GAC E9 Plug-in Hybrid GX 2.0 Review

There was once a time when the premium/luxury MPV scene was ruled by only one name (or two) in Singapore. 

But the winds of change blow quickly; with the inevitable dominance of the Chinese now, the space has welcomed more new faces (and number '9's) in the last few years than we've ever seen. The latest name to make its mark? Another stately, state-owned giant whose calling card this time is not just luxury, but versatility, offering the joys of electrification alongside the reassurance of combustion of power.

The E9's admittedly derivative front fascia is still given its own unique edge by way of these large and angular head lights

Unfamiliar familiar face 

You're probably familiar with the Aion Y Plus, Aion V, and even the gull-winged Hyptec HT by now, but marking the first proper people-moving entrant from Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC) is this: The GAC E9, a plug-in hybrid MPV.

Most folks would be quick to point to the perennial Toyota Alphard and Vellfire as muses for the E9's styling, but the true MPV nerds will likely recall the first-generation Lexus LM when they first set eyes on its boxy body. The E9's 'Thunderous Wing' grille, with its massive chrome pillars, doesn't feel too far off the LM's original spindle grille. 

Still, the car does come with a party trick of its own.

The car's rear is a less anonymous, thanks to protruding taillights that hug the lower edge of the tailgate 

With its front end said to be inspired by a lion's face, the accompanying daytime running lights stretch in an exaggerated manner from the outer edges of the fascia (in a manner not unlike the Y Plus' Angel Wing head lights), into the head lights, and then trace the outer edges of the grille. Locking and unlocking the E9 presents a rapid-fire light show that continues to dazzle even after three days spent with the car.

The E9's rear is also a less anonymous affair, featuring protruding taillights that frame and hug the entire lower half of its tailgate.

Unsurprisingly, GAC doesn't offer buyers much in terms of chromatic choice - the E9 is available only in white or black - but its sheer presence and imposing styling are good enough to indicate that this car means business (class). 

Quiet luxury

The driver's seat is normally given priority when it comes to assessing a car's cabin, but to do so in a car like the E9 would feel somewhat misguided.

After all, you'll find yourself springing first to yank the automatic sliding doors for the second row open instead, at which point a pair of supremely cushy captain's chairs will greet you.

GAC states that these chairs use an exceptionally thick soft sponge material that is intended to balance comfort and support perfectly - a claim that doesn't feel over-the-top when you slowly sink in. The supple, top-grade leather that covers them feels well befitting of the E9’s luxury status too.

Expectedly, these chairs also offer the sorts of creature comforts that any businessman or lady would want to indulge in when shuttling between meetings: Ventilation, all manner of adjustment and reclination, and 10-point massage functions. Adjusting them is also relatively fuss-free via embedded LCD screens on this top-end GX trim. 

The cushy captain's chairs in the second row feature ventilation, all manner of adjustments, and 10-point massage functions

Given the sorts of features we've seen from the competition of late, however, the E9 may perhaps struggle to wow occupants otherwise on first glance.

Sure - the three-pin socket beneath the centre console will certainly find good use; so too should the cup holders that come with either heating and cooling. But unlike some of the electric competition, there is no standout gadgetry such as a fold-down TV, or a pull-out fridge.

The E9 may not have a drop-down TV or a fridge, but still comes with other welcome features: Two 1.5-metre long air vents that help to distribute air through the cabin evenly

The E9 counters instead with other practical idiosyncrasies.

A massive second-row sunroof allows light to flood into the cabin, and is studded with diamonds around its periphery that illuminate in sync with the cabin's ambient lighting. Meanwhile, you'll also find two 1.5-metre long air vents flanking the ceiling. These work like a charm in distributing cool air throughout the rows silently and evenly.

Life in the third row can be quite pleasant too, thanks to the amount of head and legroom on offer, as well as the fact that the 10-speaker Yamaha sound system stretches all the way to the rear

Furthermore, with the car's 2+2+3 layout, climbing into the third row thankfully won't require you to have 'contortionist' on your CV. And once you're there, you'll find that the E9 has plenty of head room and legroom to offer occupants thanks to its flat roofline and long wheelbase. 

One might wish for larger windows here to increase the sensation of space - but the presence of a third-row armrest and dedicated third-row speakers, at least, are extra niceties that make life in the back more pleasant. 

Tumble the E9's last row forwards - a rather simple affair - and boot space expands to a generous 1,500 litres

The E9 also impresses when it's not just people, but cargo that you have to carry.

Its tailgate lifts electronically to reveal a decently-sized 580-litre boot with all rows in place, and with only four onboard, the last row can be put away (via a nifty flip-up mechanism) for the space to expand to a generous 1,500 litres. 

Two-in-one power

Coming from the Hyptec HT and Aion V, the E9’s cockpit admittedly doesn't feel the most modern. The displays are undeniably large and nice, and the graphics, vibrant and colourful - but the entire setup still feels somewhat older-school because the infotainment touchscreen isn't among the sharpest nor snappiest on the market today.

On the flip side, old-school has its welcome charms because the E9 retains a splash of tactility that elevates the quality of life at the helm.

The retention of intuitively-labelled physical controls on the centre console and steering wheel is welcome on the E9 - although its infotainment setup feels slightly dated against the competition

There are no frustrating touch-sensitive buttons on the steering wheel - just proper physical ones - while the elevated centre console also has dedicated buttons for functions such as the parking camera, and toggling between the different drive modes. Even the hazard light button is in the right place (read: not on the ceiling).

Furthermore, where the E9 shines like no other MPV out there today is with its unique plug-in hybrid drivetrain.

Best of both worlds: The E9's mixture of electric and combustion power gives it far more driving range than the average luxury electric MPV

A sizeable 25.7kWh battery, mounted at the car's rear, provides a real-world electric of around 100km. In other words, you could technically tap solely on its electric motor for emissions-free propulsion - and even cover two days' worth of driving in Singapore while at it.

When that battery is inevitably whittled down to 1% before you've found time in your busy schedule to find a charger and hook the E9 up, however, you won't have to call a tow truck. Enter: The E9's 2.0-litre turbocharged engine and 56-litre petrol tank.

Therein lies one of the E9's unparalleled strengths. 

The tango between the battery and fuel tank allows one to experience the joys of electrification without any real range anxiety. While the car's impressive WLTP-rated range of 1,032km is rather difficult to achieve in the real-world, we were still on track to clock around 850km on a simultaneous full charge and full tank. 

But that's not where the magic ends. Driving range may be the standout quality of a plug-in hybrid, but one suspects that most drivers will actually come to appreciate the E9 more for its power. 

The one-two punch of the E9's electric motor and turbocharged combustion engine gives it a sense of pep that you might not expect for such a large and heavy vehicle

Given that the battery is never allowed to run out of juice entirely, the E9 drives somewhat like a pure BEV. The electric motor is always handed the reins when moving off from a standstill, giving the car an unceasing sense of lightness off the line.

Thereafter, the switchover to its 2.0-litre turbocharged engine is always smooth, and even when the latter has taken over entirely, the two-speed transmission mated provides far more refinement than that of a CVT.

The result? The E9 feels far more eager on the move than you'd expect when first setting eyes on it. Combined output, in fact, stands at a heady 367bhp - the equivalent of a turbocharged straight-six.  

You don't expect a two-tonne MPV to punch forward with so much gusto, but it always feels like it has more to give, even when in Eco mode. 

Even better is the fact that the range of play with the car's driving settings via the different drive modes have palpable effects on its behaviour on the road too. Put it into 'Sport', and the throttle response noticeably sharpens up as its steering weight grows heavier. (In fact, the latter should always be adjusted to this setting.)

The unexpected sprightliness means that even though the E9's weight and heft never really fade into the background, its manners remain more car-like than van-like. Hybrid MPVs are not uncommon, but none can match up to the verve offered by a plug-in hybrid.

A broad range of safety assistance features are on hand in the E9, including a blind spot monitor that shows up not just on your side mirrors, but on the driver's display too

Accentuating the delight from behind the wheel is its ride quality, which tends mostly towards soft and cushy comfort, yet settles quickly when confronted with road bumps and small undulations. It's remarkable how deftly road noise is kept at bay, too, despite the E9 being shaped like a mini shipping container on wheels. 

Carparks - surprisingly - are also a less intimidating environment for the E9 than you might expect.

The E9 also comes with an automated self-parking system - which works smoothly and consistently, even in crowded spaces

While its long wheelbase (and sadly, lack of rear-wheel steering) means sharper turns are best taken with extra care, the presence of a panoramic view camera that can even turn the car's digital image transparent aids greatly in navigating tighter spaces. 

There's also one crucial aspect in which the E9 edges out (or rather, undercuts) some of the competition. Although stretching out at more than five metres long and nearly 1.9 metres wide, its 1,823mm height means it will duck into even older and lower car parks. 

A welcome addition to the luxe-MPV scene - though not the flashiest

Admittedly, the E9 may not match up to a couple of the flashiest faces we've seen entering the luxe-MPV scene recently. Notably, its cabin doesn't feel the most modern, nor is it the most well-equipped. Its cockpit also feels dated in an era where massive (and hyper-responsive) touchscreens have become the new baseline.

The absence of these qualities, however, does not detract from the fact that the E9 scores well where it counts: In terms of space, comfort, and day-to-day usability. 

The E9 may lack the hyper-modern sheen of its peers, but makes up for that shortfall of pizzazz with its unique powertrain and undeniable comfort and refinement 

While its peers like the ZEEKR 009, XPENG X9, or indeed, the Toyota Vellfire Hybrid may be flashier, its sub-$300,000 price tag in this top-end GX trim (correct at time of publishing) also puts it in slightly better stead on the affordability scale. It does have one mighty foe that it has to compete against, though: The single-motor variant of the recently-ubiquitous DENZA D9. 

Furthermore, it bears repeating that the E9 stands resolutely apart from its peers with its unique proposition as a plug-in hybrid, which gives it EV-like zippiness and refinement, yet offers the assurance of a trip to KL and back without ever needing to reach into your smartphone to locate a charger nearby to plug in.

The competition may be growing, but as the first entrant to bring this best-of-both-worlds brand to the table, that arguably helps this fresh luxe-MPV face make its mark confidently still. 

Here are a few other MPVs on the market you should check out! 

Feature-packed, tech-laden, and absolutely pampering to be in - the XPENG X9 is a high-tech lounge on the move

Made even more alluring now with a superb hybrid drivetrain, the Carnival's uniquely outsized take on the MPV template remains mostly charming post-refresh

With impressive equipment and a highly competent electric drivetrain, the D9 is a keen contender that should make waves in the premium MPV segment