Executive express
I’ve always been very skeptical with many of these Chinese cars and car brands. They wow you with so much technology and features and gadgets inside the car. But the execution is poor, build quality is often sketchy, reliability suspect, and the driving experience is just plain horrible with lifeless steering, delayed throttle response, jerky brakes, the list goes on.
But sometimes, you encounter a true gem, buried in a somewhat obscure and generic looking package oft mistaken for one of those legacy brands (looking at you Toyota Alphard). I’m talking about GAC’s GM8 GX Master.
The looks are simply imposing. The M8 measures 5,212 mm long, 1,893 mm wide, and 1,823 mm tall with a wheelbase that spans 3,070mm. But, its generic profile also makes it easily mistaken for an Alphard from a distance as they have a very similar silhouette, that imposing front maw particularly the gaping grille and the large polished wheels do it some favors and but also don’t, if you get what I mean. Suffice to say, whatever you think it’s make and model is, it’s imposing, and confident.
First of all, the GM8 is truly superb to drive. We own a previous generation Toyota Alphard and I tell you, on the move, the GAC GM8 feels very very similar, handles similarly in highway speeds, brakes confidently and the 2.0 liter turbocharged and direct-injected inline-4 is grunty: 245hp and low down, it pulls hard all the way to mid-range, only loosing steam at the top-end. But you don’t buy vans to have its engine dance at redline anyway.
The only real issue I could think of, and it wasn’t even that serious, is that the suspension seems to lack a bit of stroke / travel, bottoming out surprisingly too soon. Shame, as I also found the ride and handling balance excellent, with the suspension ably controlling body motions while soaking up most bumps and ruts. That’s with large 18-inch wheels with a turbine-like multi-spoke design with low-ish profile 225/55R18 Michelin Primacy 4 tires.
Reading through the specs and its clearly Chinese in that its packed with so much technology: the 2.0 direct-injected turbocharged engine packs a powerful 248hp and 400 Newton-Meters of torque driving the front wheels with a buttery smooth 8-speed torque-converter equipped automatic.
There are ABS-EBD brakes, lane departure warning and lane-keeping assistance, traction / stability control and blind-spot monitoring. I did find the ADAS stuff a bit distracting but it reminded me to drive more diligently and cautiously.
The technology continues inside, with a massive 14.6 inch LCD infotainment display backed up with a Snapdragon 8155 chip, an octa-core ARM chip that helps make the 360- view camera system very clear. Wireless Apple CarPlay is available, but you need to get the CarBitLink app for Android. Wireless connectivity does tend to get cut from time to time so I’d have to reconnect or wait a while for my device to reconnect so wired is still better. There’s also a 12.3 inch LCD digital instrument cluster for the driver. There’s lots of piano black plastics which looks classy versus fake plasticky wood trim and a silhouette of a mountain range on the driver-side dash. I do like the handsome 3-spoke steering wheel.
The real treat however, is for the passenger. The GAC M8 is first and foremost, a proper executive express. Second-row passengers are treated to powered captain’s seats with massage functions. There are also retractable window shades, a reading lamp, aircon controls, multiple charging points, and a tray table that allows you to work comfortably en-route to your destination. No wonder more and more executives are looking at luxury vans instead of traditional full-size luxury sedans and SUV’s as it gives unparalleled space, comfort and flexibility of the interior. You can say it gives extra time to do the critical work for very busy people thanks to its interior design and amenities.
Third row is a regular 3-seat bench with charging points on either side so your aides and bodyguards can charge their mobile phones in-between tiktok takes during their break. But of course, everything is covered in soft, supple leather with decent room for everyone.
While we had it for a limited period, we did close to 12km / liter on a drive from BGC to Clark in Pampanga and back, keeping things at the speed limit. And this is where the GM8 shines: it provides true refinement, comfort and stability, 100kmh feels slow and boring. Indeed, there is no sign better of true dynamic polish in any vehicle. It wants to be driven faster because the chassis is just so capable of handling more, being developed to a very high standard.
Forget the toys, the gadgets and the gimmicks. But focus on the drive. That’s where the GM8 shines, and justifies its near P4 million price tag. It’s worth every single peso and makes you wonder if it’s still worth waiting for that allocation for your Alphard.
