Over the years, the GAC GS8 has always flown under the radar. Back when the previous-gen model was being sold here, it wasn’t common to see it on the road. It was a good package, though, which was why I always thought it was one of the most overlooked models in its segment.
Enter this next-generation model that arrived in early 2023 along with new management running GAC Motor Philippines. Over the past year, we’ve started seeing more and more of this vehicle on the road, which tells us one thing—the improvements the GS8 has gotten have made it worth considering in the stacked midsize SUV segment.
But what exactly changed that made it warrant the car-buying population’s attention? Well, that’s what we’re here to find out.
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Styling
Some of the newer SUVs and crossovers—particularly the ones from China—look overstyled and overdesigned. But not the GS8. GAC took the mold of the old model and refined it further into this classy SUV.
It’s huge, but the large grille up front makes it look even more so. I actually like how GAC has reworked this front fascia with those sharp-looking headlights that complement the aforementioned grille quite nicely. The tips that extend over to the hood add to the beefy look.
There’s just enough black plastic cladding on the front end and the sides to add ruggedness to the mix. Any thicker and I think it would’ve made the look too bulky and less classy. Same goes for the rear, which, by the way, sport swanky taillights to match the ones up front.
Interior
The old GS8 had such a nice interior with contrasting leather and wood bits all around. It felt very premium. This new one has dumped that tricolor look for a completely blacked-out cabin, but it still has that upmarket feel to it.
The leather seats are very soft and plush, and they’re even complemented by quilted leatherette floor mats. There’s a good mix of hard plastics and glossy black panels on the dash to keep the interior from looking bland. GAC has also added a lot of different textures here and there, including on the side panels and the center console.
The shiny finish on the gearshift lever, however, looks a bit too much for me. While it does look nice, it’s not exactly something I expect to see in a vehicle from this segment and price point—and I don’t mean that in a good way. Kudos for not putting a glossy finish on the surface around it, though, as Anton pointed out in his review. At least you can avoid all the smudges in these areas where your hands are usually going to be.
Space-wise, however, you won’t have any complaints in the GS8. This is still technically a midsize SUV, but it’s bigger than most of the segment offerings. There’s plenty of room to go around whether you’re in front or the second row.
The third row is no slouch, either, and it’s much better than what you’ll get in other seven-seater vehicles these days. With the second row adjusted to leave just enough legroom for a 5’5” guy like me, I can fit comfortably in the sixth and seventh seats. Said seats can be reclined, and there are armrests on both sides for a little more added comfort.
With all three rows in use, there’s some room left for a few pieces of luggage. With just five people or fewer onboard, you can fold the third row flat to open up a lot more space. Loading stuff might be a bit difficult, though, as the bumper does protrude a bit and could get in the way, especially for smaller individuals.
Engine performance
Powering the GS8 is a 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine that generates a healthy 248hp and 400Nm of torque. I drove the base variant, but since this powertrain is standard across the range, this is the same as what you’d get in the newer top-spec AWD trim.
The engine is way better than the 2.0-liter turbo in the old GS8. Acceleration is smooth and power delivery is linear. You might find yourself looking for a bit more torque if you’re used to turbodiesels like those in the Fortuner or Montero, but I can tell you that this has more than enough pull even with the cabin filled to the brim.
It’s punchy, and it’ll give you enough power when you need it for overtaking, without any fuss. And on steep climbs with a heavy load, while you might have to step a bit harder on the gas pedal, you’ll still get through the incline without any worries. If needed, you can also override that eight-speed automatic gearbox via the paddle shifters that are at your disposal.
You also have three drive modes to choose from: Eco, Comfort, and Sport. Eco suppresses the throttle by a lot in favor of better fuel efficiency. Comfort is like the middle ground to enable a bit more oomph. But with Sport mode on, you’ll really feel that extra power kick in.
It’s so-so as far as gas consumption goes, though. I got 9-10km/L on mixed highway and city driving. Cruising on the highway around 80-100kph, the figure is up by a bit to about 14-15km/L.
Ride and handling
Where do I begin? There’s so much to say about how the GS8 rides and handles. Let me start with the drive modes. Those don’t just affect engine performance—they adjust the suspension and steering weight as well.
Eco was my least used mode as I found it too boring, and I found myself sticking to Comfort mode often. With this mode, the suspension is as soft as it gets. This is, for me, one of the biggest selling points in the GS8. It’s one of the best-riding SUVs I’ve tried out, and other midsize SUVs and crossovers don’t even come close to the comfort you get in the GS8. The steering’s also exceptionally light. Actually, an SUV this big has no business feeling this light, but it does, and that makes it perfect for city driving.
For more spirited drives, you can switch to Sport mode, which I did from time to time. It stiffens up the suspension and adds a lot of steering weight, and mind you, you’ll feel it a lot. It significantly reduces body roll and makes for more precise driving, but that’s not exactly what I look for in an SUV this big, and I’m sure a lot of customers would agree with that.
Extra features
This SUV’s pretty loaded, but let’s start with one of the biggest cons in the tech department for me. It comes with a large 14.6-inch infotainment system with a nice-sounding eight-speaker setup, but it doesn’t come with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto connectivity. It’s not a deal breaker, but with a screen this big, I would’ve appreciated smartphone mirroring, too.
The second con is you can’t switch to an aftermarket head unit that easily. You probably could, but it might take so much work, because a bunch of the vehicle’s controls are buried in the infotainment system. The dual-zone climate control and seat ventilation, for example, can only be used via the touchscreen display. It’s nice to have such features, but it sometimes feel like a chore to use them when they’re not in the form of tactile buttons and knobs. GAC also added power-window controls here, too, which I found weird. They’re only supplementary, but I didn’t see the point—nobody looks to the dash to operate the windows.
You’re still here, right? Good, because we’re not done with the head unit. Another thing to note here is that it comes with voice command, which—if I’m being completely honest—I couldn’t find any good use for, either. I did play around with it a few times just to try out the “open all windows” or “close all windows” command, but that was it. I would’ve really just preferred if GAC stuck to a more conventional display here instead of going for this much.
Of course, you still do get other nifty tech in the GS8. There’s a 360-degree-view camera with a 3D mode for parking assistance. That extra mode looks weird, but if it helps your cause when you’re trying to slide into a parking space, then by all means, make use of it. There’s also a panoramic sunroof up to, which is pretty cool to use at night. Emphasis on using it at night.
The vehicle also comes with adaptive cruise control, which unlike the whole dash-mounted display, is pretty easy to use. There’s also a tire-pressure and tire-temperature monitor as well as forward-collision warning with autonomous emergency braking, which are good bonuses. Anton also pointed out how annoying the lane-departure warning and lane-keep assist were, and I concur. It could feel a bit too aggressive at times. Nonetheless, they’re still helpful tools at the end of the day.
Lastly, of note here is the sheer abundance of storage spaces. There’s a large compartment underneath the center armrest and there’s a cubby under the center console. If you’re someone who often goes out bringing a lot of stuff with you, then you’ll appreciate this as much as I do. There’s also a small cubby in the second row underneath the USB-A charging ports. Speaking of which, there are a lot of those ports here, too.
Verdict
I may have ended on a somewhat negative note here with all my complaints about the supposed ‘toys’ in the GS8, but those are complaints I can live with. They do take a bit away from the whole premium and comfortable experience that this SUV has to offer, but I can still easily say that this China offering is one solid package overall.
Power’s plenty, and interior space, even more so. It’s a soft-riding SUV fit for even big-shot executives for the daily drive around the metro and it can double as a roomy people-hauler that the average-sized Filipino family can enjoy on weekends. With its P2.398 million price tag, it’s no wonder we keep seeing more of this on the road these days. For those in the market for the usual Japanese seven-seat midsize SUV, it’s really something you should consider.
SPECS: 2024 GAC GS8 2.0T GT 2WD AT
Price: P2,320,000
Engine: 2.0-liter turbopetrol
Power: 248hp @ 5,250rpm
Torque: 400Nm @ 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Layout: Front-wheel-drive
Seating: 7
Score: 8.5/10
More photos of the 2024 GAC GS8 2.0T GT 2WD AT:
