GAC enters the luxury minivan segment with the all-new M8. This minivan is GAC’s take on the luxurious and comfortable people-carrier and inside and out, the M8 carries the trademark GAC flair.
Just the sight of the exterior is enough to give you an idea of how plush the interior is. The M8 is characterized by its tall and wide grille that extends from the end of the hood all the way to the bottom of the bumper. This ultra-wide grille is flanked by sleek boomerang-shaped LED headlights, a design GAC dubs “Awakening Eye.” The LED lights are reminiscent of other GAC cars in the lineup, namely the Emkoo and the GS8.
Inside, you’ll find seven seats with the second row equipped with captain’s chairs while the third row is fitted with a bench that can accommodate three passengers. Notable features include an expansive sunroof, a choice between a 10.1-inch or 14.6-inch infotainment system, a tri-zone automatic air-conditioning system, and an array of advanced driver assistance systems.
As for power, the M8 has a 2.0-liter TGDI engine, which delivers 248 hp and 400 Nm of torque, mirroring the specifications found in the GAC GS8. Power is transferred to the front wheels via a conventional eight-speed automatic transmission.
Launch
GAC previewed the M8 alongside the M6 Pro for the Philippine market on December 15, 2023. In 2024, GAC officially launched the M8 to the Philippine market on February 15, 2024. At launch, the GAC M8 came in two distinct variants, the GL Master, and the GX Master. The GL Master has a price tag of P2,998,000 while the GX Master has a price tag of P3,048,000.
Platform, Chassis and Powertrain
The M8 is built on GAC’s Global Platform Modular architecture (GPMA-L) a modular platform architecture developed by the GAC group for a range of applications. Under the hood, the M8’s beating heart is a 2.0-liter TGDI engine, which delivers 248 hp and 400 Nm of torque.
The seven-seater minivan has a front-wheel drive drivetrain with an eight-speed automatic transmission sending power from the engine to the wheels. Underneath, the M8 has a MacPherson strut suspension up front and a multi-link suspension setup at the rear.
Chassis
Class
Minivan
Body Style
5-door minivan
Platform
Layout
Front-engine, front-wheel-drive
Platform
GAC Global Platform Modular Architecture (GMPA)
Powertrain
Engine
2.0-liter four cylinders gasoline engine
Power Output
248 horsepower 400 newton-meters torque
Transmission
8-speed Automatic Transmission
Technology Features
The GAC M8 is fitted with a ton of tech to help make both the driving and riding experience better and safer. For starters, in the entertainment department, buyers are given a choice between a 10.1-inch or 14.6-inch infotainment system depending on the variant of the M8 chosen. The infotainment system is complemented by eight speakers, Bluetooth connectivity, Apple Carplay, and Android Auto compatibility. Exclusive to the GX Master is a GPS navigation system and a wireless charging pad up front.
Outside, the M8 is fitted with a full set of LED headlights with height adjustment, a Follow-Me-Home function, and an Adaptive Driving Beam. The M8 is fitted with power sliding doors as standard while the GX Master is equipped with an electric tailgate and soundproof glass all around the vehicle.
As for safety, the M8 has dual front SRS airbags, side airbags, and side curtain airbags as standard. Exclusive to the GX Master are rear windscreen-mounted airbags. ISOFIX anchors meanwhile, can be found equipped as standard on the second row seats. Other standard features include passive keyless entry, a keyless start system, a tire pressure monitoring system, a lane departure warning (LDW) system, lane keep assist, autonomous emergency braking (AEB), forward collision warning (FCW), and adaptive cruise control. Exclusive to the GX Master is a blind spot detection system (BSD), rear cross traffic alert (RCTA), rear cross traffic braking (RCTB), emergency lane keeping, and rear car approaching warning (RAW)
Exterior
On the outside, the M8 exudes a dominant air despite being a minivan. This is all thanks to an aggressive front fascia, a sleek side profile, and an imposing rear end. Up front, the first thing you’ll notice is the wide grille, characterized by long vertical slats that start from the hood and end near the bottom of the bumper. The expansive grille at the front is complemented by stylish boomerang-shaped LED headlights, a design referred to by GAC as the "Awakening Eye." If you find these lights familiar, that’s because they bear a resemblance to those found on other models in the GAC lineup, notably the Emkoo and the GS8.
At the sides, the M8 sports chrome highlights at the windows, an elegant crease that extends from the rear to the front door, and 18-inch alloy wheels. Moving to the back, the M8 sports wraparound LED taillights that appear to be an enlarged version of the shape of the LED headlights up front. The GAC badge can be found just underneath the LED strip at the back.
Interior
Inside, the M8 presents an interior adorned with premium materials to make it a comfortable people carrier. The seven-seater has a 2+2+3 seating configuration with captain’s chairs at the back and a bench seat for the third row. Buyers can choose between a light or red and black interior color for their M8. As for the upholstery, all variants of the M8 come with leather upholstery as standard. Enhancing the riding experience is a panoramic sunroof that allows natural light to flood the interior during a journey.
In terms of equipment, buyers have the option of selecting between a 10.1-inch or 14.6-inch infotainment system, depending on the variant of the M8 they choose. The infotainment setup is enhanced by eight speakers, Bluetooth connectivity, and compatibility with Apple Carplay and Android Auto. Exclusive to the GX Master variant is a GPS navigation system and a front-mounted wireless charging pad.
Safety
Regarding safety features, the M8 comes equipped with dual front SRS airbags, side airbags, and side curtain airbags as standard. Exclusive to the GX Master variant are rear windscreen-mounted airbags. Additionally, ISOFIX anchors are standard on the second-row seats. Other standard safety features include passive keyless entry, a keyless start system, a tire pressure monitoring system, lane departure warning (LDW), lane keep assist, autonomous emergency braking (AEB), forward collision warning (FCW), and adaptive cruise control. The GX Master model offers additional safety features such as a blind spot detection system (BSD), rear cross-traffic alert (RCTA), rear cross-traffic braking (RCTB), emergency lane keeping, and rear car approaching warning (RAW).
GAC came out swinging a few years ago, but missed the mark ever so slightly. Now, here's what appears to be a one-punch knockout of a luxury van in the form of the M8 GX Master. Or so GAC would have you believe... Is it perfect? Is it the "Alphard Killer" that we all wanted? For about P4,000,000, is it worth it? Let's go in-depth, ad nauseum, and head first into the 2024 GAC M8 in its GX Master trim on this episode of Behind the Wheel.
