SUVs are in fashion, if the past few years are an indication. Many popular brands including Ford, Chevrolet and even Volkswagen have underlined it with their shift in model line-up. Everyone seems to want an SUV – well, not everyone, thankfully. There are still takers for the classic four-wheeled sedan who seem to care for the drive experience more than everyone and everything else. And just when we thought the midsize family sedan spotlight doesn’t get turned on beyond the Camry, Accord, Altima, Sonata or the Kia K5, Bestune has brought to market the B70 – a spacious, stylish sedan, running on petrol and packed with features that can challenge the traditional favourites.

The dimensions: 4810 x 1840 x 1456 mm

The specs: 1.5 and 2.0L turbocharged engines, comprehensive driver assistance features including automatic-parking

The output: 167 hp – 214 hp

The price: AED 79,000 – 96,000

The brand legacy

Now, if you just happened to ask “Bestune who?” (the pace at which Bestune models are turning up on the road, the chances for that are slim!) Bestune is a value-premium brand from FAW, one of China’s oldest and largest automotive companies. Now, before you ask for further credentials, let me add that FAW is the Fortune 500 company that makes Hongqi, often dubbed the Rolls-Royce of the Orient! They seem to have put their heart, and 70 years of automotive alliances, into the making of these models.

The Design

Bestune B70 is a 4.8 m long sedan with a 2.8 m wheelbase – neat proportions for space and stability. The sedan makes a solid impression, and the stylishly knotted grille and the logo that could remind you of Lincoln, are already leaving a signature. By the way, those automatic headlamps on the sides can switch between high and low, automatically, as the road demands.

In the rear, B70 has a sporty liftback design, similar to what most surviving heroes of the sedan universe seem to be opting for. Nice touches include a lip spoiler, dual square-ish exhausts and wraparound taillamps. The B70 keeps the design rolling with 19” alloys in the limousine trim (my test car) while even the comfort trim gets 18” wheels.

Cabin and controls

The interiors of Bestune B70 not only draw their inspiration from premium cabins but even throws them a challenge, with bucket seats in leather and a panoramic set up of screens. The dual screens extend across the dash, from the steering wheel to the central console and beyond. There is a sprinkling of ‘stars’ over the passenger side of the dash. And as for the starlit sky, it can be viewed through the panoramic sunroof, which boasts a clever bit of tech that allows it to close upon sensing rainfall.

Above the neatly put together console, which houses a wireless charger, the 12” central screen is segmented into frequently accessed functions. Radio stations can be set by simply sliding a finger over the frequency scale. The Mirror Link function allows you to feed your phone screen into the multimedia touchscreen.

Bestune B70 has a third screen, like a 7” appendix page, sloping below the central screen, dedicated to air-conditioning. Even though it has touch functions, two chrome dials are the primary controls to set the temperature.

The safety package

Bestune B70 has European safety standards, including 6 airbags and seat belt warning for all seats. Functions like Hill Hold make driving easy on an incline, by preventing unintentional roll-off. Well, Bestune originates in China. And that suggests an established advantage of making tech affordable and universal. So, the Bestune B70 offers plenty of driver assistance with features like Adaptive Cruise Control, Blind Spot Monitor, Lane Keep Assist, Road speed indicator and so on.

It is also equipped with a 360-degree camera that isn’t remarkable for its high-res visuals but for the useful graphics and the thoughtful switching of views to display how close you are to a curb or a wall, helping even beginners to guide the car into narrow parking spaces. And for those, who just couldn’t bother, there is the self-park feature, whereby all you have to do is press a button and select the parking style – parallel or perpendicular.  Keep your hand on the button and release it when you’re done – I mean, when the car is done with parking!

Space and storage

Bestune B70 is a spacious sedan, with pampering bits like cooled leather seats. There is enough legroom and headroom, despite the sporty rear styling which narrows down the rear windscreen view – just a little. The centre seat, unlike in many cars, is comfortable, making it a proper transporter for five.

As seen in several premium cars of Chinese origin, a double-deck structure of the console adds to the storage space. Blame it on the spacious comforts if one gets greedy for more storage space on the door-side. The sport-back sedan offers 522L of boot space under its stylishly opening rear door. The fact that the boot is opened with a button on the dash can be seen more as a safety restriction, rather than as an inconvenience.

The Drive

Bestune has equipped their B70 sedans with an option of two engines – a 1.5L turbine mated to a 7-speed dual clutch gearbox and a 2.0L powerhouse for the top trims, mated to a 6-speed AISIN transmission. The former is good for 169 hp while the latter delivers 214 hp of reliable power. With gushing torque, the B70 wastes no time in getting ahead when you wish to overtake, as it quickly overcomes a minor turbo lag. If you feel a mild torque tug on the steering, it simply means go easy on the throttle! The handling is reassuring and the multi-link independent rear suspensions keep the ride enjoyable for the family.

So much as standard!

It is heartening to see brands furnish their entire range with standard features, delivering maximum value to their customers. In the Bestune B70, whichever trim you go for, you can have the privilege of a panoramic sunroof, front collision warning, rear camera with sensors, hill hold, keyless entry and cooled leather seats. So, if you don’t fancy letting the car play the chauffeur too, you have a great choice in the mid trim that saves you some bucks! And yet the prices begin at AED 79,000 and goes up to AED 96,000 for the limousine trim, with a reassuring 6 year/200,000 km warranty. Now, that said, Bestune and Al Khalid Motors are doing their best to have as many of those models on the road swiftly – so expect even more astonishing prices and offers when you walk into see the B70 for real.