Hotly Anticipated

GAC’s future lineup in the Philippines is looking to be focused on power and luxury, with the Empow and the second generation GS8 being launched at the 2022 Manila International Auto Show, drawing many onlookers who were interested in these future models. Sad to say, these two models were displays only – doors locked, engines off, and test drive units nowhere to be found. Safe to say, then, that GAC was testing the reception of the vehicles to the Filipino market, and based on the response the two cars received over the 4 day event, GAC Philippines would have to be mad to not consider bringing the cars in.

So while we wait for these two new vehicles to hit our shores, it would be prudent to test what GAC is offering at the moment, in the form of the first generation GAC GS8, to get an understanding of where the brand is coming from and where it might be headed.

Focusing on what we can compare off the bat, the first generation GS8 is an interesting looking SUV. Squarely aimed at the premium SUV market, the GS8 is downright diminutive compared to the likes of other premium SUVs. Is that a good thing? Perhaps, perhaps not. Certainly, it’s not as spacious as more established offerings, but for a city like Manila, with its narrow streets, full of traffic and parked cars, a smaller SUV makes sense. For the discerning customer looking at this vehicle, maneuverability may not have been on your list of considerations, but it may now be ruminating in the back of your mind the next time you need to buy a vehicle. The second generation GS8, on the other hand, feels like a much bigger vehicle, more competitive in size to its rivals from America and Japan, though that extra volume means extra caution will be needed when threading through Manila’s narrow streets and crowded thoroughfares.

It is quite a handsome beast though. The current generation GS8 is somewhat bulbous, but in a likeable way. Its soft lines and curvaceous hipline aid well in making the car look wider than it is. The headlights, with the stacked projector lamps and Daytime Running Lights, make for a very handsome front facia from GAC. The taillights carry the same design language, stacking rows of LEDs in the same manner as the front. The second generation GS8 takes the design cues of the old model and makes it more angular than the original, almost as if the only design tool the designers had was a straight edge. Not that there are any complaints about it, because the design now looks so much more masculine, and thoroughly modern. Gone are the wide head and taillights, and in their place, we have vertically mounted lights, the headlights flanking the large, imposing grill. From all angles, the new GS8 is quite a handsome vehicle.

Given the premium price point it occupies, the current GS8 comes very well equipped. Aside from the typical trimmings of a luxury SUV like Bluetooth, touchscreen, and HiFi speaker system, the GS8 comes with 360-degree cameras as well as turn signal activated blind spot cameras. This aids in lane changes, should something be out of view from the driver’s position. It comes equipped with a wireless charger as well, for those so inclined to charge their phones in that way. For the 4x4 models, it has a terrain selection system not unlike another premium SUV we know. In contrast, the GS8 that is soon to come is more premium roadgoing SUV instead of weekend adventurer, with a much lower ride height than before. But feature-wise, the new one should be more impressive than the outgoing model.

The interior of the GS8 also feels quite premium. It’s a pleasant place to be, with all the soft touch materials on the dash, and the splash of wood that emulates the old-world concept of automotive luxury. The seats are so comfortable that a 200-kilometer journey would hardly make one feel tired. GAC have also learned well from their predecessors and put quite a focus on the air conditioning, which makes the GS8 very comfortable for the Philippine climate, especially during this summer. This bodes very well for the GS8’s successor.

Driving the GS8 after its launch four years ago feels tight as a drum, despite the fact it’s been passed from outlet to outlet over five thousand kilometers. The acceleration from the 2.0L turbo inline 4 feels brisk and purposeful since it has 198 horsepower and 320 Newton-meters of torque on tap. But despite weighing 1.8 metric tons, the agent and driver that were with me during my short test drive say the car can do anything between 15 and 18 kilometers per liter on a long run to Ilocos Norte – impressive figures for a diesel SUV, but miraculous for a gasoline powered SUV like this. If the current GS8 can do this, the future bodes well for the incoming version, given that it’s gained two extra gears as well as a hybrid option based on Toyota’s THS Hybrid system.

With a product as interesting as the GS8 we have now, GAC has certainly set a high standard for its replacement, and with it the challenge to top itself is much harder. But if the exterior is any indication, the future GS8 looks to be an interesting offering, should GAC Motor Philippines bring it into the country. While it may currently only be on display, the response is resounding: The GS8 is great, but we’re ready for the updated version now.