2021 GAC GS5 Review: A Crossover Worth Your Attention

Introduction

The all-new 2021 GAC GS5 made its UAE debut, and to celebrate it, I decided to surprise my colleague Anas with a hearty lunch at Dubai’s glitzy City Walk. Following our experience with the GAC GS8 approximately a year ago, Anas was thoroughly impressed with GACs in general, so I was quite keen to know what he’d think of the brand’s newest crossover.

First Impressions

Right from the get-go, Anas was in awe. The intricate design of the headlights captured his attention from the moment he laid eyes on it, and he couldn’t wait to know more about the GS5. The interior design and quality were impressive by all standards, and Anas was quick to point out the similarity between the GAC GS5 and the all-new Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

Design Influences

For those wondering, there’s actually a reason behind that. The designer, Zhang Fan, worked at Mercedes-Benz for nearly 8 years before joining GAC Motor, and some design influences have been carried over. However, remember, the GS5 was launched before the new S-Class, so the real question is: who copied who?

Interior Quality and Features

Keeping that aside, the cabin is laced with supple leather and soft-touch materials, giving it a well-built feel. Although the designers have opted for a rather minimalistic approach, the engineers ensured the GS5 is packed with features:

• Sunroof
• Power-adjustable seats
• Cruise control
• Wireless charger
• Dual-zone climate control system
• Rear camera
• Tire pressure monitoring system

Exterior Features

After experiencing the passenger seat for long enough, Anas asked me to pull over, wanting to see if the GAC GS5 was as impressive on the outside as it was on the inside. The grey color on our test car is just one of six available colors on the Chinese crossover. Despite the bodywork being embellished with plenty of curves and lines, it doesn’t look silly at all!

The 18-inch alloys do a great job of filling up the wheel arches. As mentioned earlier, the headlights on the GAC GS5 are not ordinary; they are Matrix LED headlights, similar to those found in an Audi or even a Bugatti Chiron!

Driving Experience

After kindly (sort of) asking me to scoot over to the passenger seat, Anas jumped into the driver’s seat and quickly realized how smooth the ride was. He also pointed out how accurate the steering was and how well-insulated the cabin felt. Interestingly, the GAC GS5 is actually quieter than the Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, and even the BMW X1 when idling and driving!

From a power perspective, the GS5 churns out 166 horsepower and 265 Nm of torque from a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine. The six-speed automatic transmission is quick in its shifts and allows drivers to shift cogs manually. Moreover, there are three drive modes (Eco, Snow, and Normal) to suit varying conditions.

Braking System

To keep up with the power, the GS5 is equipped with a set of ITT brake pads. Contrary to Anas’ intelligent guess, ITT does not stand for Intelligent Traction Technology; instead, it is an Italian manufacturer of brake pads for sports cars. Combine that with the Continental tires fitted on this GS5, and believe it or not, it can stop faster than a Porsche 911, Audi R8, and McLaren 570 from 100 km/h!

Conclusion

Following our drive, we headed to Farzi Café located at Dubai’s City Walk. The welcome, ambiance, and food were all out of this world. After a quick bite, we got back to discussing the GAC GS5, and while the 90,200 Dirham price tag might seem steep at first, the quality, design, and features surpass rivals in this price range.

To boost sales further, Gargash Group has introduced a stellar leasing program on all GAC models with:

• No down payments
• No bank approvals
• No service or maintenance costs
• No insurance
• No registration costs

You literally just pay for your petrol, Salik, and drive! We don’t think it gets better than that. Additionally, you can always get the best car insurance quotes while saving time and money from InsuranceMarket.ae™.