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Perhaps you've heard of GAC Motor (not to be confused with JAC Motor), one of the leading Chinese auto brands. Founded in 1955 and headquartered in Guangzhou, this ambitious carmaker is a Guangzhou Automobile Industry Group subsidiary.
GAC entered the UAE car market in 2015, and Gargash Enterprises is the exclusive distributor which recently launched the GA6 and GS4 models. Yalla Deals covered the exclusive launch event of the new GA6, and if you haven't watched the video, you can find it here.
I've interviewed Moosa from Gargash Enterprises, the head of the sales department for GAC Motor Abu Dhabi. He showed me the features of this Chinese midsize sedan, and when I examined the interior, I immediately felt the quality was brimming with Honda DNA.
My first instincts were right!
The Japanese touch is hard to miss with distinct elements such as the high-quality napa leather upholstery and faux woodgrain trim and aluminum finish that you typically get from luxury car manufacturers such as Lexus or premium Honda models.
It's apparent that GAC cars are infused with "Japanese DNA," but Moosa surprised me when he said that it goes far beyond Honda. In fact, GAC is not only known for its joint venture with Honda, but the Chinese manufacturer also has partnerships with Fiat, Jeep, Mitsubishi, Toyota, and others. This is a big deal because quality and craftsmanship can be enhanced through such partnerships.
Modernist Vibes
The interior cabin looks contemporary and trendy, perfect for a 2022 model. But what truly caught my attention is the striking design that I haven't seen in other sedans: The highlight of the interior is an elevated space right under the gear. With this thoughtful design, you can put things without obstructing space as it's less intrusive. Think of it as a hidden glove compartment under the transmission shift gear area.
The dual-screen design on the central console and instrument panel looks modern and stylish, although nothing is new here. Many manufacturers have already introduced similar designs, the first of which I can remember was the Mercedes S Class in 2005. However, frankly, I felt the size of the main 8-in LCD screen could be bigger. Although the screen is not considered small, it doesn't match the overall design of the center console, which was designed to house more screen real estate. After digging up more information on this car, I found out that China's "Trumpchi GA6" models are different since they have larger screens extending to the left, similar to Mercedes and Lexus interiors. Perhaps this is due to differences in regional specs, and Chinese specs have bigger screens.
According to GAC's catalog, three trim levels (GB, GE, and GL) are available specifically to the Middle East. The main difference among them, with the GL being the top-of-the-line model, is more options such as the wide-angle (180) rearview camera system, phone mirroring, second-row USB ports, six speakers, and cruise control are available. However, keep in mind that all trim levels get the twin-screen 7inch instrument panel/multi-information display and 8-in LCD screen, which is why Moosa probably said that GAC cars get luxury options on all models. This also applies to engine performance as all models get an E-Turbo engine.
Available interior colors are black/purple and black/brown, and I love the one I reviewed, which is black/brown. Overall, the interior looks and feels premium-ish, reminiscent of premium Japanese models.
Good Performance and Excellent Fuel Efficiency
One of the best things this car offers is the delicate balance between performance and fuel economy. As you can see from the video here, the GCC Standardization Organization (GSO) gave it an "Excellent" rating. You're looking at a fuel economy of 16.5 km/l, which is not exactly unheard of but rather incredible for this kind of performance. In today's rising fuel costs, this can be the difference between saving more money and spending more on fuel. In my opinion, it's more than enough for most people's needs in the city, and I am one of them considering all the advanced and luxury features this midsized sedan has to offer. I love it.
Since the highly efficient 1.5 L engine is turbocharged, you get a maximum power output of 124 kW / 5000 rpm and a maximum torque of 265 Nm/1700-4000 rpm. On the other hand, if the engine weren't an E-turbo / GDI, the vehicle would have still been efficient but grossly underpowered.
I like the red accent "T" that you see on the engine and the vehicle's rear, which indicates "Turbo." You're getting the equivalent of a 2.0 L engine in a 1.5 L form factor, and as Moosa explained, the "270" moniker refers to 270 torque.
The suspension system adopts McPherson for the front and multi-link for the rear. Front brakes have ventilated discs, and rear brakes have a disc system.
Masculine and Chic Exterior
The GA6 has a front-facing design called "Flying Dynamic 3.0". Although nothing is super special about this particular design, I love the elegant and simple air intake grille with a fantastic chrome finish. I like the thick grille; it adds a potent touch of luxury and accentuates the masculine look with sporty lines.
Meanwhile, the taillights are connected in a bar-style configuration and are entirely LED. I also love the premium-looking, hidden double exhaust pipes, making the car look more chic and masculine.
Depending on the trim level you select, you can get either 16" or 17" aluminum-alloy wheels, front fog lights, and LED daytime running lights.
As for the exterior paint, you get "rosefinch red," "ivory white," and "elegant black." The boomerang-shaped turn signal lights are also pleasing and add a complementary aerodynamic look along with the shark fin antenna.
Safety Features
Although the GA6 has good overall safety features, I was disappointed with the lack of side airbags. Moosa reassured me that a more premium trim level would be introduced soon. In any case, you get standard features that are now found in most cars, such as the Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD), and parking sensors.
The Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Autohold is a nice touch along with the much-needed Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). Other useful features include Hill-start Hold Control (HHC), Traction Control System (TCS), and Hydraulic Brake Assist (HBA).
The latter helps the driver in the event of emergency or panic braking. HBA recognizes from the operating speed of the brake pedal whether the driver wants an emergency stop and increases the brake pressure automatically up to the ABS control range, as long as the driver keeps the pedal pressed.
Of course, no luxury car can come without a rearview camera system, and that's what you get with the GA6's 180-degree camera. Other features include ISOFix chile safety seat anchors, second-row child safety door locks, and an engine immobilizer with an anti-theft alarm.
I also noticed the lack of an automatic braking system such as AEB (found in Kia models, for example) that constantly keeps track of the road ahead. It's 2022, and in my opinion, every vehicle should have at least some basic form of autonomous braking that will automatically halt the car if the driver fails to take action. I am not even talking about more advanced options found in rival models such as Nissan's Intelligent Mobility —a suite of advanced safety options. Options such as rear cross-traffic alert, forward collision warning, driver alertness, and a 360-degree camera are now mostly found on almost all luxury cars.
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