GAC GS4

The GS4 utilized hexagonal elements for the interior features. The steering wheel, instrument cluster, airconditioning vents, and center console are grouped together in chrome hexagonal sets. The cabin itself is spacious and includes a handful of premium touches such as leather upholstery, automatic climate control, a sunroof, and rear airconditioning vents. Unfortunately, the rear seats aren’t reclining so there’s no additional cargo space. It does offer a multitude of convenience features such as space to hold phones and cups for both front and rear passengers. The infotainment system also includes integrated tire pressure monitoring, Bluetooth audio, and a hookup display.

GAC describes the front fascia of the GS4 as “Flying Dynamics” due to its winged grille. This is flanked by vertical strips of DRLs near the fog lamps and projector headlamps. The body features a solid boxy shape with strong horizontal lines and shadows that is dubbed by the carmaker as “Light and Shadow Sculpture.” Running from the split shoulder to the rear doors is a sharp cut that gives the vehicle a touch of sleekness. This also makes the front shoulder look a bit more lifted while the lower rear shoulder slopes to make the area below the D-pillar look slimmer for some sporty elements. Tying it together are chrome touches that can be found all around the vehicle. 

Riding at high rpm can often lead to a drop-off in boost which also affects the ride performance of the vehicle. This means it can take approximately 11.85 seconds to go from 0 to 100 kmph. Drivers have the option of using the +/- manual toggle feature located on the shift lever in order to work around this, but the response can still be slow. We recommend staying on mid-range torque by throttling back to keep the vehicle stable. Fuel economy isn’t as impressive compared to other compact crossovers. However, considering that the GS4 is powered by a naturally aspirated engine, it’s still enough. Though what’s great about the GS4 is that it definitely has a much better driving experience compared to most Chinese-brand crossovers. Despite the large tires, it manages to absorb bumps well, though the lack of handling verve prevents it from using it to its full advantage. The steering can also tend to feel a bit lighter than comfortable when maneuvering.

The GS4 is powered by a 1.5-litre 4A15M1 engine and was developed to go up against the VW’s EA211 1.4 turbo engine. It can generate 150 hp and 235 Nm of torque thanks to a low-inertia turbocharger and Bosch direct injection which is mated to an Aisin six-speed automatic transmission--which is allegedly much quicker than the Geely Coolray one.

The GS4 is equipped with cameras outfitted all around the vehicle, plus a top-down 360 mode, to make parking safer and easier. It is also equipped with a multitude of safety features such as an electronic parking brake, hill hold control, and courtesy lighting that are built directly into the mirrors. Standard safety features include a driver airbag, a passenger airbag, a side airbag-front, child safety locks, anti-lock braking system with electronic brake distribution, brake assist, vehicle stability control system, height-adjustable front seatbelts, parking sensors, crash sensors, and front and side-impact beams.

The compact crossover segment is a particularly crowded market. For its price, the GAC GS4 is still a relatively impressive model. With the entry of numerous Chinese crossovers as well, the GS4 still manages to hold its own against the competition and can be slated among the more up-there, premium models. Its Japanese rivals may still dominate the market, but the GS4 can be a strong contender.