Gac GS8 Reviews

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.

Honda has renewed its partnership with GAC in China, after months of speculation it would pull out of the agreement when its original 30 year contract ended.The GAC/Honda joint-venture in China has struggled for market share, even amongst other foreign partnerships. With the rise of China’s automakers such as BYD, Geely and SAIC, not to mention even smaller players XPeng and Xiaomi soaking up domestic market share, even once-successful joint venture players such as Volkswagen (the longest serving and most successful of all) are faltering.Nikkei Asia reports Honda’s market share in China has fallen 60 per cent last year, with GAC Honda specifically fallen to 340,000 units. While that might seem enormous given the brand’s mere 15,383 unit tally in Australia last year, it makes it a relative minnow in the enormous Chinese market, where annual sales for the biggest brands are frequently measured in the millions.Honda has renewed its agreement with the Chinese giant for a further 10 years, a Honda spokesperson told Nikkei Asia.“We’ve made this decision in order to assess the business environment,” the spokesperson said.An executive from one of the JV’s suppliers told the outlet, "this is Honda sending a message that it won't give up on China".It is notable the Honda/GAC operation currently has less joint-venture models than most rivals, and only one purely electric model in a market, which is demanding more zero-emissions options.GAC Honda currently sells the Honda Breeze (a re-styled CR-V), ageing Avancier coupe SUV, and a sedan Integra (not related to the coupe sold in Australia) all as unique combustion models, while also selling Chinese domestic versions of the Accord, Odyssey, and HR-V (as the Vezel).The only electric car the JV sells is the P7 mid-size SUV in an EV-hungry market, while the Dongfeng joint venture sells its own version, dubbed the S7, and the more affordable e:NS2 crossover. Despite showing several concept models at Chinese motor shows in previous years, new and more desirable models are yet to materialise in the fast-moving market.Even GAC’s joint venture with Toyota was significantly more successful last year, moving around 756,000 units, with popular JV models including the bZ3X, which shares its platform with the GAC Aion V.The bZ3X has since become available in right-hand drive form for Hong Kong. Toyota Australia hasn’t ruled the China-built model out for our market either, given it will need to sell more electric vehicles in the near future to comply with the strict new vehicle emissions standards (NVES), which closes the vice on hybrid models before long.As for Honda using the sought-after ‘China Speed’ manufacturing for more cost-effective export models, it is only just testing the waters resurrecting the Insight nameplate for a version of the China-built e:NS2 from its Dongfeng venture sold in Japan.Meanwhile rivals are forging ahead with Chinese partnerships for export, with Kia and Hyundai already selling the Chinese-built EV5 and Elexio in Australia respectively, and Nissan announcing its intention to make its Dongfeng joint-venture models like the Frontier Pro PHEV ute and NX8 large SUV available globally.

The GAC Aion UT is the first GAC I’ve ever driven, so I went into this review not really knowing what to expect. Sort of like walking through a room in the dark, in a house that isn’t yours.It was full of discovery but without all the falling over and toe stubbing. First, what is the Aion UT? It's a fully electric small hatch that almost crosses into SUV territory with its slightly elevated ride height.At 4270mm long it’s a similar length to the BYD Dolphin, but shorter than an MG4 Urban, but it does match the MG's price at $31,990 before on-road costs. That’s for the entry grade Premium Aion UT tested here. The price is impressive. It’s an electric car for the same money as a petrol car of a similar size, like a Honda HR-V.The Premium grade has an almost identical features list to the top grade luxury, from powered and heated front seats to a 14.6-inch touchscreen. All it misses out on really, is ventilated seats, wireless phone charging and a power tailgate. The Aion UT is not just an affordable small car, it’s more practical than many larger vehicles thanks to clever storage andplenty of cabin space. The UT’s 2750mm wheelbase is on the longer side for cars this small and that’s a good thing for occupant space and excellent rear legroom is the result. Rear headroom is more than adequate too, thanks to a tall and flat roofline.Storage is outstanding with a deep centre console bin and an area underneath for bags. There’s even a hatch under the dash that opens to reveal a netted pocket. There are door pockets, cupholders and a phone tray up front that doubles as a wireless charger if you stump up the extra $4000 for the Luxury grade.The 321-litre boot isn’t enormous but it's large for a car this size with enough space for a week’s worth of shopping for my family of four or a couple of smaller luggage bags.The main practicality downside is the lack of physical buttons in the cabin for functions such as climate control and media. There are none at all apart from on the steering wheel and the window switches.Instead, all controls are accessed through the central touchscreen and not only is that more awkward to use but it's a safety concern. A driver could easily be distracted just trying to turn the cabin temperature down.We lived with the Aion UT for a week doing what families do: from school runs and weekend sports to grocery shopping and family visits. This is a front-wheel-drive electric car with a 60kWh battery and 150kW/210Nm motor. That battery size is good for 430km of driving range (WLTP) according to GAC and after 250km in one week there was 170km left, making that claim accurate. Our average energy consumption was 15.6kWh/100km according to the trip computer, which is less than the official 16.4kWh/100km.In the city and urban areas where we live the UT shines with brisk acceleration, its quiet and smooth nature, good visibility and small size. On motorways, as we found during a trip to a regional area, the UT feels slightly vulnerable among the trucks and the stability was tested in the windy, rainy weather. There were times I wished we were in something larger and higher up.The driving position is let down by the steering wheel's lack of reach adjustment. I got around this by adjusting my seat, although it's not ideal.Also not ideal is a persistent driver alert system that reminds you to slow down and avoid distraction. It activates far too easily and interferes with concentration while driving. It’s not just the driver being hassled either. My front passenger was told on one occasion not to put her feet on the dashboard even though they weren’t - she had her legs crossed and this seemed to trigger the system.Finally the styling of the Aion UT isn’t appealing to me. GAC boasts that the little electric car was penned at its Milan design centre, but Chinese rivals like Zeekr and BYD have much more interesting and beautiful creations.