A proper head-to-head in South Africa — compare price, performance,
fuel economy or electric range, safety and the details that shape long-term ownership.
UNI-S has a modest catalogue-index lead, while B40 Plus remains close.
UNI-S starts ZAR 309,600 cheaperB40 Plus from ZAR 699,500 · UNI-S from ZAR 389,900
Five key differences
Exact selected derivatives
Swipe sideways to compare every column
Specification
B40 Plus
UNI-S
Maximum Power
B40 Plus165 kW @ 5500 rpm
UNI-S138 kW
Maximum Torque
B40 Plus380 Nm @ 1750-4500 rpm
UNI-S300 Nm
Engine Size
B40 Plus1998 cc
UNI-S1500 cc
Combined Fuel Economy
B40 Plus9.0 km/l
UNI-S14.49 km/l
Ground Clearance
B40 Plus210 mm
UNI-SNot Officially Disclosed
Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.
Independent editorial assessment
Hagalu editorial ratings
When a variant is selected, its rating out of five applies only to that exact derivative; a model-range review is not inherited. Editorial ratings are separate from the Specification Evidence Index out of 100 and are not customer ratings.
BAIC B40 Plus
Honor Edition
Hagalu editorial rating
4.0/5★★★★★★★★★★
Desk research · Exact variant
Hagalu Editorial Team ·
Editorial assessment, not a customer rating. Not road-tested for this review.
Not yet rated means a complete review is not published; it does not mean the vehicle scored zero. Read the rating methodology.
What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)
B40 Plus
Strengths
More powerful engine output
Weak Spots
Lower fuel efficiency
Fewer listed safety features
Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to:Published Performance
Specification evidence leader
UNI-S
Strengths
Better fuel efficiency
Stronger listed safety equipment
Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
Less powerful engine setup
Best suited to:Published EfficiencyPublished Practicality
Which One's Right for You?
B40 Plus
Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
UNI-S
Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures
Full Specs, Side by Side
Open a category, then swipe sideways to compare every column
Spec
B40 Plus
UNI-S
Model Introduced Year
2021
2026
Generation
Current B40 Plus Honor Edition within the locally served first B40 Plus generation, using body-on-frame construction and an electronic part-time 4WD system.
First current South African UNI-S retail generation, offered in CS, CL and CE grades.
Facelift History
The B40 Plus launched in South Africa in October 2021. The current Honor Edition debuted locally in May 2025, adding electric seat adjustment and a sunroof to the City Hunter-based specification; BAIC now presents it as the sole current B40 Plus derivative.
No South African facelift has been announced since the UNI-S entered local retail sale in 2026.
Facelift Launched Since
2025
Not Applicable
Facelift Version Ending
Current
Not Applicable
Body Style
Five-door body-on-frame off-road SUV
SUV
Model Year
2021
2026
Production Status
active
active
Segment
Off-road SUV
Compact SUV
Vehicle Type
SUV
Passenger car
Spec
B40 Plus
UNI-S
Length
4630 mm
4539 mm
Width
1925 mm
1865 mm
Height
1871 mm
1680 mm
Wheelbase
2745 mm
2656 mm
Ground Clearance (Default)
210 mm
Not Officially Disclosed
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load)
190 mm
167 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity
75 l
51 l
Boot/Cargo Space
532 l
475 l
Kerb Weight
2110 kg
1505 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW)
2535 kg
1825 kg
Payload Capacity
425 kg
Not Officially Disclosed
Towing Capacity
1500 kg
Not Officially Disclosed
Seating Capacity
5 seats
5 seats
Number of Rows
2 rows
2 rows
Doors
5 doors
5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius
Not Officially Disclosed
5.66 m
Front Headroom
1010 mm
Not Officially Disclosed
Rear Headroom
1000 mm
Not Officially Disclosed
Front Legroom
1045 mm
Not Officially Disclosed
Rear Legroom
900 mm
Not Officially Disclosed
Spec
B40 Plus
UNI-S
Engine
2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine
1.5-litre Turbocharged Petrol
Engine Code
Not Officially Disclosed
NE15TG-AC
Fuel Type
Petrol
Petrol
Hybrid System
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Engine Displacement
1998 cc
1500 cc
Cylinders
4
4
Cylinder Layout
Inline
Not Officially Disclosed
Valves
Not Officially Disclosed
Not Officially Disclosed
Valves per Cylinder
Not Officially Disclosed
Not Officially Disclosed
Aspiration
Turbocharged
Turbocharged
Fuel System
Not Officially Disclosed
Not Officially Disclosed
Compression Ratio
Not Officially Disclosed
Not Officially Disclosed
Bore
Not Officially Disclosed
Not Officially Disclosed
Stroke
Not Officially Disclosed
Not Officially Disclosed
Maximum Power
165 kW @ 5500 rpm
138 kW
Maximum Torque
380 Nm @ 1750-4500 rpm
300 Nm
Combined Power
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Combined Torque
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Motor Type
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Number of Motors
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Motor Location
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Drive Type
4WD
FWD
Transmission
8-Speed Automatic
7-Speed DCT
Top Speed
180 km/h
190 km/h
0-100 km/h
9.9 sec
Not Officially Disclosed
Quarter Mile
17.2 sec
Not Officially Disclosed
Drive Modes
Comfort, Eco, Sport, Snow
3 selectable modes
Launch Control
No
Not Officially Disclosed
Rev Limiter
Not Officially Disclosed
Not Officially Disclosed
Power-to-Weight Ratio
78.2 kW/tonne
Not Officially Disclosed
Torque-to-Weight Ratio
180.1 Nm/tonne
Not Officially Disclosed
Battery Capacity
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Usable Battery Capacity
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Battery Type
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Battery Voltage
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Electric Range
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
AC Charging Power
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
DC Charging Power
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
AC Charging Time
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
DC Charging Time
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Regenerative Braking
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Spec
B40 Plus
UNI-S
Gearbox
8AT
7-Speed DCT
Drivetrain Layout
4WD
Not Officially Disclosed
LSD Available
No
Not Officially Disclosed
Transfer Case
Electronic 4WD transfer case
Not Officially Disclosed
Differential Lock
Rear electronic differential lock; Front optional electronic differential lock
Black, Putty Grey, Shadow Grey, Fluorite Grey, Moon White
Headlights
Standard
Yes
Panoramic Sunroof
Not Officially Disclosed
Yes
Spec
B40 Plus
UNI-S
Approach Angle
37 deg
Not Officially Disclosed
Departure Angle
31 deg
Not Officially Disclosed
Wading Depth
600 mm
Not Officially Disclosed
Terrain Modes
Snow, Sport, Comfort, Eco
Not Officially Disclosed
Locking Differential
Rear axle electronic differential lock
Not Officially Disclosed
4WD System Type
Electronic time-sharing 4WD
Not Officially Disclosed
Breakover Angle
23 deg
Not Officially Disclosed
Wading Depth Mm
600 mm
-
Spec
B40 Plus
UNI-S
Tyre Size
265/65 R17
225/55 R19
Front Brake Type
Ventilated disc
Ventilated disc
Rear Brake Type
Disc
Solid disc
Spare Wheel Type
Full-size spare
Temporary-use spare
Wheel Rim Size
17-inch
19-inch aluminium-alloy wheels
Tyre Type
All-Terrain
-
Auto Brake Hold
Yes
-
Handbrake Type
Electric parking brake
Electronic parking brake
Towing Unbraked Kg
750 kg
-
Wheel Material
Lightweight dual-tone alloy
-
Spec
B40 Plus
UNI-S
Front Suspension
Double wishbone independent front suspension
MacPherson independent
Rear Suspension
Five-link non-independent rear suspension
Multi-link independent
Chassis Type
Body-on-frame
-
Spec
B40 Plus
UNI-S
Service Interval
15000 km
-
Service Plan Duration
4 years / 60000 km
5 years / 90,000 km
Service Plan Distance
4 years / 60000 km
5 years / 90,000 km
Service Plan
4 years / 60000 km
5 years / 90,000 km
Spec
B40 Plus
UNI-S
Warranty Years
5 years / 120000 km
5 years / 150,000 km; roadside assistance 5 years
Warranty Kilometers
5 years / 120000 km
5 years / 150,000 km; roadside assistance 5 years
Warranty
5 years / 120000 km
5 years / 150,000 km; roadside assistance 5 years
Spec
B40 Plus
UNI-S
CO2 Emissions
Not Officially Disclosed
179 g/km
Fuel Octane Requirement
92 RON or higher petrol
-
Spec
B40 Plus
UNI-S
Ownership Role
Private buyer ownership with BAIC South Africa warranty and service support
Current South African derivative
Price Zar
699500 ZAR
469900 ZAR
Pricing Role
Current ex-showroom price
Current South African retail price
Starting Price
699500
469900
Starting Price Zar
699500
469900
In depth: how these cars differ
This B40 Plus and UNI-S comparison uses the exact derivatives selected above for South Africa. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.
Performance index: B40 Plus 71 vs UNI-S 59.
Efficiency index: B40 Plus 41 vs UNI-S 55.
Safety-equipment index: B40 Plus 57 vs UNI-S 92.
Practicality index: B40 Plus 67 vs UNI-S 68.
Ownership-cover index: B40 Plus 62 vs UNI-S not separately scored.
These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.
Model imagery
B40 Plus and UNI-S image comparison
Open an image for its full canonical file or visit the model page for the complete vehicle record.
A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.
Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout
UNI-S leads by 8 points
UNI-S has a modest catalogue-index lead, while B40 Plus remains close.
Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.
Why this scoreView full breakdown
Evidence-index leader
UNI-S
Performance
59/100
Efficiency
55/100
Safety
92/100
Practicality
68/100
B40 Plus
Performance
71/100
Efficiency
41/100
Safety
57/100
Practicality
67/100
Ownership
62/100
What the evidence means
Evidence indexChangan UNI-S
leads the specification evidence index with 69 pts
vs 61 pts for B40 Plus
In Hagalu's specification evidence index, UNI-S leads. However, B40 Plus may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.
Related comparisons
Continue with closely related South Africa models and comparable body styles.
There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the models and available derivatives in South Africa on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.
Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.
Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.
A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.
Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.
Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.
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