GAC M8 PHEV Luxury 2026 Review

It isn’t often a Chinese challenger is more expensive than legacy brands that play in the same segment. However, at $83,590 before on-road costs, the 2026 GAC M8 PHEV Luxury is already $6750 more expensive than the most costly Kia Carnival GT-Line HEV.

For many, that will be seen as a stumbling block considering they’re being asked to, essentially, take a punt on a new brand while also paying a premium for the privilege. Yet, the GAC has a trump card – and that’s luxury.

The variant we’re testing here is aptly named as it aims to be a cut-price Lexus LM or Mercedes-Benz V-Class more than a jazzed-up Kia Carnival.

If you’re willing to forgo a few niceties, the entry-level M8 Premium asks $75,590 (+ORCs), bringing it more in line with range-topping variants of the Kia Carnival, Hyundai Staria and Ford Tourneo. Although GAC also has home-grown competition from the just-released, but all electric, Denza D9.

There’s visual impact, and then there’s the gargantuan grille of the 2026 GAC M8 PHEV Luxury. Combined with the detailed LED headlights and daytime running lights, LED taillights and chrome 18-inch alloys (with Rolls Royce-style floating centre caps), it is no shrinking violet.

Just watch that low chin spoiler at the front on driveways. She’s a scraper.

Even in the Blade White hue of our test car, this Chinese challenger makes a statement. Just disregard the ‘Master’ badging. It has nothing to do with Australia but, oddly, hasn’t been removed for our market, either.

The powered doors and tailgate (with sensor opening) as well as the sunroofs are nice inclusions and justifying the value of the Luxury model is the flush list of standard features. The cabin uses high-grade half-aniline leather throughout, while the front seats are power adjustable – eight-way driver with lumbar, four-way passenger. They’re also heated.

But the stars of the show are the two captain’s chairs that dominate the second row. They’re trick units with 10-point air pump massage functionality, heating and ventilation, leg rests with four-way adjustment, USB ports, 58-degree recline angle and their own armrest-mounted LCD screen. Yep, the burger with the lot.

Other niceties are a heated steering wheel, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, manual sunshades (second row), tri-zone climate control and an air quality sensor. The only option is the second paint colour – which is Elegant Black for $1200.

The M8 is covered by GAC’s seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, while the battery gains an eight-year/200,000km plan. Five years of roadside assistance is also complimentary.

Servicing is every 12 months or 15,000km, while the first five years (or 75,000km) of garage visits will set you back $3176.

The 2026 GAC M8 PHEV Luxury is yet to be tested by ANCAP and runs without a safety rating. It’s fitted with seven airbags, including the 3.2-metre-long curtain airbags that extend to the third row.

It comes with a host of active safety tech like autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with forward collision warning, rear AEB, traffic jam assist, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning with lane keeping, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert and road sign detection.

Despite the oversized dimensions, there’s help at hand while parking because the M8 Luxury is fitted with six parking sensors front and rear, reverse driver assist, auto parking assist, a reversing camera and 360-degree panoramic view monitor.

A sign of the MPVs age is a lack of driver fatigue detection, but it’s a boon in terms of fewer bings and bongs to annoy the driver should they deign to look at their passenger. There are also two versions of the cruise control – one is intrusive and the other is less so. Unfortunately, like other Chinese products, the cruise control can overtly cut road speed on anything but a straight highway.

The tech package is decent rather than outstanding in the 2026 GAC M8 PHEV Luxury. If you’re looking for the 17.3-inch monitor in the rear that’s offered in overseas markets, you’ll be disappointed to not find it.

Screen acreage is down for the central infotainment display, too. A 10.1-inch touchscreen isn’t oversized in modern times, and its operating system doesn’t dazzle with slickness or appealing graphics. The slider controls that flank it aren’t overtly intuitive, either.

With a 12.3-inch LCD panel, the instrument cluster is useful and, unlike some Chinese brands, the trip computer is detailed with more than just the last 50km-worth of data. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are in there, while the eight-speaker audio system by Yamaha is pretty good.

Elsewhere the M8 Luxury gains a wireless charge pad, Bluetooth, DAB+ digital radio, USB ports and a voice assistant. However, GAC doesn’t supply its MPV with native satnav, Over-the-Air updates or connected services.

On paper, 274kW and 630Nm sounds like a recipe for disaster considering the 2026 GAC M8 PHEV Luxury is limited to front-wheel drive. And to a point, it almost is.

In practice, the experience isn’t as hectic considering the 2.4-tonne MPV is quoted at 8.8 seconds from zero to 100km/h. And thankfully, GAC has fitted the M8 Luxury with higher-grade Michelin e-Primacy tyres for much-needed grip. The performance is also more subdued than the power and torque figures suggest.

It gains that grunt via a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol combustion engine that delivers 140kW and 330Nm. Joining it is a 134kW and 300Nm electric motor that gains current from a sizeable 25.57kWh battery pack.

As stated, everything is channelled to the front axle alone via a two-speed dedicated hybrid transmission. It doesn’t drone or sound too strained like some CVT-equipped systems can, but the M8 can at times become confused as to which power sources are required to meet throttle inputs.

While there are myriad plug-in hybrid SUVs on the market, at the time of writing, the 2026 GAC M8 PHEV is the first (and only) people mover to harness this type of powertrain.

Bold range and efficiency claims have been made, too, with the seven-seat MPV’s projected combined range being 1032km with an EV-only distance of 106km. The official combined consumption figure is 1.3L/100km, but the more realistic number is 6.05L/100km while sustaining charge.

That’s impressive stuff for a 5.2-metre long, 2420kg people mover.

Noteably, with a large portion of EV-only driving within city limits to glean a more accurate reading (you’re welcome, it took hours), the GAC M8 racked up 104.9km before the petrol unit kicked in. Impressive.

Throughout the week of testing, which included charging from public stations and via the M8 itself, the fuel consumption averaged 5.5L/100km with an energy consumption rate of 19.4kWh/100km.

Interestingly, zapping the battery from 30 to 80 per cent while driving took about 60km to do so and saw the consumption rise to 10.6L/100km. Long story short, plug in if you don’t want to scull the 95 RON unleaded out of the 56-litre tank.

Affording the range is GAC’s ‘Magazine Battery’ – which is a significant 25.57kWh lithium-ion phosphate unit. Charging times aren’t too bad for a PHEV either, with the M8 accepting up to a 39kW DC rate for a zero to 80 per cent replenishment taking 30 minutes.

The single-phase AC rate maxes out at a less remarkable 6.6kW, meaning a full charge takes 3.5 hours using a dedicated wallbox or public charger. The Luxury also has V2L capability, meaning it can power things like household appliances and camping gear via the 220V outlet and 3.3kW discharge rate.

Expectations here should be pretty low and as it stands the sales-dominating Kia Carnival sets the benchmark.

The 2026 GAC M8 PHEV Luxury does an amicable job of attempting to shrink its dimensions. With time you get used to them, and thanks to a plethora of sensors and cameras, it isn’t too hard to manoeuvre in the city or suburbia.

Helping defy the laws of physics is GAC’s Electromagnetic Damping Suspension (SDC).

The intended purpose is to smooth the ride quality and minimise body roll when cornering. It does an admirable job, with the M8 PHEV Luxury covering bumpy tarmac with compliance most of the time. It also resists the urge to roll or wallow excessively mid-corner.

Yes, it’s impossible to truly escape its size and weight on a winding country road, but the GAC’s dynamics are above average for the segment. Even the controls, like the steering response and brake pedal feel in-tune with this style of vehicle.

There are drive modes (Eco, Comfort and Sport), but hovering between Eco and Comfort worked best for this driver.

For all that, the M8 lacks an all-wheel drive layout to provide sorely needed tyre purchase. Inclement weather highlights just how much the front axle scabbles for traction – especially when steering lock is applied. And in certain cases, the e-Primacy tyres want to smoke up and fry like its Summernats before the traction control kicks in.

Of course, extra driven wheels would increase the price and hamper fuel consumption, but it would be a worthwhile inclusion given there’s 274kW and 630Nm at play. Even adding width to the 225-section tyres all round would be of benefit.

This is where the 2026 GAC M8 PHEV Luxury must win over chauffeur drivers and growing families alike… but also justify the price.

Thankfully, the M8’s cabin looks appealing despite a mix of colours and textures being mashed together. The high-end leather adds tangible quality, too, while the fit and finish are generally up to scratch.

While the fake crystal swivel wheel is a polarising addition, the changeable ambient lighting adds mood to the interior space.

But honestly, it’s all about the captain’s chairs. The middle row really is the place to be. You can really stretch out in comfort and get a massage, while the heating/ventilation can be adjusted ‘just so’ for all conditions.

The LCD touchscreens that double as controllers are handy, too, while the fold-out tray tables make you feel like you’re on a business-class flight (despite one of them failing in our test vehicle).

It’s just a shame there isn’t a big screen to kick back and watch or a partition to block out the front of the cabin.

And having to slide between the two chairs to access the third row isn’t the most elegant solution. Although, when you get back there, the rearmost seats do have genuine head and legroom, and fitting three abreast is doable.

GAC has infused the M8 with pragmatic touches too. For instance, the interior is filled with 15 hooks, 15 storage boxes and 14 cup holders – so that everyone is thoroughly hydrated.

The Chinese brand makes bold claims about reduced NVH levels thanks to the 108 sound-insulation panels, acoustic glass and noise-cancellation tech, but the cabin isn’t quite as hushed as one might’ve hoped. Our tester also had some rattles at highway speeds.

Boot space? Good and bad. With every pew occupied, boot space is limited to 280 litres, which expands to a maximum of 1500L with seats stowed (doing so is a manual exercise). It’s still a useable load area but isn’t as commodious as the Kia Carnival’s 627/2785L totals.

On one hand, the 2026 GAC M8 PHEV is a hard sell given it’s more expensive than most of the traditional people-mover fraternity. The fact you can pick up a top-spec Kia Carnival HEV for a lot less money is telling.

You’re also forced to take a punt on a new marque, a new brand. One that hasn’t had decades of proof in the pudding.

Yet, if you’re after a seven-seater with a level of luxe to rival the Lexus LM for half the price, the M8 makes a lot more sense. It’s just that this is a very small pool to throw a line in, one where bites would appear to be few and far between.

While MPVs or people movers won’t ever be seen as status symbols in Australia like they are in GAC’s homeland of China, there’s substance within the M8 and its plug-in powertrain.

It also proves family buyers would be wise to rethink that SUV purchase.

2026 GAC M8 PHEV Luxury at a glance:
Price:? $83,590 (plus on-road costs)
Available:? Now
Powertrain:? 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol electric
Output:? 140kW/330Nm (electric motor: 134kW/300Nm)
Combined output:? 274kW/630Nm
Transmission:? Continuously variable automatic
Battery: 25.57kWh lithium-ion phosphate
Range: 1032km (106km electric only)
Fuel:? 1.3L/100km
CO2:? 228g/km (ADR combined)
Safety rating:? Untested

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