FAW Besturn B70

FAW Besturn B70 key specifications (second generation)

Three generations at a glance

The B70 was the first car of FAW's own Besturn passenger brand. Its smaller sister, the FAW Besturn B50, followed the same recipe on the same Mazda base. FAW later changed the brand's English name to Bestune, so newer sources use "Bestune B70".

First generation: the Mazda6-based original of 2006

The first B70 made its debut on 18 August 2006. It used the platform of the first-generation Mazda 6, a result of FAW's partnership with Mazda. Mazda-designed engines provided 108 kW (147 PS) from 2.0 litres and 120 kW (163 PS) from 2.3 litres.

The 2.0 came with a 6-speed manual or a 5-speed automatic, while the 2.3 was automatic only. Standard equipment included two front airbags, ABS, traction control, tyre pressure monitoring and air conditioning. Prices started at 151,800 yuan and reached 208,800 yuan. At 2006 exchange rates, that was about €15,200–20,900.

A facelift was shown at the Shanghai Auto Show in April 2011 and went on sale in 2012. It added an FAW-built 1.8-litre engine with 102 kW. FAW claimed a top speed of 200 km/h for both the 1.8 and the 2.0. The 2.0 version weighed 27 kg more than the 1.8.

Second generation, 2014–2019: Giugiaro styling and a turbo RS

The second B70 went on sale in May 2014. It moved to the platform of the second-generation Mazda6, and its wheelbase grew from 2,675 mm to 2,725 mm. Giorgetto Giugiaro's studio styled the body, which the old 1cars page credited to Italdesign.

The main engine was the 2.0-litre petrol with 108 kW (147 PS). It worked with a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic. The old 1cars data sheet quoted 0–100 km/h in 11.0 seconds with the manual and about one second more with the automatic. It also listed 8.2 and 8.3 l/100 km in the combined cycle.

The sportier RS used a 1.8-litre turbo engine sourced through FAW's joint venture with Volkswagen. Wikipedia lists it at 139 kW (189 PS) and 235 Nm. It had a black honeycomb grille, red RS badges, a rear spoiler and its own wheels. Second-generation prices spanned 99,800–149,800 yuan, or roughly €12,200–18,300 at 2014 rates.

Compared with the launch price of the first generation, the entry price fell by about 34 %, by our calculation. According to the old 1cars page, front suspension used double wishbones, with a multi-link rear axle.

Third generation from 2020: FAW's own FMA platform

The third B70 made its debut at the 2020 Beijing Auto Show, and FAW released the design on 5 August 2020. It was the first car on FAW Modular Architecture, or FMA, which covers wheelbases from 2,630 mm to 2,900 mm. Wikipedia describes the body as a five-door liftback with a sloping rear, although many sources still call it a saloon. The third generation also brought an over-the-air software platform and a new digital cockpit.

At launch, a 1.5-litre turbo engine produced 126 kW (171 PS), with a manual or automatic gearbox. FAW quoted 39.06 % thermal efficiency for this third-generation engine, the highest in the Bestune range. A facelift in November 2023 dropped the 1.5 turbo. Since then, every version uses a 2.0-litre turbo with a 6-speed Aisin automatic.

The facelift added 45 mm in length, from 4,810 mm to 4,855 mm, by our comparison of the two figures. Kerb weight stayed at about 1,440–1,545 kg.

Sales and the end of the China model

Sales held at about 40,000 a year after the facelift, then fell by 63 % in 2025. In June 2026, the B70 disappeared from Bestune's China website. Production continues for export markets, which FAW has supplied since 2020. The history of FAW explains how the group's brands developed.

Rivals and how it compares

The B70's case was always price: it offered a large saloon for the money of a smaller car. Brand image, resale value and dealer coverage counted against it. The 1cars comparison tool lets you put its data next to any rival.