FAW BESTUNE B70: small joys and great sorrows

Not all motorists in Russia are crazy about crossovers and SUVs. The category of lovers of practical family sedans is quite wide.


The trouble is that the market is narrow. Therefore, our users greeted the appearance of the Chinese 5-door liftback at dealers with enthusiasm as a replacement for the Octavia, Camry, and Sonata.

Key information about the model

The event happened last year. The first cars, however, arrived from 2020, but then newer goods arrived.


There were buyers who were already grateful for the choice of engines:

✅ 1,5 l with a capacity of 160 l. With. and torque 258 N*m. Equipment: COMFORT, EXCLUSIVE, PROGRESSIVE
✅ 2,0 l with output 217 l. With. and a torque of 340 N*m. Equipment: EXCLUSIVE, VISION

Both engines are turbocharged. The younger one is combined with a 7-speed robotic DCT transmission with two “wet” clutches. The senior unit works with a 6-speed Aisin automatic transmission.

Cost – 2-130 rubles. The prices are not sky-high, but they are steep, especially since the manufacturer aims for the premium segment. Here “vague doubts” arise: everything seems to be done well, but it smacks of old-wave China.


Shortcomings, half-witted ideas, shortcomings are pursued at every step, hidden in every little thing. If the car were a million cheaper, the “under” would be perceived differently. After all, in fact, all modern bells and whistles with electrical packages, climate control, sunroofs, wireless charging, and touchscreens are present. However, more details.

Exterior

The appearance of the FAV Bestune B70 is a treat for the eyes, although nothing special has been invented. And the radiator grille, stylized as “raindrops”, and the flowing fangs of the head optics, and the continuous strip of rear lights do not shake the imagination. But it was done carefully, and the exterior work was without any complaints.


Machine dimensions:

✅ Length – 4810 mm,
✅ Width - 1840 mm
✅ Height - 1455 mm
✅ Between axles – 2800 ​​mm

Wheel size – 225/50 R18, car weight – 1540 kg. What really pleases is the luxurious 522-liter trunk with storage under the floor. But the lighting is rather weak, the hook for bags is lonely and pitiful, the two recesses, covered with mesh, are very tiny.

Interior

The interior looks like a contrast to the pleasant exterior. It's gloomy, to put it simply. You can’t close the door the first time: you have to slam the gate with force. The thresholds are not sealed properly - an excellent place for dirt and moisture to accumulate.

The abundance of gloss on the dashboard and door trim is annoying, and the air duct deflectors made of nondescript plastic cheapen the interior. The niche for a phone with wireless charging is located inconveniently, under the console. And the gadget falls out of the shallow recess in front of the cup holders. The glove box is not illuminated. But these are minor quibbles.


Worse is the structure of the seats. They look stylish, but the backrests in the front row are short, the lumbar support is out of place, and the area under the shoulder blades sticks out. In a word, a push-out configuration. However, the materials are tactile and visually pleasing. There is no genuine leather in the interior of the FAW Bestune B70, although it is labeled as premium class.

What else is interesting in the salon

There are no complaints about the range of seat adjustments. But they are there for the steering column. Adjusting the steering wheel only in height is annoying. There was no provision for reach, so you need to adapt to the driver’s workplace individually. However, you can get used to it.

It is especially difficult for an owner taller than 170 cm: cut off a decimeter of legs and throw them away. And put your knees behind them wherever you want, or rest them on the driver’s lower back. This is if you are tall. But for slender passengers, the height of the backrests and the width of the sofa will seem comfortable. In addition, they are provided with a USB port and a 12-volt outlet.


Two screens - for the dashboard (7 inches) and multimedia (12,3 inches) - are covered with one glass. The font, in the tradition of the Chinese school, is small. There is some confusion: you won’t suddenly understand how to control the climate control, for example. But read the instructions, you'll figure it out. And at first it will fry either in the legs or in the face.

Taxiing

The picture regarding the suspension of the front-wheel drive liftback is as follows: in all modifications, classic MacPherson struts are installed at the front. At the rear, the base uses a beam, while the top variants use a multi-link mechanism.

The chassis settings are commendable: the long-term cooperation of FAV with Volkswagen has an effect. The car is peppy and picks up speed regularly. It passes through city road obstacles quite smoothly: rails, potholes, patches.


It takes speed bumps calmly, but don’t meddle in the fields with the Chinese car. Roll in corners is less than crossover, the steering is responsive. Driving along the winding roads is a pleasure.

But! Not everything is so rosy. Idyll, happiness, and driving pleasure do not come immediately. “FAV Bestune B70” is a car that you need to adapt to, get used to, and immerse yourself in. At first you don’t know what to prepare for: if you want to take off smoothly, it will rush forward. If you want to accelerate, wait a couple of seconds for the car to think.

Let's continue the rides

When overtaking, special vigilance is required. You press the right pedal to the floor, for the same couple of seconds it’s as if nothing is happening. And the speed increases, so a sharp jerk follows.

However, with a quiet ride everything is fine. But smart drivers have big questions for the manufacturer. The car does not make you want to misbehave on the highway. In a sharp turn it can raise a column of dust and skid. Again, you need to get used to it, and then the device will deliver its potential. Returning to the turns: drivers are guilty of using factory tires. It is advised to change the tires to familiar, proven ones.


There is a peculiar charm to the moment of controlling the FAW Bestune B70. The comparison with bridling a wild horse is rather too strong. But revealing the liftback is very interesting in many aspects. Therefore, drivers' reactions to the car vary at the beginning of ownership and after some time: disappointment gives way to delight. Well, or at least the owners are calming down.

To call a trip on a “Chinese” uncomfortable is to sin against the truth. After all, there is good visibility, the pillars do not interfere with monitoring the situation on the highway. And the sound insulation is excellent. Not premium noise, but not annoying either.

Conclusion

We have not yet heard of any serious failures of the Bestune B70: the period on the market is short. The manufacturer's warranty covers 5 years or 150 thousand km. However, the situation with spare parts in Russia is known - it’s tight!


Dealers are not overwhelmed with the necessary components and assemblies, and they do not respond too zealously to complaints. Here’s what our hero says: even before zero maintenance, a man caught a pebble in his windshield. The case is guaranteed, but everything is tedious and dreary: you need to order glass in the Middle Kingdom, wait 3 months, etc.

But the situation is changing for the better. In one thing it seems to be stable: for now there is dominance in the market, there is an influx of Chinese products. Mostly crossovers. You can count the number of sedans on your fingers. It turns out that Bestune B70 hit the topic. There is no need to be afraid of the car: there are no radical problems. In general, the liftback is an interesting proposal: it looks beautiful, there are engines and configurations to choose from, active and passive safety features in a decent set.

Undoubtedly, the price tag is too high. By 2,5 million rubles. The car doesn't work: there are a lot of annoying little things. At home, the car is listed in the low price category. Not budget, but accessible to a wide audience. But do we have much choice? So, come on, comrades, don’t crowd, take a turn... Citizen, you weren’t standing here!