Will 2024 GAC M8 be a worthy rival to Toyota Alphard in PH?

All-new GAC M8 is a luxury MPV that follows in the footsteps of the GN8

If there’s one vehicle GAC customers have been looking for after its quiet exit from the Philippine market earlier this year, it’s the GN8. It used to serve as the brand’s premiere luxury MPV that can rival the likes of the Toyota Alphard and the space-age-looking Hyundai Staria, for less.

However, GAC Motor Philippines silently axed the nameplate from the local market citing crossover SUVs taking over luxury MPV sales. But ever since the automaker broke the 1,000 unit sales milestone, the company is looking to bring in new models into the country. This is where the all-new GAC M8 comes into the picture.

While there is still no official word yet if it will be actually coming to the country, we were able to get a good look at the stylish and opulent MPV over in the PRC. Immediately grabbing our full attention is its unmistakable face which is dominated by a massive grille with vertical slats that reach all the way to the bumper. Then there are the eye-catching LED headlights complete with the inverted L-shaped daytime running light that also doubles as the LED turn signals.

The side, meanwhile, features an almost monolithic design that is accompanied by subtle curves and muscular details. There are also the unique multi-spoke alloy wheels with a floating center cap which remains static and highlights the GAC (AKA Trumpchi) logo for all to see. Around the back is a massive pair of LED taillights that also feature the inverted L-shaped motif.

Climb aboard and the luxury MPV greets passengers with a leather-lined interior as well as plenty of high-tech toys & gizmos. The dashboard gets a fully digital display that consists of an instrument panel for the driver and an equally large touchscreen at the center. There are neat touches of high gloss black, leather trim pieces, metal accents, and even what looks like satin chrome for that extra flair.

Serving as the best seats in the house are captain-style chairs on the second row. Not only are they electronically adjustable, but they also feature a touchscreen-style control panel that adjusts the ottomans, headrests, backrests, and forward/aft positions.

Depending on customer preference, the cabin can come with a plain white & black theme or a more opulent “Royal Opera” finish with red, gold, black, and white hues covering the interior. While there is a third-row available, that can be folded away to make the M8 into the ultimate luxury MPV.

Under the hood, the M8 is powered by a choice of two powertrains. The first is the 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that generates a healthy 253 PS and 390 Nm of torque. The other engine is a 2.0-liter hybrid engine sourced from Toyota although we have yet to confirm its output figures. It is then paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission driving the front wheels.

With the GN8 no longer available in the Philippines, perhaps GAC could instead bring the M8 to serve as its spiritual successor. With the all-new Alphard now starting at almost PHP 5 million, the GAC M8 could significantly undercut Toyota while still offering similar levels of luxury.