2021 GAC GN6 Review | Philkotse Philippines

Other than subcompact sedans, and small city hatchbacks, the local market has a soft spot for seven-seater MPVs since Filipinos are fond of traveling in groups. As a result, car brands in the Philippines are launching their respective challengers in the MPV segment, a category that the Innova has been greatly influencing or should I say dominating.

GAC is one of the Chinese car brands in the country that aims to shake up the Philippine market. Since its official launch in the local market in 2018, the strategy of GAC is to offer upmarket vehicles at an attractive price tag. The latest offering of GAC is the GN6, a seven-seater MPV that undoubtedly takes aim at the ever-popular Toyota Innova. With that, does the 2021 GAC GN6 have what it takes to lure Filipino car buyers? Read on to find out.      

The first thing that came to my mind when I saw the GN6 in the metal is that it has a rather simple yet elegant-looking exterior design. It’s not as flashy when you compare it to its Chinese MPV counterparts such as the Maxus G50, and the Geely Okavango. But that doesn’t mean that the GN6 is a bland or plain-looking MPV. What separates this vehicle from its Chinese counterparts, and the Innova is that its exterior has a mature vibe.  

2021 GAC GN6

The front end of the GN6 is one of its best assets as it gives you the right balance of sharpness and neatness. It is fitted with halogen headlights that appear to be squinting on its rivals but I wish that it already comes in LEDs. GAC makes up for the use of halogen headlights by integrating them with a wing-shaped light accent that sort of extends seamlessly into the large chrome grille. The edges of the front grille, and the wing-shaped light accents on the headlights give the illusion of a bird in flight or gliding in the air.

The GN6 has a rather simple side profile

The GN6 has a distinct character line when you view it from the side. Unlike its front end, I find the side a bit too plain, and the 16-inch alloy wheels fell short in adding spice to its profile. The side mirrors, while integrated with indicator lights, don’t come with a power-folding function. Despite that, one thing I like about its side profile is its minivan-like appeal due to the blacked-out wraparound detail on its D-pillar. This creates a sleek transition to the vehicle’s rear. In case you’re wondering, the GN6 is longer than the Innova by 45mm, and it’s also wider by 30mm. 

The GN6 appears to be smiling when viewed from the back

The rear of the GAC GN6 has a more subtle look as compared to how its front end is designed. It is fitted with LED taillights that appear to be one single unit due to the light bar that runs on the tailgate, a design detail common in Chinese cars. Despite the toned-down design, I’m fond of the GN6’s rear end since it has this smiling or smirking demeanor. This is made possible through the taillight design, and the character lines on the tailgate.

The dashboard layout of the GN6 looks neat

The interior of the GN6 is one of the things that arguably differentiates it from its segment rivals. GAC wants to give you a taste of luxury when you step inside the GN6’s cabin. It has a dark interior theme that features brown leather on the dashboard, seats, and door panels.

It also comes with a sunroof

I find the execution of the dashboard layout pleasing without trying too hard in giving you a sophisticated feel. The layout is not pretentious as it keeps everything in place, which results in a simple yet refined finish. The combination of the brown leather and piano black accents on the dashboard and center console go well together. It also has a sunroof, but some of its segment rivals are equipped with a panoramic type.  

I wish that it already comes with a leather-wrapped steering wheel

The steering wheel feels too plasticky, which is a minor letdown in its interior. I prefer to have it leather-wrapped so that it will blend more in the refined cabin of the GN6. Another thing worth mentioning is that the GN6’s leather seats come with manual adjustment, which again lessens the cabin’s premium-like appeal. On the brighter side, the leather seats have a good cushion that will be much appreciated on long road trips, and when you’re stuck in traffic.

2021 GAC GN6 comes with second row captain seats

The GN6 has captain seats on the second row, which makes it an MPV that comes with a 2+2+3 seat layout. The leg- and head-room on the second row is generous, which makes it the best place to be in. It also has a slide function for you to maximize legroom when there are no passengers on the third row.

It has decent legroom at the third row

Speaking of which, the third-row seats also have decent leg- and head-room. It can accommodate up to three individuals. Of note, the third-row passenger seated on the left-most side also has access to a USB port. Lastly, the ceiling-mounted aircon vents ensure that passengers are treated with cold air.

Third row seats can fold flat

Aside from having seven seats, the GN6 also has flexible cargo loading options. It has a default trunk space (third-row seats up) of 324 liters. You can already fit an assortment of items even when the GN6’s third-row seats are up. A week’s supply of groceries can easily be loaded at the back. Now, the third-row seats can be folded flat for a max cargo of 1,100 liters, giving you flexibility in case you need to haul cargo. 

Apple CarPlay

The GAC GN6 comes with a 7-inch infotainment touchscreen that’s integrated with Apple CarPlay. This allows iPhone users to seamlessly connect their smartphones to the GN6’s headunit, a feature that I find essential in this day and age.

This MPV’s infotainment touchscreen transforms into a reverse camera when you put the gear in reverse. It gives you a better view of what’s behind the vehicle, which aids you to park the GN6 safer. 

Reverse camera with dynamic guidelines

The GN6 also has three modes for its steering wheel, which adjusts the feedback and feel accordingly. The three modes are as follows: Comfort, Normal, and Sport. Comfort adjusts the steering wheel to have light feedback, while Sport leans on having a relatively heavier steering feel. 

During the course of the test drive, I prefer to use the Normal steering mode more often as it gives you the right amount of lightness and feedback. To add, GAC’s MPV is equipped with cruise control, dual front airbags, electronic stability control, engine immobilizer, among others.

The GAC GN6 is powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine that puts out 170 hp and 256 Nm of torque. The engine is connected to a six-speed automatic transmission, and it has four drive modes: Eco, Normal, Sport, and Winter.

The GAC GN6 is powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine

The GN6’s turbocharged engine delivers the right amount of power even when you’re on the Normal drive mode. The throttle response is also good, which allows you to overtake slower vehicles on the expressway with confidence. It is also stable and planted when driven at highway speeds, making you feel safe while you’re cruising.
 
The transmission of the GN6 is also worth noting as it is smooth with minimum to no shift shocks. This adds to the overall ride comfort of the vehicle, which you’ll appreciate as a driver or as a passenger. That said, the suspension of the GN6 leans a bit on the firm side but it absorbs road impacts well. The GN6 can relatively lessen the bumpy ride brought upon by the dilapidated roads along EDSA. 

The front end of the GN6 is one of its assets

Another thing I like about the GN6 is its forward visibility. The opening on the front quarter glass adds to the already wide view of the road ahead. It lessens blind spots, which gives you better visibility when you need to drive through tight streets around the city. As mentioned earlier, the steering wheel of the GN6 comes with three modes. 

Rear of the GAC GN6

I prefer the Normal setting as it provides the right amount of lightness and feedback. I personally didn’t find the Comfort mode appealing since the steering feel is too light, which makes driving a little weird, and felt that I had minimal control of the vehicle. And oh, the noise insulation of the GN6 is also something you would appreciate as it reduces outside noise to a minimum. But, tire noise still creeps in especially when you’re driving at highway speeds.

2021 GAC GN6

The 2021 GAC GN6 is offered with a sole variant that’s priced at Php 1,480,000, which puts it alongside the Toyota Innova, Geely Okavango, and Maxus G50 in terms of price. The exterior design of the GN6 is not for everyone as it suits individuals who are looking for a simple yet elegant-looking MPV. The main assent of this vehicle is its interior since it gives you a taste of luxury, and offers flexible cargo loading options. The way I see it, the GAC GN6 is for car buyers that are on the market for an MPV that could separate itself from the sea of Innovas, and differentiate itself from its flashy Chinese counterparts.      

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