Gac E9 Reviews

It has never been cheaper for buyers considering an EV in Australia. Increased demand and more efficient development processes have reduced the prices of electric cars in Australia significantly. Carmakers continue to battle it out to go cheaper than their rivals, with options now appearing below the $30,000 mark.Some affordable EVs are even cheaper than traditional petrol-powered budget examples. The BYD Atto 1 has maintained its title as the cheapest electric car in Australia.The compact SUV started from $23,990, with top-spec models costing $27,990, both before on-road costs. The Atto 1’s single electric motor only produces 65kW and 175Nm as standard, while its 30kWh battery is good for more than 200km of driving range (WLTP). The newest member of the below $30,000 club is the Geely EX2, which has already surged towards the top of the sales charts in Australia. The rear-wheel drive EX2 starts from $26,490, with the range-topping variant priced from $30,990, both before on-road costs. The base variant has 60kW and 150Nm from a single electric motor, along with a 35kWh battery offering 252km.GAC will launch a short-range version of its Aion UT in late 2026 that is expected to be less than $30,000, as well. The Atto 1 and Geely EX2 use before on-road costs pricing, so buyers will have to spend an extra up to $5000 on registration and other costs to drive it out of the showroom. The MG4 Urban is the cheaper front-wheel drive sibling of the MG4, available with a sharp drive-away price of $31,990.Its 110kW and 250Nm as standard bests its cheaper competition, while its more than 316km of driving range is hard to look past at its price point. While GAC’s short-range Aion UT is not here yet, the current ‘Premium’ grade starts from $31,990 (drive-away). The Aion UT boasts an electric motor that makes 150kW and 210Nm, besting the MG4 Urban with a quoted riving range of more than 400km from its 60kWh battery.The GWM Ora 5 SUV is available from $33,990, drive-away, as a new cheaper replacement for the Ora hatch.The Ora 5 makes 150kW and 260Nm from its single electric motor.BYD’s affordable EVs continue down the list, with the Dolphin hatchback ($29,990) and the bigger Atto 2 small SUV ($31,990), both before on-road costs. Leapmotor’s B05 is the brand’s cheapest car on sale, and currently is available with a $35,990, drive-away price until 30 September 2026. The B05 is a smaller SUV compared to mid-sized Leapmotor’s B10 with its fully-electric variant kicking off from $38,990, drive-away, also until 30 September 2026. The Jaecoo J5's proportions are on the larger end of the small SUV scale, making it a compelling proposition at $36,990, drive-away. The J5 has had a strong start to life in Australia, and the best-selling small SUV for May 2026. 

GAC has slapped a price tag on its upcoming Denza B5 rival over in China ahead of its anticipated launch in Australia in the future.The GAC Yue 7, which was revealed at the Beijing Motor Show earlier this year, starts from the equivalent of just A$37,342 for its most entry-level 2WD Pro variant, with Chinese prices stretching to nearly A$50,000 for the top-spec 4WD Ultra.It is available in China in four variants, the base 2WD Pro, mid-spec Max in both 2WD and 4WD, and the top-spec Ultra only as a 4WD.All variants get a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine (125kW/245Nm) paired with a front transmission-mounted electric motor (205kW/360Nm), or in higher grades with the addition of a rear motor (220kW/385Nm).Total combined power is quoted at 205kW for the 2WD version, or 425kW/1000Nm for the 4WD.The GAC Yue 7 is only available as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) with two battery sizes, either a smaller 28.3kWh version (161km of CLTC-claimed electric range), which is only available on the base Pro 2WD, or a larger 46kWh battery on every other variant, which delivers 261km electric range in 2WD or 259km of electric range in 4WD.Combined range is up to 1352km, while the fuel consumption with the battery drained (a required disclosure in China) comes to 6.2L/100km.Unlike some rivals, the over five-meter long SUV rides on a monocoque platform rather than a ladder-frame, although it maintains a full-size spare wheel mounted to the swing-open tailgate.As for its off-road abilities, the Yue 7 has a 34.5 degree approach angle, 36.2 degree departure angle, 310mm of ground clearance, with a wading depth of up to 780mm. It can lock its front and rear hardware differentials, although there is no driveshaft connecting the engine and hybrid transmission in the front with the rear axle. This makes the GAC Yue 7 closer in its design to the Denza B5 than the GWM Tank 500. Regardless, GAC says the Yue 7 can emulate a central locking differential with software and has nine software-based terrain modes to deal with various terrain conditions.The Yue 7 has independent suspension all-round with the top-spec ultra scoring dual-chamber air suspension and continuously variable dampers.Other notable features the Yue 7 has includes two 220-volt vehicle-to-load (V2L) power outlets in the cabin, a 15.6-inch central touchscreen with a three-screen digital instrument cluster and separate 1.1-meter long panoramic information display across the top of the dashboard.Overseas the GWM Tank 500 in hybrid form is priced from nearly A$70,000 (in Australia from $75,990), while the 4WD we know as the Denza B5 is priced from A$60,170 (in Australia from $77,185). The upcoming Geely Battleship 700 is yet to be priced, even in China.While the Yue 7 hasn't been confirmed for an Australian launch, the Chinese pricing suggests it would be competitively priced compared to its natural rivals if it did. With the usual 20 per cent additional pricing that cars from China tend to receive, this would place it at roughly A$52,000 for the entry-level 4WD Max grade in Australia.It is highly unlikely our market would receive the particularly sharply-priced 2WD versions, particularly if GAC wants to make a splash in the off-road space with its first large SUV offering.GAC is nowhere near alone in the launch of its trendy 4WD, with other options headed to Australia including from Chery’s Jetour and iCaur brands.Both of which have recently launched Australian divisions, as well as a likely local launch of Geely’s Battleship 700.This will make for an increasingly crowded off-road space in Australia next year and beyond.Existing options include disruptors like the GWM Tank 500 and Denza B5, alongside more traditional and predominantly diesel-powered nameplates like the Toyota LandCruiser, Nissan Patrol, and upcoming new-generation Mitsubishi Pajero.

GAC has confirmed missing safety features in an upcoming new variant of its Emzoom small SUV will be reinstated for the Australian market after feedback.The company announced on the 18th of August that it was introducing a new base version of the Emzoom, the Premium, which would bring the price-of-entry down by $3000 to $22,990, drive-away.Sitting below the Emzoom Luxury ($26,990, drive-away), the new entry-level variant seems expressly designed to make it more affordable than rivals like the GWM Haval Jolion, MG ZS, and segment-dominating Chery Tiggo 4, while stripping out several features.Notable omissions included safety features, like seatbelt pre-tensioners and rear seatbelt warning systems, although the active safety items like autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and lane-keep aids were maintained from the top-spec Luxury grade.However, now due to feedback from “customers and industry stakeholders” GAC says it will reinstate the seatbelt features available on the Luxury grade.The brand said the omission was because those features were not standard equipment on the Premium grade in other markets, which contributed to their exclusion from the Australian spec.A GAC spokesperson told CarsGuide an initial batch of cars set to arrive in Australia in September will remain without the seatbelt tensioners and rear seatbelt reminders, although any car which arrives from November 2026 onwards will have those features reinstated. It is unclear at this stage whether the drive-away price will remain the same after that date.GAC said in a statement: “Providing vehicle specifications that meet, and where possible exceed the expectations of Australian customers and industry experts remain a priority for GAC.”The Emzoom is yet to be rated by independent safety body ANCAP. Of the brand’s current range, only the fully electric Aion V mid-size SUV has been rated, and was awarded a maximum five stars to the 2025 standards.Other features stripped from the new entry-level Emzoom Premium include auto-folding mirrors, electric door handles, interior ambient lighting, ventilation and power adjust for the driver’s seat, as well as rear USB ports.The Emzoom is currently GAC’s best-seller in Australia, moving 422 units so far this year. It ranks just ahead of the Aion V electric mid-size SUV. Unlike rivals which have hybrid variants available further up the price-scale, the Emzoom is only available with a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine driving the front wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.The Guangzhou-based Chinese automaker has big plans to be a top 10 player in Australia by 2028 and has promised both a larger hybrid SUV and a ute for our market in the coming years.

Chinese players in Australia look to get even more aggressive as the country's automotive giants try to offset sales slumps in their own market with an aggressive export strategy to help shift excess metal.That's the latest analysis from automotive experts, who point to falling profits or soaring losses in China's saturated new-car market.To put the market there into perspective, there are now more than 130 brands, and there were more than 500 new models launched in the first six months of 2026 alone.“Such an aggressive rollout of new products was far beyond what the market was able to accommodate,” said Fu Bingfeng, secretary-general of the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, at an industry forum in July.New analysis from the US's Automotive News details the challenges facing some of the now-biggest car brands in the world. Many are booming in Australia, but it's a different story in their home market, where oversupply is crippling sales.According to the US site, July marked the seventh consecutive month of market decline in China, with sales down 24 per cent compared to the same period last year. The July result was even more stark, with month on month sales down 25 per cent.Several auto giants have released their six-month financial results, with Geely benefiting from a massive 158 per cent increase in exports to protect profits, which still dropped two per cent. BAIC, which partners with Hyundai on the Elexio, reported a net loss of 1.65 billion yuan (345m), while GAC is forecasting a potential full-year loss of 4.6 billion yuan ($958m).Changan, which will soon launch in Australia, and already has a footprint here through Deepal, says its first-half profit could slip by 68 per cent, while Great Wall Motor reports a similar, though slightly smaller, figure.Domestic pressure is fuelling an export boom, with a total 5.35 million vehicles shipped overseas from January to July, up more than 70 per cent on the same period last year.The export boom will likely increase competition and sharpen prices in Australia, which will be good news for consumers, and the opposite for legacy OEMs battling ever increasing Chinese headwinds.

GAC has revealed a new and more affordable variant of its Emzoom small SUV.The brand announced the new entry-level Emzoom Premium is available from just $22,990, drive-away, undercutting the Tiggo 4 Urban ($23,990) and Haval Jolion Premium ($26,990), whilst also being the same price as the MG ZS Vibe ($22,990), all prices drive-away.The new variant is $3000 more affordable than the now-top-spec Emzoom Luxury, which continues to be priced at $26,990, drive-away.Unlike the Tiggo 4, Jolion and MG ZS however, all of which have pricier but desirable hybrid variants, the Emzoom is only available with combustion power.This consists of a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine for both trim levels. It produces 125kW/270Nm and is paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission driving the front wheels.The new base Premium grade forgoes the Luxury grade’s opening panoramic sunroof, power tailgate, 360-degree parking camera and blind spot view system, downgrades the number of parking sensors and downsizes the 18-inch wheels to 17s.It also loses the Luxury grade’s auto-folding wing mirrors, electric rear door handles, ambient interior lighting, ventilation and power adjust for the driver’s seat, the centre armrest and USB port for rear passengers and even the pre-tensioners for the seat belts.However, GAC points out the Emzoom maintains its large 14.6-inch multimedia touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto alongside the main suite of active safety items, as well as being available with a competitive seven-year, unlimited kilometre warranty.GAC says the new Premium variant will hit dealerships in September.A relatively new challenger to the segment-dominating Chery Tiggo 4, the Emzoom is also currently GAC’s best-selling car, ahead of the Aion V electric mid-sizer, however it plays in one of the most congested parts of the Australian new car market.GAC also offers the budget-focused Aion UT electric hatch (from $31,990) which competes in the entry part of the electric market alongside the BYD Dolphin and just-launched Geely EX2.While it is still in its infancy in Australia, GAC has a long way to go to challenge its more successful contemporaries, with Geely in particular surging ahead in the sales charts. However, it has managed to already surpass Leapmotor which, by comparison, has struggled for traction against a crowd of new brands.GAC has promised a larger hybrid SUV will arrive in 2027, and a ute is also high on its list of priorities as it boldly aims for a top-10 position in our market by 2028.

The Geely EX2 is already due for fresh competition in Australia. GAC has confirmed a cheaper variant of its Aion UT electric hatchback will be coming to Australia before the end of the year. The Aion UT launched in April 2026 as GAC’s affordable EV option, starting from $31,990, before on-road costs.It trailed cheaper rivals the BYD Dolphin ($29,990) and Geely EX2 ($26,490) on the sales charts in July.GAC has big ambitions in Australia, with a new base Aion UT expected to narrow the price gap on its closest competitors. The ‘short-range’ Aion UT will have a smaller 44kWh battery compared to the 60kWh unit found in the current grades on sale Down Under. It will offer a driving range of 320km, according to WLTP standards, compared to 430km available on its more expensive siblings. GAC has not revealed output figures for the car, but overseas variants have a front-mounted electric motor making 100kW/145Nm, down from 150kW/210Nm on current Aussie stock.  The cheaper Aion UT could also forgo some of the features on up-specs variants, but more details will be confirmed close to launch. The car has been officially earmarked for Aussie arrival in late Q4 2026, but CarsGuide understands it will launch specifically in December.There is no official news on how much GAC’s new Aion UT variant will cost, but the brand is eager for it to compete with the cheapest rivals on the market. We know it will be offered from less than the $31,990 price tag attached to car's current base grade.It starts in China from 102,000 yuan (or about $22,000), but models imported into Australia usually inherit a 20 per cent hike, so it is more likely to be priced from around $27,000-plus.

GAC launched in Australia late last year, but the brand’s local progress has largely been kept under wraps.Its July sales results appeared in the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries' VFacts sales data for the first time.GAC shifted 1008 units between its four models in Australia.A spokesperson for GAC Australia told CarsGuide the brand is making steady progress in Australia.“We are satisfied with our progress since launching in the Australian market,” they said.“Our strategy has focused on building a strong foundation through the expansion of our dealer network and the establishment of the GAC brand locally.“We are confident that our activities and product initiatives during the second half of the year will further strengthen our sales performance.”GAC said in November it was aiming for a spot in the top 10 best-selling brands in Australia by the end of 2028.Here is how it has fared so far.The budget-focused GAC Emzoom is the brand’s best-selling model, with 422 units in July. The Emzoom is a petrol-powered small SUV and is the cheapest GAC available, offered in a single variant starting from $25,590, before on-road costs.It tackles the increasingly important budget SUV segment, competing with the Chery Tiggo 4 ($23,990) and MG ZS ($22,990).It still has plenty of work to do to catch up to those two rivals that feature at the top of the segment's standings.The Emzoom’s success could pose an emissions rules challenge for GAC, leaving the brand exposed to fines. The Aion V electric mid-size SUV is GAC’s second-best selling model in Australia, with 373 sales in July.Starting from $42,990, it has a similar price tag to the Geely EX5 ($41,990), but has not experienced the same surging sales.The Aion UT budget-focused electric hatch is the slowest seller of GAC's car-based vehicles, achieving 148 units sold in July. GAC Aion UT is priced from $31,990 (drive-away) until September 2026, but managed less than half the sales of segment-leading BYD Dolphin ($29,990, before on-road costs).The Aion UT is an important model for GAC, with the budget EV space proving popular in light of high fuel prices and stringent emissions rules. The M8 plug-in hybrid people-mover has unsurprisingly shifted the fewest examples for GAC at 65. The luxury-pitched MPV, starting from $76,590, has a limited buyer base in a segment dominated by the diesel- and hybrid-powered Kia Carnival ($56,540). It has outsold electric competitors the Denza D9 ($95,990) and Zeekr 009 ($115,990), representing a cheaper electrified alternative in the people mover space. GAC hinted at new products coming in the second half of the year, with the brand likely to make announcements in the coming weeks. It has already confirmed a cheaper Aion UT variant is on the way to better rival the BYD Dolphin and incoming Geely EX2 ($26,490). We expect this to be priced below the $30,000 mark when it gets here in late 2026.GAC aims to have more than 10 models on sale in Australia by 2030, so it could introduce as many as four new cars next year.There are two large electric SUVs due in the next 12 months, but confirmed details on them remain scarce.The luxury-pitched Aion Hyptec HT could potentially be one of these models as it is GAC's only fully-electric large SUV on sale.An even bigger, potentially three-row, SUV is expected to also arrive next year. GAC is planning to introduce a hybrid or electric ute before the end of the decade.

This budget EV is about to get even cheaper for Aussie buyers. GAC is preparing to launch an ultra-affordable variant of its Aion UT electric hatch Down Under before the end of this year. This variant will become the new entry level to the Aion UT range, priced from less than the current Premium grade ($31,990, drive-away).It will give GAC a direct rival to other affordable-pitched electric hatchback variants the BYD Dolphin ($29,990) and incoming Geely EX2 ($26,490), both before on-road costs.Here is what we know about it so far.It will have a smaller battery than the 60kWh unit currently available in Australia.The Aion UT is offered in China with 35kWh and 44kWh battery variants. It is more likely GAC brings the 44kWh battery, offering a driving range of 330km, according to more generous CLTC standards.The current 60kWh Aion UT on offer in Australia comes with significantly more range at 430km (WLTP).The incoming more affordable variant has a front-mounted electric motor, producing 100kW according to overseas specs, compared to the 150kW output of its up-spec sibling. Other details on the car remain scarce, with the hatchback still going through its final checks before an official announcement. The new Aion UT variant does not have an official launch date, but it is expected to be here before the end of the year. The car has not been approved for sale yet, meaning it will likely launch in late Q4 2026, potentially December.While we don't have an exact Aussie price for it yet, it will be less than $30,000 when it arrives here.The 44kWh battery Aion UT is priced in China up to 102,000 yen, which is roughly $22,000. Cars from China usually carry around a 20 per cent hike when put on sale here, suggesting a potential price of around $27,000.

GAC’s forthcoming ute is expected to forego diesel power in favour of electrification.Rather than trying to compete with the established internal combustion engine (ICE) offerings in Australia’s ute scene like the Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger, Isuzu D-Max and Mitsubishi Triton, the as-yet unnamed GAC ute will only be offered as an electrified model.GAC Australia CEO Kevin Shu confirmed the ute’s powertrains at the recent announcement of GAC’s sponsorship of Melbourne City FC.“We're focusing on the new energy I think, rather than the traditional engine,” he told CarsGuide.‘New energy’ is a term largely used by Chinese carmakers that refers to electrified drivetrains like hybrid, plug-in hybrid or battery electric.When pressed on what that meant for the ute specifically, Shu said: “Plug-in hybrid or REEV.”REEV refers to a range-extender electric vehicle (sometimes called EREVs, or extended-range electric vehicles), which uses an internal combustion engine to generate power for an electric motor. Leapmotor’s C10 is an example of this, while fellow Chinese challenger XPeng is also planning to roll out the technology.He added that while a number of traditional rivals stick with pure internal combustion power for utes, GAC would chase new demand.“Competitors focus on diesel, petrol. We have to use customer demand.”The runaway success of the plug-in hybrid BYD Shark 6, also from China, suggests this could be a smart strategy from GAC. The BYD is currently the third best-selling 4x4 pick-up in Australia, according to January to June sales figures.Chery has also confirmed its diesel-electric plug-in hybrid Stockman ute for a late 2026 launch.Shu reiterated that GAC is planning a further four new models for Australia next year. One of those could well be the Yue 7 SUV that will share underpinnings with the as-yet unnamed pick-up. However, it could push into early 2028.As reported by CarsGuide, the Yue 7 is a five-seat SUV that counts rivals including the Toyota Prado and Denza B5. It will be powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 125kW, with dual electric motors (one on each axle) for a total system power output of 400kW.It will be fitted with a 46kWh battery pack allowing for an EV-only driving range of 188km on the lenient CLTC standard. There’s also a smaller 28.3kWh battery, with 116km of driving range.GAC says it stands apart from its rivals as it offers buyers four different powertrain options - pure internal combustion (ICE), hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric vehicle.Shu also dismissed spinning off sub-brands from the GAC parent brand.In the UK, for example, Aion is its own sub-brand. In some markets it also offers Hyptec, while Trumpchi is a China-market brand. There’s also the recent tie-in with Huawei, called Qijing in China or Aistaland internationally.Shu said the reason for maintaining GAC in Australia rather than launching so many sub-brands was because of ease of communicating GAC’s offer.One of GAC’s main competitors in China and Australia is Chery, which, famously, has multiple sub-brands and more on the way. They include Omoda Jaecoo, Lepas, Jetour, iCaur and Freelander.

Aussies are going to be buying more Chinese cars than ever as exports boom.Our market is proving to be the perfect place for under-fire Chinese brands to move on from their oversaturated domestic market.Meanwhile, new Chinese government rules mean smaller Chinese automakers will have a better chance of becoming true competitors to bigger brands like BYD.Legislative changes have diminished the advantages of mass-production, reducing the profit on a single car sold for 200,000 yuan ($42,000) to just 3000 yuan (or $633) according to Auto Home.Brands now must look more closely at overseas markets, and Australia is standing out.Australia does not have a domestic car industry to protect so it does not impose the same expensive tariffs or rules as other markets, making it more attractive to some importers.Europe has had a series of up to 35 per cent tariffs in place on Chinese manufacturers importing EVs since late 2024 to encourage or protect local production.Thailand, one of the biggest car manufacturers in the world, has also introduced rules requiring two cars to be locally produced for every car imported.Chinese car exports surged by 65 per cent in the first half of 2026, with a whopping 5.1 million cars sold, via Auto Home.BYD and Chery have contributed nearly 2 million overseas sales between them so far this year.Virtually three-quarters of Chery’s total sales came from overseas in the first half of 2026.Many of these cars are coming to Australia as our market now sources more cars from China than it does from Japan.Nothing says this more than the current top 10 best-selling electric cars all being built in China. The BYD Sealion 7 electric mid-size SUV (from $54,000, before on-road costs) has been a raging success for the brand in Australia.Chery’s budget-friendly small SUVs the Tiggo 4 petrol/plugless hybrid (from $23,990, drive-away) and Jaecoo J5 EV ($36,990, drive-away) are some of the most popular cars on the roads today.The BYD Atto 1 hatchback is the cheapest new electric car in Australia, starting from $23,990 (before on-road costs). The larger Dolphin is also available from under $30,000.Chinese brands will continue to place further emphasis on Australia as they look to expand their local line-ups.Geely has already seen success with its EX5 electric mid-size SUV, but its methodical approach will see plenty more models hit showrooms in the next year.Brands like GAC and XPeng are also accelerating their launch plans as they feel the squeeze back home.