2024 GAC GS8 4WD – Premium and Comfort In One Package

GAC Motor Philippines is starting to make waves in the country with its stellar lineup of vehicles. It ticks all the right boxes with its entry-level vehicles such as the GS3 Emzoom, Empow, and even the Emkoo. However, the Chinese brand is looking to take on a more premium segment with one of its crowning jewels, the all-new GAC GS8 now available with its four-wheel drive variant. 

The new model builds upon what its 2WD variant brings to the table increasing the level of refinement and luxury you can get with its competitive price tag. However, it does raise the question, is the 4WD variant of the GS8 really worth the extra price or is the 2WD model good enough for what it offers?

Premium Yet Tougher Exterior

On the outside the GS8 4WD looks similar to its 2WD counterpart with the same muscular and angular design language that gives it a premium look and feel. It still retains a full suite of LED lighting elements front and rear along with its massive grille and tall headlights. The rear is also no different from its 2WD counterpart retaining its unique taillight design and power tailgate.

Something to note is that the unit we had a tow hitch attached to it meaning that the SUV can be outfitted with accessories if you want. Also like its 2WD counterpart, the 4WD rides on 20-inch alloy wheels which fill in the wheel wells nicely and give it an imposing stance.

Luxurious Interior With A Decent Amount of Tech

The inside of the GS8 4WD is still as premium as ever thanks to its plethora of soft touch and quality materials. The version of the SUV had the white interior which was a nice touch as it gave the impression of more space inside the car. It also helps that the GS8 4WD also comes with a panoramic sunroof which lets more light into the cabin.

The leather seats were soft and supportive along with its faux leather floor mats that added another level of premium to the vehicle. Speaking of premium, the GS8 also has ventilated seats which come in handy especially during the hotter months to quickly cool you and the leather down. Aside from this, the 4WD gets a 10-speaker Alpine sound system, which is a notch above its 2WD counterpart but still suffers from the limited range of adjustability. 

As an audiophile I could sense that the speakers had so much more to give, but the head unit itself was the limiter to the sound system. However, for the everyday user who just wants a sound system that sounds good, then the GS8 4WD is definitely a notch above what some of its competitors offer.

Unfortunately despite its massive 14.6-inch infotainment system there is no Apple CarPlay and Android Auto available for the GS8. The absence of this feature puts the SUV at a disadvantage over its competitors which have these features. However, it does come with Bluetooth connectivity and its own navigation system. A redeeming factor is that the SUV comes with advanced driver assist systems such as adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, forward collision warning, and autonomous emergency braking. 

Excellent Comfort 

Comfort is great inside the GAC GS8 thanks to its excellent suspension system and thick tires. In conjunction with its soft yet supportive leather seats, the suspension system keeps most of the bumps and road imperfections at bay even while fully loaded. 

Noise suppression is also excellent inside the vehicle with only tire noise entering the cabin at speeds above 100 kph. Wind noise is also kept to a minimum despite the chunking and squared appearance of the SUV giving you a relatively quiet ride. 

However, compared to the 2WD version, this 4WD variant feels a bit heavier to drive thanks to all the extra equipment needed to power the rear wheels. Despite this though, the car does power out of corners fairly well putting down all the power of its 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine can offer. 

Decent Power and Expected Fuel Economy

Speaking of its engine, it produces 248 horsepower and 400 Nm of torque and is mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox that sends power to all four wheels. We were able to talk to the product planner of the GS8 for the Philippine market during a previous media drive with the GS8 and we can confirm that it is a 50/50 split which makes it handle like an all-wheel drive car. 

It’s not a bad thing though as the 4WD system helps the car rocket out of corners and quickly get up to highway speed when needed. However, despite it being a 4WD model, it unfortunately doesn’t have locking differentials, which means you can’t take it hardcore off-roading. It’s not a bad thing as the GS8 has 200 mm worth of ground clearance which means you can take it on light trails or light off-roading.

Being a heavy car that it is, weighing 1,920 kilograms and being powered by a 2.0-liter motor, you can expect some mid level fuel economy figures. During our testing we were able to get as low as 7.7 km/L with heavy traffic and up to 10 km/L when conditions lighted up. On the highway we were able to nearly match the 13 km/L fuel economy numbers that GAC claims the GS8 can do while driving normally. However, when we did a fuel economy run and drove the SUV with a light foot and stuck to an 80 kph speed limit we were able to get 16 km/L which isn’t bad considering its size and weight.

Is it worth it over the 2WD model?

Overall, the 4WD variant of the GAC GS8 is great in terms of what it offers with regard to comfort and power. It’s one of the most comfortable vehicles we have tested so far, just shy from the luxury car category. 

However, it does come with a few cons especially when it comes to the technology department. Despite its massive touchscreen it lacks Apple CarPlay and Android Auto which is a common feature its competitors have. It’s odd that it’s missing from one of the brand’s flagship models, especially as the likes of the GS3 Emzoom and even the Empow have it as standard. Regardless, the GS8 4WD makes up some ground when it comes to safety features. 

As previously mentioned it comes with adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, lane departure and much power. It also comes with a slew of standard features such as dual front airbags, side airbags, an electronic stability program, a tire pressure monitoring system, and much more. 

Power delivery is also smooth and the SUV can easily put it down through its four wheel drive system. However, the system itself isn’t comparable to other 4×4 systems that were purpose built for off-roading as the GS8 only has open differentials that still let you go light off-roading. 

In terms of pricing the GAC GS8 4WD comes in at Php 2,648,000 which is reasonable for what it offers. However, it does face some stiff competition from the likes of the other 7-seater SUVs such as the Toyota Fortuner, Nissan Terra, Isuzu mu-X, and Mitsubishi Montero Sport. It does differentiate itself from the rest as being a gas-powered SUV and undercuts its main rivals such as the Ford Explorer by a sizable amount. It’s an excellent SUV to consider, if you want to differentiate yourself from the rest and if you prioritize comfort. 

More Photos of the GAC GS8 4WD