighbor, has been driving his Baojun 360 for five years. Last month, when he heard it was discontinued, he specifically came to talk to me about it. He said the biggest advantage of this car is its practical space—the third row can comfortably seat adults, and when removing the seats for cargo, it can hold up to twenty boxes of fruit. However, fuel costs are too high now; his car consumes about 9 liters per 100 km in the city, while the new hybrid models only use 4 liters. Last year, the manufacturer shifted its entire R&D team to the Xingchen hybrid project, especially as national policies on fuel vehicles are becoming increasingly strict. Uncle Zhang finally sighed and said electric vehicles are more cost-effective—he just ordered a Wuling Bingo last month, which cost just over 70,000 yuan after subsidies, and charging is much cheaper than refueling.