The GAC brand has officially landed in Malaysia, with the first model being introduced here being the GS3. Making its launch debut today, sales and aftersales of the B-segment SUV are handled by Warisan Tan Chong Automotif (WTCA), a subsidiary of Warisan TC Holdings which entered into an exclusive agreement with GAC Motor International on November 30, 2021.
The GAC GS3 arrives in facelifted form as a fully-imported (CBU) model, and is available in two trim levels, starting with the Standard that is priced at RM88,800 and followed by the Premium at RM96,800. These are on-the-road prices without insurance and factor in the sales tax exemption (50%) that has been extended through June 30, 2022.
Each purchase is accompanied by a five-year/150,000-km warranty as well as five free labour services applicable within three years/100,000 km. The Standard variant can be had in Lunar Grey, Ivory White or Starlight Silver, while the Premium gets two two-tone paint schemes of Rosefinch Red and Ivory White – both with black roofs – as well as a single monotone option of Lunar Grey with a body-coloured roof.
In terms of dimensions, the GS3 measures 4,358 mm long, 1,825 mm wide, 1,660 mm/1,685 mm tall (with/without roof rails) and has a wheelbase spanning 2,560 mm. Compared to the popular Proton X50, which also occupies the same B-segment SUV space, the GS3 occupies a larger footprint in terms of length (+28 mm), width (+25 mm) and height (+51 mm/76 mm), but loses out in terms of wheelbase (-40 mm) – it’s the same story with the Honda HR-V too.
Other details include a boot space of 356 litres, which can be expanded to 780 litres when the 60:40-split rear seats are folded flat. The GS3 also gets MacPherson struts at the front, a rear torsion beam, all around disc brakes and electric power steering.
Regardless of trim level, the GS3 is powered by a 1.5 litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine that serves up 114 PS (113 hp) at 6,000 rpm and 150 Nm of torque at 4,500 rpm. Drive is sent to the front wheels via an Aisin-sourced six-speed torque converter automatic transmission, with the rated fuel consumption being 6.9 l/100 km (14.5 km/l) followed the NEDC standard.
As for equipment, the Standard gets 17-inch alloy wheels (with 215/60 profile tyres), halogen projector headlamps, LED taillights, power adjustable side mirrors, fabric and leatherette upholstery, an Eco drive mode, manual air-conditioning (with a PM2.5 air filter), manual front seats, an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and phone mirroring support.
On the safety front, the Standard comes with four airbags, ABS, EBD, Electronic Stability Programme, brake assist, hill start assist, hill descent control, blind spot monitoring, a rearview camera and Isofix child seat anchors.
The Premium builds upon the Standard and is distinguished from the outside by its front fog lamps, power-folding side mirrors, shark fin antenna, and with the mentioned colour schemes, a roof, roof rails and side mirror caps in black.
Other features that are added to the Premium include a 3.5-inch LCD instrument cluster display, keyless entry and engine start, purely leatherette upholstery, a second-row centre seat headrest and armrest as well as two more airbags (for a total of six).
Car buyers who are interested in the GS3 can check out the SUV at the new and dedicated GAC showroom located at Lot 72, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, 51200 Kuala Lumpur. According to WTCA, more showrooms are planned outside of Klang Valley in the future.
With a price range not exceeding RM100k, the GS3’s closest rival ringgit-wise is the X50, with other B-segment SUVs like the HR-V and Mazda CX-3 being priced above that point. What are your thoughts on the GS3?
GALLERY: 2022 GAC Motor GS3 Premium
GALLERY: 2022 GAC Motor GS3 Standard
GALLERY: 2022 GAC Motor GS3 official photos
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Same spec as X50. X50 is CKD and GS3 is CBU but same price range
Hello.. NA vs Turbo..big different +
RM76k vs RM 88k. Where got same price range dude?
Cheaper than HRV.
I have a feeling this won’t really sell.
Oh No, without the turbo engine this is likely a slowpoke for many even when the writer compares to the size of HRV and the X50 but power is left very much to be desired when the vehicle is larger.
Not necessary to have turbo. Little problem and not cheap to maintain
No turbo powered for this 1.5 just make this buddy lazy to move around
tak cantik ni compare to x50 and ativa
Front looks bold
Rear looks sleeker
Inside looks cool
Sure, why not? Honda level reliability is getting bad these days. If this CingCong brand or whatever the name is can be better even slightly than Honda, why not!
Agreed!
TC always introduce these weird models to the market. Not sure what their marketing is trying to do. Remember Renaukt Fluence? Bison pickup? JMC pickup?
These GS3 is neither exciting enough to compete with X50 nor is cheap enough to take on BRV or maybe Ativa.
Introducing wierd models? disagree!
Maybe A better value car than Kia Seltos 1.6NA RM115k-RM133k.
More competitors = better choice for customers
True statement in general, but this seems like Tan Chong didn’t really do their market research… The market for a CBU car at this price range simply doesn’t exist when other alternatives are priced more competitively.
I’d think we malaysian consumers would like a desirable brand to drive. And this brand’s desirability is 0
Can consider
Base spec similar to X50 Standard but comes at Rm10k more? Suicide!
Premium spec loses to X50 Premium as it not have TPMS plus being Rm3k more.
And not even a high end variant with ADAS. WTH WTCA!
How to compare with Proton with national car status? WTCA has tried their best to offer Malaysian another choice for B segment SUV. Thank you.
Firstly, they could have CKD from the start like X50. They could easily do that with help from sister company TCMA car assembler but instead they chosen to CBU with such price tag. They did not do enough here.
Secondly, they could spend the budget to up the specs instead of paying online trolls to come and downvote critical comments for telling the truth. I’d like to see PaulTan trash Tan Chong for not equipping with AEB option and giving safety kit on par with 1 year old X50.
Yeah, and 150Nm moving 1300kg ?
TC has been smoking some weird shit past decade. Even the superior Almera if priced a few K cheaper would have wiped the floor w Vios, City..
Maybe that is why this vehicle uses 6 speed gearbox?
With the right gearing, anything can ‘move’. Just like when we ride our bicycle.
Not bad specs. At least got ADAS
Where does it say got ADAS in any spec? I hope their salesmen are not coming here giving wrong info. There is no AEB much less ADAS.
Anything that tan Chong touches won’t excel. At price higher than x50 with NA and skimmed spec, it’s waste of money to launch. Just not competive enough.
Looking good
What???? No turbo?
not much in the safety department
Nissan should focus on bring in more better and refreshing model for them. So bored with current their models
Honestly, the specs are not competitive enough, especially the Premium variant. No RCTA, Cruise Control, LED Headlights, AEB, 360 Degree Camera, LDW, Lane Keep Assist and etc. It will be hard to compete with the X50 Flagship or even the Ativa AV. The only advantage it has is pricing and bigger dimensions. Reliability? Can’t really say since it’s a new brand that is still unproven. Everything will be fine and dandy when new but can it stand the test of time, after the warranty expires? Hard to match the Japanese’s (Perodua) reliability whereby they are using Toyota and Daihatsu’s technologies.
I think NA Engine is good enough than turbo. Turbo is improper engine that causes problems like oil leak and turbo lag and very costlier to maintain than NA Engines
Costlier on maintenance for turbo? There is no option to service turbo kit even after 120k km. Turbo lag is obvious in high output car. Turbo with less than 250nm output the turbo lag is not apparent. For size like SUV and heavy in weight I highly recommend to take turbocharged.
I have spent some time on Ativa and HRV for weeks, even though Ativa engine is smaller and less powerful on paper but driving Ativa feel more effortless than HRV because the torque kick in earlier.
Very nice look
Price not competative with Toyota Vios 1.5 and Proton X50.
typical tan chong.. weird models, ultra low spec, high prices
Nice interior
I would prefer Honda, Toyota, Produa and Proton.
Any car brand that is distributed by tan Chong motor, That car brand will gone. Tan Chong motor will try to gain the higher possible profit by squeeze the spec and sell it in high price. Like what happen in the first generation of Nissan Almera or living, the spec that those first generation offer is very low and yet they sell it to customer in very high price.
This GS3 launched is encouraging more people to go for X50. 114ps 150nm to move the 1300kg body, the car gonna feel sluggish in move.
At this price and spec most will take X50 or Ativa over the GS3.
Good luck to Tan Chong, but I am afraid it’s gonna fall flat on their face. It’s overpriced and undervalued, plus it’s a relatively unknown brand here in Malaysia. The mediocre engine and lack of gadgets will make sure that it will sell only but a few for the asking price. If they had not been so greedy and brought in the GS3 270T instead for the price, then it could pose a challenge to P1 and P2.
It’s 2023.
I haven’t seen any of these cars, and it seems the branch remains one?