The Ultimate Luxury MPV: GAC M8 Makes its Grand Entrance in Vietnam, Starting at 1.699 Billion VND, Aiming to Rival the Toyota Alphard

The GAC M8 is positioned as a more affordable alternative to the Toyota Alphard and Volkswagen Viloran in the Vietnamese market. While it carries a higher price tag than the Kia Carnival, the M8 offers a compelling package that challenges its more established rivals. With a competitive price point and a host of features, the GAC M8 is poised to make its mark in the competitive MPV segment.

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On August 20, 2024, Chinese automotive giant GAC Motor officially introduced the M8, a large MPV, to the Vietnamese market. Positioned as a rival to the Toyota Alphard and Volkswagen Viloran, rather than the Kia Carnival, the GAC M8 is offered in three variants with prices ranging from VND 1.699 billion to VND 2.199 billion.

Variant Price (VND)
GAC M8 GL Master 1,699,000,000
GAC M8 GT Master 1,799,000,000
GAC M8 GX Master 2,199,000,000

GAC M8 price list in Vietnam.

With these price points, the GAC M8 is more affordable than the Toyota Alphard and Volkswagen Viloran currently available in Vietnam. However, compared to the Kia Carnival, it carries a significantly higher price tag.

Built on the Megastar platform, the GAC M8 boasts impressive dimensions: 5,212 mm in length, 1,940 mm in width, and 1,823 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3,070 mm. Thus, it surpasses the Toyota Alphard and Kia Carnival in size but falls short when compared to the Volkswagen Viloran.

The GAC M8 is larger than both the Toyota Alphard and the Kia Carnival.

Externally, this large MPV from China bears a striking resemblance to the “land cruiser” Toyota Alphard in terms of design. It features a massive grille, inspired by the image of a lion, with 10 chrome-plated bars extending from the hood to the front bumper, creating a memorable visual effect.

The GAC M8 sports a large grille.

Complementing the front end are LED headlights with automatic adjustment, turn indicators, guide lights, and adaptive functionality with 388 LEDs. The front bumper also includes a silver trim with the “Master” inscription and two narrow air intakes.

A closer look at the GAC M8’s front lighting setup.

The side profile draws inspiration from the “Star Diamond Shadow” design language, featuring sharp diamond-cut surfaces. Here, the vehicle showcases 18-inch alloy wheels with a multi-spoke design that evokes the image of a moving galaxy in motion. Additionally, electric sliding doors on both sides enhance convenience.

18-inch alloy wheels on the top-of-the-line GAC M8 variant.

The standard variant also features 18-inch wheels but with a different design.

At the rear, the GAC M8 showcases a design inspired by the “Time Gate,” evident in the inverted U-shaped taillights that echo the shape of the headlights. Electric tailgate functionality further enhances the convenience of loading and unloading cargo.

Rear view of the GAC M8.

Step inside, and you’ll find a spacious 7-seat cabin with three rows of seats. The seats are upholstered in leather and offer 12-way power adjustment for the driver, 4-way lumbar support, and memory function for the driver’s seat. The middle row comprises two separate business-class seats with leg rests, cooling, heating, and 10-point massage functions with varying intensities. The last row can slide forward or backward as needed.

Middle row of the GAC M8.

Additionally, the GAC M8 impresses with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 14.6-inch central touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, an 8-speaker sound system, multi-color ambient lighting, tri-zone automatic climate control with a fragrance diffusion system, and a dual-pane sunroof.

GAC M8’s driver-oriented cockpit.

Central control cluster of the vehicle.

As expected of a vehicle in this price range, the GAC M8 is equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features. In addition to the standard 7 airbags, it boasts advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) such as hill descent control, a 360-degree camera, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, pre-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, traffic jam assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert with braking, front and rear collision mitigation, rear collision warning, and emergency lane-keeping.

The GAC M8 is packed with advanced ADAS features.

One standout feature is the FAPA automatic parking system. Utilizing surround-view cameras and sensors, FAPA can automatically search for parking spots on either side of the vehicle, plan and calculate the parking trajectory, and control the steering wheel and vehicle speed during the parking maneuver.

Under the hood, the GAC M8 is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that generates a maximum output of 248 horsepower and 400 Nm of torque. This engine is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission from Aisin, driving the front wheels. Drivers can select from three driving modes: Eco, Comfort, and Sport.

As predicted, the GAC M8 in Vietnam is equipped with a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine.

  • 7-year or 150,000-kilometer warranty, whichever comes first.
  • Free 24/7 roadside assistance for 7 years or 150,000 kilometers, whichever comes first.
  • Free labor for maintenance services for 7 years or 150,000 kilometers, whichever comes first (for scheduled maintenance only). The first 5,000 kilometers are completely free of charge.

Furthermore, until September 30, 2024, customers who purchase the GAC M8 will receive a complimentary Ice Cool heat-insulating film worth VND 19 million. GAC vehicles in Vietnam are imported and distributed by TC Services Vietnam (TCSV), a subsidiary of the Malaysian conglomerate Tan Chong.

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