| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Comfortable, refined and dynamic | Interior trims look a bit cheap |
| Distinctive exterior styling | Engine undernourished for 2.0-tonne SUV |
| Loaded with bells and whistles | Transmission lazy in Comfort mode |
Among the horde of Chinese brands set to storm the Australian market this year is GAC (Guangzhou Automobile Group), which has lofty ambitions of being a top 10 player locally by 2030.
A key model that’s likely to figure in the brand’s initial lineup is the GAC GS8 large SUV, which would take the fight to other car-based seven-seat wagons such as the Toyota Kluger, Hyundai Palisade and Nissan Pathfinder.
Looking somewhat like a shrunken Cadillac Escalade, the G8 measures 4980mm long, 1950mm wide and 1780mm tall, which makes it a fraction larger than the Kluger in all dimensions.
Despite its girth (the full-spec 4WD model we tested weighs 2030kg), the only powertrain offered in the GS8 is a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine that ekes out 182kW of power and 400Nm of torque, with drive sent to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission.
And, although it’s underpinned by a monocoque chassis (rather than a rugged ladder frame), the GS8 has Sand, Mud and Snow drive modes, so it has at least on-paper all-terrain capabilities.
However, the fact it comes equipped with road-biased 50-series tyres wrapped around 20-inch rims is a pointer to the fact it’s conceived more as an urban warrior than an off-road demon.
How much does the GAC GS8 cost?
We tested the GAC GS8 in the United Arab Emirates, where the entry-level front-wheel-drive variant is priced from AED149,900 (A$66,725).
Our test vehicle was the 4WD GX range-topper, which is priced from AED169,900 (A$75,627), with the added spend bringing a swag of mod-cons and safety kit as standard.
If these prices were to be reflected in the Australian market, it would position the GS8 lineball with the Toyota Kluger, Hyundai Palisade, Nissan Pathfinder, et al.
The challenge for the GAC GS8 is that it would be entering the market as a new brand and nameplate, whereas the rivals mentioned above are long-established entities.
However, in the GAC’s favour would likely be a more generous standard kit list (if the local-spec GS8 will be similarly equipped to the UAE version), and it’s possible the local GAC beancounters would sharpen their pricing pens to entice buyers to the brand.
What is the GAC GS8 like on the inside?
The GAC GS8 isn’t short on mod-cons, bells and whistles, but it’s slightly let down by trim materials that are on the ‘el-cheapo’ end of the scale.
The centrepiece of the range-topping GS8 GX’s cabin is an expansive 14.6-inch infotainment system, while facing the driver is a 7.0-inch digitised instrument cluster. Both interfaces are clearly laid out and generally intuitive to use.
A head-up display enables you to keep your eyes glued to the road, while the ultra-high-resolution surround-view display makes slotting into tight parking spots a breeze.
Other standard goodies include a wireless charging pad, three-zone climate control, a panoramic sunroof, and multi-color intelligent ambient lighting which pulses in tandem with the infotainment system.
Ten-way power adjustment for the driver’s seat means you can easily conjure up a comfortable position behind the wheel, while the relatively large and upright glasshouse makes for good visibility in all directions.
Occupants of the first- and second-row seats have little to complain about, but the pair of third-row pews are of the kiddies-only variety as even simply accessing these is an exercise in calisthenics.
As alluded to earlier, cabin ambience is generally okay, but it’s let down by a cheap feel as the leather/leatherette seat upholstery and hard plastic trim on the doors and centre console are evidence of cost-saving.
The shortfall in interior aesthetic appeal is all the more notable as, in recent years, several Chinese brands have significantly raised the bar in this department.
What’s under the bonnet?
Considering it’s a large three-row SUV that measures a smidgeon under 5.0 metres long and 2.0m wide, one might have expected a V6 to be the default powertrain in the GAC GS8.
However, the only engine on offer is a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol mill that ekes out 182kW at 5200rpm and 400Nm over 1750-4000rpm – modest outputs for a chariot that weighs over two tonnes, and it translates to leisurely performance in the cut-and-thrust of traffic.
The Aisin eight-speed auto through which drive is channelled is a smooth-shifting unit, but the calibration errs towards early upshifts in the chase for better fuel economy, further sapping performance.
Extracting anything resembling lively acceleration requires you to stand on the throttle, thereby prompting the transmission to downshift, but the ensuing sharp rise in revs compromises refinement as the decibel level escalates.
The drivetrain would likely be just fine in a smaller and lighter vehicle, but it feels a bit undernourished to be hauling around a full-size SUV.
How does the GAC GS8 drive?
Although the GAC GS8 falls slightly short in terms of its powertrain and cabin ambience, the rest of the package is pretty good.
Underpinned by GAC’s GPMA-L modular platform, the GS8 features a MacPherson suspension setup at the front and a multi-link arrangement at the rear.
This hardware delivers ride and refinement levels that are on par with pretty much anything else in the segment.
Pootle around in Comfort mode and most road-surface imperfections are comfortably ironed out. Ambient noise is also well suppressed, with only a trace of wind rustle from around A-pillars at highway speeds permeating into the cabin.
As for handling dynamics, the big SUV feels a bit roly-poly and flaccid in Comfort mode but switching drive modes to Dynamic yields a sharp contrast.
The steering becomes weightier and crisper, the suspension firms up, and throttle/transmission response also sharpens significantly.
All told, the GS8 serves up a more sophisticated ride/handling balance than we might have expected, and it can hold its own against other offerings in its segment.
As elaborated on earlier, the 2.0-litre motor has its work cut out to haul the 2.0-tonne wagon around, so you need to keep it percolating in the mid to upper ranges of its rev band to extract decent performance.
Although the GS8 has Sand, Mud and Snow drive modes, it’s more a light-duty all-terrainer than a hardcore dune basher and mud mauler.
The fact it’s shod with road-biased 50 Series rubber wrapped around 20-inch rims says it all – it’s conceived more for urban schlepping than rugged outback adventures.
Muddy swamps and towering dunes might be beyond its brief, but moderate off-road terrain – rutted gravel tracks, hard-packed sand, water crossings up to half-a-metre deep, etc – is within its capabilities.
Visually, the GS8 certainly has presence, with its Cadillac Escalade-inspired styling setting it apart from the horde. With its large chrome-laden grille, angular headlights and sharp-edged proportions, the GAC won’t be mistaken for any of its Japanese/Korean rivals.
The GS8’s pseudo-American visuals might not be to everyone’s tastes but, to my eye, the Chinese SUV gels okay aesthetically and it’s bound to at least spark curiosity.
What do you get?
On test here is the GAC GS8 GX.
2025 GAC GS8 GX equipment highlights:
- 20-inch alloy wheels with 255/50R20 tyres
- Full-size spare
- LED headlights with Power Height Adjustment
- Auto headlights with Follow Me Home Function
- LED tail-lights
- Front fog lights
- Rear fog lights
- LED daytime running lights
- Power-adjustable side mirrors with integrated turn signals
- Rain-sensing windscreen wipers
- Power tailgate
- Roof rails
- 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster
- 14.6-inch infotainment touchscreen
- 10 Speaker Alpine sound system
- USB Ports
- Bluetooth handsfree phone system
- Wireless phone charger
- Three-zone automatic climate control
- Second- and third-row AC vents
- Air Quality System and Negative Ion Air Purifier
- Multi-function leather-clad steering wheel with paddle shifters
- Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
- Leather/leatherette-trimmed seats
- Heated and ventilated front Seats
- 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat
- 4-way power-adjustable front passenger seat
- 60:40-split, folding and sliding second-row sats
- 50:50-split, folding third-row seats
- Panoramic sunroof with power sunshade
- Front map lights and rear reading lights
- Interior ambient lighting
- 220V power outlet under centre armrest
- Cargo are 12V power outlet
Is the GAC GS8 safe?
No crash test results are available for the GAC GS8, although the previous-generation model managed to earn a five-star crash-test rating from C-NCAP (China New Car Assessment Program).
We’d expect the current-gen GS8 to also fare well on the safety front, with dual front, side and curtain airbag fitted as standard across the range. The flagship GX supplements this quota with a knee airbag for the driver.
Standard safety features include:
- Dual Front Airbags
- Dual Side Airbags
- Curtain Airbags
- Driver’s Knee Airbag
- Electronic Stability Program (ESP)
- Hydraulic Brake Assist (HBA)
- Hill-start hold control (HHC)
- Hill Descent Control (HDC)
- Front and Rear Parking Sensors (8 sensors)
- Surround View Parking System
- Cruise Control
- Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
- Lane Change Assist (LCA)
- Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
- Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)
- Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
- Rear Collision Warning (RCW)
- Integrated Cruise Assist (ICA)
- Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
- Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR)
- Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Autohold
- Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
- ISOFix Child Safety Seat Anchors
- Second Row Child Safety Door Lock
- Impact Sensing Door Unlock
CarExpert’s Take on the GAC GS8
The GAC GS8 is not without its merits, and it stands up as a credible would-be alternative to the existing seven-seat large SUV offerings priced in the $60-85k bracket.
GAC has nailed most of the key criteria with the GS8, and if the mid-cycle update or next-gen model were to address the slightly low-rent interior and undernourished powertrain, the result would be a well-rounded family SUV.
But even as it stands, the GS8 is proof the incoming GAC marque has legitimate potential as a mainstream volume brand Down Under.
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