GAC Empow: Sedan of the Hour

The Philippines has always had a soft spot for sedans. From the Corolla and Sentra in the 80’s and 90’s, all the way to the modern day Vios, sedans have ruled the road and will continue to do so in spite of the growing SUV market.

GAC is keen to cash in on the market trend with their flagship sedan, the Empow, which is part of the brand’s goal of becoming an internationally renowned manufacturer. Supposedly, the GAC Empow represents the brand’s push towards international influence, along with a focus on excellent quality, modern design, cutting-edge technology, and fine craftsmanship – attributes that every discerning customer would look for and expect in a newly purchased vehicle.

I had the distinct pleasure of driving the mid-range Empow GB for a week, with the sole purpose to be determining whether or not GAC has found the Goldilocks zone, or if cars like the Empow need a little more time in the oven.

On the face of it, GAC’s designers got it right on the money with the modern design brief. There isn’t a single angle of the Empow that could be considered unattractive.

Inside, the Empow GB is a wash of black with silver accents and red stitching giving the eyes a visual feast the moment you open the door, with the flat-bottom steering wheel and driver-focused cockpit making it feel like driving the Empow required the use of driving gloves, like you were Jason Statham in The Transporter.

The floating center console is a sight in and of itself, making the car feel quite futuristic, especially with the electronic shifter – almost like someone was telling me to Engage the Warp drive, as does the toggle switch for drive modes, the volume roller, and even the electronic parking brake switch; 50% more chrome and backlit translucent materials would have had me saying “Make it so” before the day was over.

In the back of the Empow, passengers are cocooned in comfortable vegan leather seats and legroom that could very well match many long wheelbase cars on sale today. As a colleague puts it, even six footers like him have no trouble stretching out and getting comfy on the long ride to Batangas – even putting him to sleep for the entire ride out and back.

From the striking front fascia with its almost feline features, to the sloped glass tapering into a petite trunklid, the Empow looks perfectly at home in a picture frame as it does driving down the highway. Younger men would look at the yellow accents of the higher GE trim and salivate at the boy-racer aesthetic, but a subdued elegance and austere black interior in the Empow GB suit the more serious driver, who wishes to fly under the radar.

Under the hood is a 1.5 liter turbocharged engine making 174 horsepower and 270 Nm of torque, through a 7 speed Dual Clutch Transmission to power the front wheels. To say that the Empow is fast is quite an understatement, going from 0 to 100 kph in an impressive 7 seconds. More than just the engine and transmission, the suspension of the Empow felt very well sorted and tuned, with the winding Ternate-Nasugbu road providing little hardship for both the car and us occupants, with no loss in traction or momentum – a testament to the top-class suspension tuning. In Sport mode, the steering feel weighted and tensed up to mimic the feeling of an old-school hydraulic steering system, and the throttle felt more lively and reactive, which made for great fun up those mountainous twisties. Highway driving is a dawdle as well, with fuel consumption figures hovering around the 12 km/L for driving both in the city, on the highway, and down the mountain roads, despite driving with zero consideration for fuel consumption.

On the technology front, GAC didn’t skimp on the options list, either. Niceties like Adaptive Cruise Control worked very well on the long journey, and the lane keep assist worked smoothly in most scenarios. The biggest draw for the Empow, however, is the level of convenience drivers and buyers may receive with their purchase. Though it comes with things like Collision warning and autonomous emergency braking, it’s little things like smart keyless entry, and automatic closing windows that made having the Empow rather enjoyable.

By far and away, however, the most surprising part of the Empow is the refinement. Gone are the days that Chinese cars feel like they were tacked together using some unholy mixture of spit and wood glue, ready to fall apart the moment a door was closed a little harder than necessary. GAC has gone to extreme lengths to bury those thoughts in would-be buyers, and the Empow embodies that drive for craftsmanship and quality.

Every single surface feels solidly built, and with the exception of the less-than-ideal tactility of the volume roller on the center console, everything feels durable, and ready for the wear and tear expected from vehicles that are long-lived. Copious use of soft touch materials on every reasonable touch surface as well as physical buttons for many controls that are necessary to operate during driving make the Empow feel familiar. Noise, vibration, and harshness in the Empow were barely perceptible, with only the worst that EDSA had to offer making its presence known in the cabin. It certainly felt like I was inside something that was very premium and luxurious.

And yet, looking at the price tag, I wonder at how GAC was able to deliver something so high-class yet so affordable. Despite being well-equipped and feeling like a premium European sedan, GAC Philippines has set the retail price of the Empow between ₱1,225,000 for the base model Empow GS, and ₱1,348,000 for the top of the line GE. By contrast, the closest rivals in the market may start in the same area, but approach ₱2,000,000 to go toe-to-toe with the Empow’s features list.

Just driving it around for a week was enough to determine that GAC had achieved every goal they aimed for. It feels very well-built with absolutely zero tolerance for mistakes, and it’s both sporty and efficient when it comes to performance, something Chinese cars no older than 10 years ago would have only dreamed of. Which has to make you wonder: If not for the badge, why would you buy anything else? In this world of pragmatism, value for money, and knowing your worth, why would a simple piece of plastic on the front dictate why you would or wouldn’t buy a car? The Empow isn’t just good for a Chinese car, it’s good for any car, especially when you consider what you get for your money, both here and with other, more established brands. The Empow’s worth isn’t in the price it asks for, but in the convenience, and value it brings to your life.

So if you’re in the market for a big, comfortable, well-equipped, sporty, and even frugal sedan with enough space for four occupants, and all their gear for a weekend by the beach, or you’re just looking for a decently priced everyday commuter that can still pin you to your seat should you mash the throttle, the GAC Empow deserves your attention and consideration.