GAC GS3 - First impression

GAC continues to walk down the road which it hopes would lead to a better presence in the Philippines. It already had 5 underrated products in the country and with the launch of the new GS3, it just added one more. Yes, that’s right. GAC has brought its brand-new GS3, a subcompact crossover.

GAC GS3 is expected to fulfil the demand for modern lifestyle vehicles in the Philippines. Well, the car itself indeed looks quite modern from the outside. So let’s see what it has got to offer.

Honestly speaking, the GS3 looks quite mature for a car of its size. Well, at least from the front it does, thanks to its large chrome grille which consists of three horizontal slats and bear the brand’s logo in the middle.

We also think that the headlight design and the placement of simple yet attractive LED daytime running lights also play a crucial role in GS3’s mature look. The front bumper looks pretty neat and keeps things sporty whereas the fog lamp housings have some smooth and calm curves.

GAC has done a good job with the design of the LED tail lamps of the GS3. They feature a unique triangular shape which could work as one of the signature elements of the car. There’s also a roof-mounted rear spoiler for the added sportiness. In fact, GAC also added a couple of exhaust outlets that are surrounded by chrome however it is quite likely that they are there just for the show.

While all these elements of the rear of the GS3 look great individually, it’s a bit disappointing to say that together they don’t draw a pleasing picture. The rear end of the car looks somewhat out of proportion. Don’t you think so?

However, we do like what GAC has done on the side of the GS3 to give it a more premium look. There is a floating-roof type design which enhances the road presence of the car. And thanks to the roof rails, we also get a bit of that rugged appearance. Overall, we would say that the GAC GS3 pulls off just the right strings to keep things going.

How good is the interior of the GAC GS3?

Ans. We would say that GAC has done a pretty decent job with the interior of the GS3. Considering the segment that the GS3 falls in, it offers satisfactory features on the inside. We like the 3-spoke steering wheel which has numerous mounted controls. The instrument cluster behind it looks fairly modern but nothing extraordinary.

One thing that gets prominent while being inside the GAC GS3 is the shape of the AC vents as well as the centre console in the dashboard. They have rounded edges which are kind of soothing to the eyes. Talking about the centre console, the GS3 gets an 8-in TFT infotainment system that features Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity.

What are the engine options available with the GAC GS3?

Ans. There are two engine options listed in the GAC GS3 specs sheet. The first is a 1.3-litre engine that produces 136 hp and the second one is a 1.5-litre unit that is slightly less powerful and produces 113 hp.

Engine config	1.3-litre turbocharged	1.5-litre naturally-aspirated
Max power output	136 hp	113 hp
Max torque output	202 Nm	150 Nm
Transmission	6-speed automatic

What safety features do we have in the GAC GS3?

Ans. GAC has provided a handful of safety features in the GS3. Of course, they aren’t going to be the most advanced safety features that are available in the industry today but they are surely better than having none.

• Electronic stability control
• ABS with EBD
• Traction Control System (TCS)
• Hydraulic Brake Assist (HBA)
• Hill-start Hold Control (HHC)
• Hill Descent Control (HDC)
• Electronic parking brake with auto-hold

GAC GS3 has given us a good first impression. We are looking forward to getting our hands on one of its variants to know more about it. Talking about the variants, the GS3 is available in two variants - 1.5 GS and 1.3 GE - and both of them come with 5 colour options - Brown, Black, Yellow, Red and White.

GAC GS3 price list-

Variant	Price
GAC GS3 1.5 GS	Php 888,000
GAC GS3 1.3 GE	Php 1.06 million

 

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