There was once a time when luxury MPVs in Singapore were more or less the exclusive playground of Toyota’s Alphard and Vellfire duo. One brought comfort, the other a touch of flair, and between them they monopolised the narrative of family-hauling opulence.

Since then, the Chinese marques have stormed the palace gates, armed not just with flashy styling and OLED screens, but with serious engineering and perhaps, even more importantly, a fresh perspective.

Unlike other marques who debut their latest and greatest EVs, GAC has brought in their PHEV-powered Trojan horse, the E9.

It may not shout the loudest, nor does it come with the glitz of a fold-down flatscreen or champagne chiller. But take a closer look, and you’ll find that the E9 is quietly confident in all the right places.

A Familiar Face With A Chinese Signature

At first glance, it’s easy to accuse the E9 of déjà vu. Its upright, boxy profile echoes more than a few of its Japanese rivals, while the oversized grille proudly dubbed the “Thunderous Wing” recalls the original Lexus LM’s controversial spindle snout. 

Inspired by a lion’s face (or so the designers insist), the DRLs sweep dramatically from the corners of the fascia, trace the edges of the grille, and deliver a theatrical light show every time you lock or unlock the car.

The taillights jut out like architectural buttresses, embracing the tailgate in a chunky but distinctive manner.

While GAC only offers the E9 in black or white, the sheer road presence and chrome-clad aggression leave little doubt that this is business (class) on wheels.

Plush, Practical, and Purpose-Built

To sit in the driver’s seat first would be missing the point. In the E9, the throne lies in the second row, where a pair of captain’s chairs await like invitations to a spa session.

Cushioned by thick foam and wrapped in buttery-soft leather, these seats are the true stars of the show. Reclining, ventilated, massaging, and fully adjustable via their own embedded LCD touchscreens, they’re engineered for executives, not enthusiasts. You can practically feel the boardroom stress melting away with each rolling massage cycle.

That said, the E9’s creature comforts don’t reach for gimmicks. There’s no dramatic ceiling-mounted TV or pop-out minibar, but you do get heated and cooled cupholders, a household-grade power socket, and two cleverly placed 1.5-metre air vents flanking the ceiling to quietly flood the cabin with chilled air.

The panoramic sunroof sparkles with diamond-studded ambient lighting. Classy without being kitsch.

Access to the third row is refreshingly drama-free, thanks to the 2+2+3 layout, and there’s actually decent headroom and legroom for full-sized adults back there, though a slightly larger window wouldn’t go amiss. Still, the presence of dedicated speakers and armrests back here makes it feel more like business economy than cattle class.

Need space for luggage instead of legroom? Fold the third row up via a neat flip mechanism and you unlock a cavernous 1,500 litres of cargo capacity, enough to ferry an entire golf tournament’s worth of gear.

Old-School Soul, Modern-Day Mind

Step up front and you’ll find that the E9’s cockpit doesn’t scream bleeding-edge tech. The graphics on the large screens are colourful and competent, but the infotainment is a touch slower and grainier than today’s segment leaders.

Still, there’s an undeniable charm to the tactility on offer; buttons on the wheel, physical toggles on the floating centre console, and best of all, a hazard light switch that isn’t hidden in the ceiling or somewhere in an endless touchscreen submenu.

And yet, none of this is what makes the E9 truly remarkable.

What does? That would be its unique plug-in hybrid heart; a 25.7kWh battery paired with a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine and a conventional 2-speed gearbox. It’s a formula that grants the E9 a real-world electric-only range of around 100km, which in Singapore, is practically two days of silent, emissions-free commuting.

But when the electrons run dry, the petrol engine takes over with seamless grace, ensuring you won’t ever be stuck looking for a charger in unfamiliar territory. GAC claims a WLTP-rated range of 1,032km, and while our real-world tests put that figure closer to 800km, it’s still more than enough to do a Singapore-to-KL round trip with charge to spare.

Fast, Composed, and Genuinely Fun to Drive

You wouldn’t expect a 2.2-tonne, seven-seater MPV to be sprightly. But, with a combined output of 367bhp and instantaneous electric torque from the get-go, it leaps off the line with the enthusiasm of a much smaller, lighter car.

Switch to Sport mode and the throttle sharpens, the steering gains weight, and suddenly the E9 starts feeling more wagon than van. The dual-speed gearbox also does wonders for refinement, avoiding the whiny drone of a CVT and delivering slick, confident shifts whether you’re cruising or pushing.

Ride comfort is predictably cushy, yet the dampers are well-sorted enough to prevent the E9 from wallowing through corners or feeling unsettled over imperfections. Road noise, impressively, is a non-issue even with the car’s breadbox proportions.

And in one final nod to daily usability, GAC has gifted the E9 with a full panoramic 360-degree camera system. Park assist visuals even render the car translucent, letting you see “through” it in tight carparks.

Not the Flashiest, But It’s Got Substance Where It Counts

The E9 doesn’t try to out-glitz the competition. It doesn’t have the shock factor of a ZEEKR 009 or the spaceship-like cabin of an XPENG X9. Its infotainment is dated, and its gadget list could use a few more party tricks.

But what it offers instead is something arguably more valuable: balance. Space, comfort, power, and most crucially, peace of mind. This is the only plug-in hybrid MPV in its price segment that genuinely feels like it was engineered, not just assembled. And at under three hundred thousand for this fully-specced GX trim, it even undercuts rivals like the DENZA D9 in price.

If you’re after the loudest, flashiest lounge-on-wheels, the E9 may not top your list. But if you want an MPV that can glide through town in silent EV mode one day, tackle a cross-border drive the next, and cocoon your passengers in business-class comfort throughoutit’s hard to think of a more complete package than this.

Technical Specifications

GAC E9 PHEV

Engine: 2-litre in-line 4, Turbocharged
Drivetrain: Front-Wheel Drive
Power: 367 bhp
Torque: 320 Nm
Gearbox: 2-Speed (A) DHT
0-100km/h: 8.8 seconds (claimed)
Top Speed: 175 km/h
Fuel Tank Capacity: 56 litres 
Fuel Economy: 6.2 litres/100km (tested)
Price: S$290,988 (GL), S$310,988 (GX), both with COE (accurate at the time of this article)

Photo Credits: Sean Loo (@auto.driven)

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It was a Friday morning charged with more than just electricity when GAC officially pulled the covers off its all-new E9 Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV).

This was also a new movement under the banner of ‘ONE GAC’. Spearheaded by EV Hub Pte Ltd, this unified strategy brings GAC, AION, and HYPTEC under one roof.

GAC E9

Visually, the E9 carries itself with the self-assured grace of a lion, literally. Inspired by the king of beasts, its front fascia is designed to evoke strength and nobility.

Its overall height is a carefully considered 1,823mm, which not only enhances aerodynamics but also improves ride stability.

Pop open the doors and you’re welcomed into what GAC calls a “serene and peaceful mobile mansion.” Think semi-aniline leather so soft it feels like it came from cows that lived in a spa, and ultrasuede panels that would make a Bentley blush.

Rear passengers get ultra-long sliding rails (480mm in the second row and 220mm in the third), allowing you to tailor the cabin layout. And yes, massage functionality is included – three modes. Ten points.

Even the air-conditioning system has been engineered for elegance. GAC calls it “draft-free cooling”, which delivers that Goldilocks temperature without blasting arctic gales in your face.

Under the bonnet, you’ll find a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, paired with a robust electric motor and a clever two-speed Dedicated Hybrid Transmission. Combined, they produce 368bhp and 630Nm of torque, enough to propel this 2.4-tonne mansion from 0-100km/h in just 8.8 seconds.

The E9 also boasts an electric-only range of 106km. That’s enough to run your daily errands or commute without burning a drop of fuel. Plug it in at home overnight via AC (3.5 hours) or juice it up at a DC fast charger in just 30 minutes.

When you’ve got weekend plans, the E9’s hybrid system steps in to cover a whopping 1,032km total range. Fuel economy is equally impressive at 6.05L/100km.

The E9 rides on GAC’s GPMA platform, delivering five-star China NCAP safety credentials. It even has an industry-first third-row rear curtain airbag.

Add to that Level 2 autonomous driving, adaptive cruise control, and an intelligent parking system that can retrace its steps in reverse, and you’ve got a vehicle that’s as smart as it is safe.

With Electromagnetic Damping Suspension (EDS) and Adaptive Vehicle Dynamics Control (AVDC), the E9 adapts to every bump, bend, and braking moment in real time.

Whether you’re shuttling kids, entertaining clients, or embarking on a weekend escape, the E9’s multiple seating configurations make it versatile. There’s Personal Mode, Leader’s Vehicle Mode, Family Outing Mode… even Reception Assistant Mode for those corporate days when you need to impress from the second the sliding doors open.

And for the road trip warriors, a cavernous boot awaits. In 7-seat mode, it swallows six suitcases with ease. Switch to 4-seat mode, and it might as well be a small warehouse on wheels.

The ‘ONE GAC’ Vision

As Mr Wang Shunsheng, Vice President of GAC International, explained during the event, “This strategy will focus on innovation, localisation, and customer experience to provide better products and services in Singapore.”

Mr Tong Wei, GAC’s Product General Manager, is equally confident. “With its class-leading driving range, top safety features, and first-class comfort, the E9 will win over Singaporeans searching for a premium travel experience.”

“The GAC E9 can be operated as a pure electric vehicle. On longer journeys, up to 1,032km can be achieved on a single tank of petrol. It offers a truly unique driving experience,” added Mr Ernest Tan, Deputy CEO of EV Hub.

Launch Promotion

From now until 9 April 2025, early birds who book the GAC E9 will enjoy a S$10,000 discount.

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