FAW Besturn B50

The Besturn B50 at a glance: maker, size and markets

The Besturn B50 was the first model of Besturn, the passenger-car brand that FAW created for its own designs. FAW (First Automobile Works) is the oldest car maker in China and has worked with Mazda since the 1990s, which explains the choice of platform. The saloon was shown at the Beijing motor show in April 2008, left the production line in Changchun on 3 March 2009 and went on sale in China on 16 May 2009. You can read how the group grew in the history of FAW Group, and every model of the brand is in the FAW catalogue.

The B50 also travelled. It was built under licence by the Bahman Group in Iran until 2017 and sold in North Korea as the Pyeonghwa Hwiparam 1610. In 2013 FAW sold 62,342 units, and 72,259 in 2014, which made it the best-selling Besturn of those years.

Besturn B50 generations: 2009 and 2016

The first generation was built for eight years with one facelift in September 2013, when a 1.8-litre engine joined the range. The second generation went on sale in China in August 2016 with a fresh body, a new interior and a sporty RS version with a black grille and red trim. When FAW renamed the brand Bestune in 2018, the car became the Bestune B50; the last new cars were registered in China in December 2019.

1.6, 1.8 and 1.4 turbo: the B50's petrol engines

The base engine of the first generation is a 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol unit from the Volkswagen Bora, which FAW also builds in its joint venture with Volkswagen. It produces 76 kW (103 PS) at 6,000 rpm. Buyers could choose a five-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed automatic supplied by Aisin. After the 2013 facelift a 1.8-litre petrol engine with 102 kW (139 PS) became the top option.

The second generation kept the 1.6 with 80 kW (109 PS) and added a 1.4-litre turbo with 100 kW (136 PS), offered only on the RS. All versions drive the front wheels.

With 76 kW and a kerb weight of about 1,300 kg, the early 1.6 is no quick car; the old 1cars text calls it a little weak, but economical. By our calculation the 1.6 has to move about 17 kg per kW, compared with roughly 13 kg per kW for the 1.8, so the facelifted car and the 1.4 turbo suit motorway driving better.

Mazda chassis, roomy cabin and a 450-litre boot

The Mazda 6 roots show in the suspension: double wishbones at the front and a multi-link axle at the rear, both with anti-roll bars. That gives the B50 a settled ride and better handling than most Chinese saloons of its time. Italdesign gave it its own face, with tall headlamps, a slim grille and round fog lamps, so it does not look like a copy of the Mazda.

The old 1cars text describes a wide, bright cabin with soft-touch materials and none of the plastic smell that was common in Chinese cars of the period. The dashboard has an on-board computer with red lighting, and the four-spoke steering wheel adjusts for height. In the better trims the driver's seat adjusts electrically in eight directions, with lumbar support. The rear bench has good knee and head room for two adults, and rear air vents, but the centre tunnel limits the middle seat. The boot holds about 450 litres.

The kerb weight, boot and wheel size come from the old 1cars text; FAW did not publish a full European-style data sheet.

Running costs without official fuel figures

FAW did not publish fuel figures on a European test cycle for the B50, so owners' own readings are the best guide; enter yours in the fuel cost calculator to estimate the cost of a trip. The 1.6 is a simple, proven Volkswagen design, so parts and servicing are straightforward in the countries where the car was sold. Its small capacity was also an advantage at home: in 2009 China cut the purchase tax on cars of 1.6 litres or less, and the B50 1.6 qualified.

What the trims include

The old 1cars text lists first-generation trims from Modern with a manual gearbox to Premium with the automatic. The base car already had two front airbags, ABS, air conditioning, electric windows front and rear, a six-speaker audio system, an alarm and 15-inch alloy wheels. The Premium added side airbags, leather trim, an electric sunroof, tyre-pressure sensors, cruise control and a colour touchscreen.

Crash-test record: four C-NCAP stars

The first-generation B50 earned four stars in the Chinese C-NCAP crash test. It was never tested by Euro NCAP or the IIHS, because it was not sold in Europe or North America.

Rivals: how the B50 compares

The B50 competed with the many compact and mid-size saloons in China, often built by joint ventures with foreign brands. Its strongest points were the Mazda chassis, the Italdesign styling and the equipment for the money. Its weak points were the modest power of the early 1.6 and a brand with little reputation. Inside FAW, the bigger Besturn B70 also uses a Mazda 6 base, while the Besturn X80 brought the same idea to SUVs. For a smaller and cheaper FAW saloon, see the FAW Oley.