The BAIC X35 is a new compact SUV with 136 horsepower that falls within a budget typically reserved for used cars that are five to seven years old. The difference is that here you get a factory warranty instead of someone else’s service history and parts you will still have to pay for.
This is precisely where most people choosing their first car stop to think. However, the price listed in the brochure is only the starting point, because the real calculation begins on the day the car leaves the showroom.
Registration, mandatory insurance, fuel and the first service together make up a sum that few people calculate in advance. Below, we go through each of these expenses, with specific figures for Montenegro.
Why Is the BAIC X35 Worth Considering as a First Car?
Because for the amount usually spent on a five- to seven-year-old used car, here you get a new vehicle with a factory warranty. With a used car in this price range, the first major expense can arise much sooner than expected. That uncertainty simply does not exist when buying from a dealership.
What Is Included in the Price of the BAIC X35?
Under the hood is a 1.5 T turbo engine that produces 136 horsepower and 210 newton-metres of torque. Maximum torque is available at low revs, making the vehicle responsive in city driving and when overtaking on main roads.
An affordable SUV in this class usually means a basic version with little equipment, but this model offers a different list:
- Dimensions: 4,325 x 1,830 x 1,640 mm
- Eight-inch display and electric power steering
- Panoramic roof and automatic headlights
- Rear parking sensors and electrically adjustable side mirrors
Why Beginners Choose an SUV Instead of a Hatchback
The main reason is visibility. The higher driving position allows you to see over the vehicle in front of you instead of looking into its boot, making it easier to judge the distance between vehicles in traffic and assess the situation when joining from a side street. For someone who has just completed driving school, this is a difference that reduces the number of uncomfortable situations in traffic.
The second reason is practicality, which drivers notice from the very first day. Getting in and out is easy, the boot is positioned relatively high, and the greater ground clearance makes it easier to handle high kerbs, as well as stretches of road where the asphalt disappears without warning.
Tip: during the test drive, do not stay on the boulevard. Find a narrow street, a parallel parking space and a steeper access road, because that is precisely where the advantages of an SUV body become apparent.
How Much Does the BAIC X35 Cost in Montenegro?
The price of the BAIC X35 is around €20,000, placing it among the most affordable new SUVs on the Montenegrin market. For that amount, you get a new vehicle, a factory warranty and a service book that starts from zero, as well as complete after-sales support.
What the Price Includes
This amount includes a vehicle with a 1.5 T turbo engine and the equipment listed in the previous section, meaning there are no additional charges for basic features. It is best to check the exact list for each version and any promotional terms directly at the showroom, as the offer changes throughout the year.
However, the list price covers only the vehicle. Registration, insurance and the applicable fees are paid separately, so the actual cost of taking delivery is several hundred euros higher than the amount you paid for the car.
What You Pay in Addition to the List Price
The initial registration consists of several separate items, and their total depends on the engine capacity, power in kilowatts and your premium class:
- Tax on the use of passenger motor vehicles, calculated according to the engine capacity and the age of the vehicle
- Mandatory motor third-party liability insurance, based on engine power in kilowatts
- Vehicle inspection, whose price is not centrally regulated and therefore varies between inspection centres
- Administrative fees and registration plates
There is one insurance-related item that young drivers often overlook. According to the Premium Tariff System of the National Bureau of Insurers of Montenegro, premiums are divided into thirteen classes, and a driver taking out a policy for the first time pays the full premium, without the discount earned through years of claim-free driving.
What Is the Fuel Consumption of the BAIC X35?
Combined fuel consumption under the WLTP cycle is around 8 litres per 100 kilometres. In the city, you can realistically expect around 8.5 litres, while on the open road the figure falls below eight.
Fuel Consumption in the City, on the Open Road and Combined
WLTP is a laboratory cycle, so use it as a guideline rather than a guarantee. With a turbo engine, the difference between the brochure figure and actual fuel consumption depends primarily on driving style, because the turbocharger delivers fuel in proportion to how much power you demand.
The fuel consumption of SUV models in this class increases further due to several factors worth keeping in mind:
- Sudden acceleration from a standstill, to which a turbo engine is particularly sensitive
- Short city journeys, during which the engine does not have time to warm up
- A roof rack and a heavily loaded boot
- Low tyre pressure, which increases fuel consumption on its own
How Much Does That Cost per Month?
Over 1,000 kilometres driven in the city, you will use around 85 litres of fuel. According to the price list of the Ministry of Energy and Mining, a litre of Eurosuper 95 costs €1.76 from 25 to 31 August 2026, bringing the monthly cost to around €150.
If you cover most of your mileage outside the city, the same budget will take you considerably further. It is also worth knowing that maximum fuel prices in Montenegro are adjusted weekly, so consider this amount a current rather than a fixed expense.
How Much Does the First Year of BAIC X35 Ownership Cost?
The largest single expense in the first year is fuel, not what you pay at the showroom. With 12,000 kilometres driven and city fuel consumption, you will spend around €1,800 at the pump, while all other expenses combined rarely reach half that amount.
Breakdown of Costs by Item
Here is what the approximate structure of annual costs looks like with average mileage:
Item | Approximate Annual Amount | What It Depends On |
Fuel (12,000 km, city driving) | around €1,800 | consumption and the price of Eurosuper |
Registration with fees | check when purchasing | engine capacity and age vehicle |
Mandatory insurance | check when purchasing | power in kilowatts and premium class |
First service | check when purchasing | prescribed factory interval |
Set of winter tyres | one-off expense | type size and class |
Mileage is the key variable here. If you drive 20,000 kilometres per year instead of 12,000, the fuel expense alone increases by around €1,200, while registration and insurance remain the same.
First Service and Warranty
The service intervals for this model are prescribed by the manufacturer, so check them in the service book as soon as you take delivery of the vehicle. According to A Drive’s guide to servicing Chinese cars, the factory warranty for BAIC models on the European market lasts five years or 100,000 kilometres.
There is one condition that is often overlooked. All inspections must be carried out by an authorised distributor and recorded in the service book, because servicing the vehicle at an unauthorised workshop voids the warranty.
Tip: before signing, request a written breakdown of regular service prices for the first three years. With an affordable SUV, this information is precisely what separates the real calculation from the one on paper.
What Should You Check Before Buying, and When Is the BAIC X35 Not the Right Choice?
No car meets every need, so the most useful thing is to check how well your habits align with the vehicle’s limitations. With the BAIC X35, those limitations are clear and easy to test during a test drive.
Who the X35 Is the Wrong Choice For
If you travel by motorway to Belgrade or Sarajevo every week, fuel consumption of around eight litres per 100 kilometres becomes an expense you will notice over the course of a year. With this type of driving, it makes sense to consider a model with a more fuel-efficient or hybrid powertrain.
There are also two situations for which the X35 is simply not designed:
- Towing a trailer, because this model is not approved for it
- More demanding off-road driving, since this is a front-wheel-drive vehicle
BAIC X35 or a Used European SUV
For the same amount of money, you can get either a new car with a warranty or a five- to seven-year-old used car from a better-known brand. The difference is not about prestige, but about who bears the risk in the future.
With a used car, you are paying for someone else’s maintenance history, which, at best, you can see in the service book, but most often cannot see at all. A new SUV replaces that uncertainty with factory-prescribed intervals, provided that you have the vehicle serviced by an authorised distributor.
Tip: if you are still considering buying a used car, compare two figures. The annual maintenance cost of a vehicle more than five years old and the monthly payment for a new car differ less than most people expect.
What Ultimately Determines the Decision
Finally, it is worth separating two things that are constantly confused when discussing a first car: the purchase price and the cost of driving. The first is a one-off expense that is immediately visible, while the second accumulates quietly through fuel, registration and servicing, and it is ultimately what determines whether you have made the right decision. With a new vehicle, both are known in advance, while with a used car, you only discover the second when the first major fault occurs.
All that remains is to check how these expenses fit into your budget and driving habits, because the calculation looks different for everyone. Contact our showroom, get all the necessary information, take the wheel and drive through the city. After that, you will know exactly whether the BAIC X35 is the ideal car for the beginning of your driving journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Fuel Does the BAIC X35 Use in City Driving?
In city driving, you can realistically expect around 8.5 litres per 100 kilometres, while combined fuel consumption under the WLTP cycle is around 8 litres. At 1,000 kilometres driven per month, this amounts to around €150 at the current price of Eurosuper 95.
Is the X35 a Good First Car for a Young Driver?
Yes, if most of your driving is in the city and over shorter distances. Its compact dimensions, higher driving position, automatic transmission and rear parking sensors make the everyday situations that beginners find most challenging easier, such as parking and joining heavy traffic.
What Is the Warranty Period for This Car?
The factory warranty for BAIC models on the European market lasts five years or 100,000 kilometres. For the warranty to remain valid, all regular inspections must be carried out by an authorised distributor and properly recorded in the service book.
What Type of Transmission Does the BAIC X35 Have?
The vehicle comes with an automatic transmission, which is a practical advantage for a first car in congested city traffic. Combined with the 1.5 T engine producing 136 horsepower and 210 newton-metres of torque, driving in traffic requires considerably less attention than with a manual transmission.
Where Is the BAIC X35 Serviced in Montenegro?
The BAIC X35 is serviced at A-Drive, the official distributor of BAIC vehicles, located at 5 Zlate Raičević Street in Podgorica . Regular servicing and warranty repairs are carried out there, using original spare parts imported directly and factory service documentation.
