GAC GA4 Review: A New Contender in the Sedan Market

The GAC GA4 is the Chinese automaker GAC Trumpchi’s take on the Toyota Corolla, Hyundai Elantra, and the Honda Civic. It is positioned above the GA3 in its fleet of cars. Providing a niche offering to the masses, here's what we can expect from it when it hits our shores in the near future.

Exterior

To describe the GA4 in one word, it looks subtle. It doesn’t look as exciting as other Chinese cars. However, this is not to say it looks ugly at all. Take a first glance at it and you will be drawn towards its grille, which has been outlined in chrome almost entirely, where the bold GAC logo sits. It carries the usual treatment of LED DRLs, with blue inserts to enhance its appeal. The chiseled fog lamps look aggressive yet sophisticated.

Viewed from the side, the GA4 looks hefty with its tall proportions and flowing lines running across the side profile. The fenders are minimalistic, but the 5-spoke machined alloy wheels look youthful.

The only interesting element highlighting the back is the swept-back tail lamps and the rather bulky boot. The glass area is wide and looks proportionate with the rest of its design. The car measures:

• Length: 4692 mm
• Width: 1805 mm
• Height: 1500 mm
• Wheelbase: 2660 mm

Interior

While the exterior seems to be an acquired taste, inside, it’s a story worth remembering. The instrument cluster is big enough to read and provides all the car’s information.

On the center console, you're likely to find an 8” infotainment display screen with functions for Bluetooth and AUX compatibility, reverse parking camera, etc. Below that, you have the automatic climate control and AC functions. Additionally, you may get the Passive Entry Passive Start (PEPS) feature and smart memory linkage for the driver’s seat.

Regarding safety, the GA4 is likely to come equipped with:

• Six airbags
• High strength steel body
• ABS and EBD

Engine and Performance

We predict that GAC will most likely bring the chunkier 1.3-liter turbo gasoline drivetrain to the UAE, which produces a meaty 137 hp and 202 Nm of torque, coupled with a 6-speed automatic transmission. We do not expect it to accelerate rapidly, but it should provide linear acceleration from the motor. The figures might be slightly lesser than its rivals, but it will get the job done.

Verdict

When launched in the UAE, we expect the GAC GA4 to be priced around the AED 60K mark for the base trim, making it more affordable than its competition. For the money, it offers as much technology as its rivals, if not more, and the turbocharged engine has similar capabilities too. GAC has been in the market for a reasonable time but hasn’t secured a top position on buyers’ lists. That said, GAC is aiming to achieve greater heights with the GA4's launch. We believe that the GA4 builds a strong case for itself; it has attractive looks, a posh cabin, considerable tech features, a powerful engine, and good legroom at the back.