The rather good looking FAW-Besturn X80 SUV has been launched on the Chinese car market. Price starts at 119.800 yuan and ends at 181.800 yuan. The final production version of the Besturn X80 debuted last month on the Shanghai Auto Show. The X80 is the first SUV under the Besturn brand.

Design of the X80 is inspired by the FAW X concept car that debuted on the 2011 Shanghai Auto Show. We saw the first spy shots of the X80 in March last year and production started in early April.

The Besturn X80 is based on the platform of the last generation Mazda 6 that is still  in production in China by the FAW-Mazda joint venture. Engines are both from Mazda; a 146hp 2.0 and a 154hp 2.3 , both mated to a 6-speed manual or six-speed automatic. A FAW-developed 1.8 turbo will join the line-up later. Size: 4586/1820/1662, wheelbase is 2675.

Chrome strip running over the whole wide of the dashboard and over the steering wheel a very well-designed feature. Color scheme a bit too black but materials seem to be of good quality. Screen on the small side.

The best looking Besturn so far, great lines around the C-pillar, but bumper-exhaust-area looks messy. Wheels on the small size again. Small wheels are very common in China, seen by Chinese automakers as a cheap way to improve fuel consumption a bit, but pretty it ain’t.

The 2.0. Under-the-bonnet design still needs a bit of work…

The Besturn X80 will compete against fine cars such as the Haval H6 and Guangzhou Auto GS5. Both are selling well and they ain’t ugly either. The X80 however loox even better and must be able to win some sales with its solid, if slightly outdated, Mazda underpinnings.