Buick has updated its GL8 minivan line-up with the new GL8 Lushang, a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version aimed squarely at family buyers. According to Chinese automotive outlet Autohome, which conducted a first drive, the Lushang pairs a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine with an electric drive unit in what Buick calls its “True Dragon” hybrid system, delivering a combined 275 kW and 560 N·m of torque.
Family-focused cabin upgrades
The Lushang's cabin is where most of the changes have been made. A new Hermès-orange interior option joins the palette, and all versions get quilted stitching and 2.126 square metres of leather trim. The front now has a centre console armrest, while the second row gains a docking station that can hold a tablet on one side and a vanity mirror on the other. A small table adds a recessed groove to keep phones and cups from sliding off.
The third row has been upgraded with a backrest that reclines up to 135 degrees, allowing passengers to sit or lie down. Autohome says a 1.8-metre-tall adult still gets one fist and four fingers of legroom in the third row when the second row is in a normal position. The seat foam is now a high-permeability, burst-resistant type that is said to improve breathability by more than 50%, and both front seats come with heating and ventilation as standard.
The boot has grown to 1,650 litres, enough for nine 20-inch suitcases even with all seven seats in use, according to Autohome. The Lushang also offers 3.3 kW of vehicle-to-load (V2L) power, allowing owners to run camping appliances without a separate portable battery.
Powertrain and driving feel
The Lushang uses a 24.4 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery pack, giving a CLTC electric-only range of 142 km (an estimated 115-120 km on the more realistic WLTP cycle) and a combined CLTC range of 1,500 km. In hybrid mode, the car consumes 6.35 L/100 km when the battery is depleted, and 1.24 L/100 km overall. Autohome notes that the electric mode allows the air conditioning and entertainment system to run for long periods with the engine off, which is useful while waiting to pick up children or taking a nap in the car.
On the road, the Lushang prioritises smoothness over aggression, with linear acceleration and minimal engine noise, according to Autohome. The suspension uses MacPherson struts at the front and a multi-link setup at the rear, without air springs or adaptive damping, but Buick's tuning is said to filter out most road imperfections while keeping the body stable at highway speeds. The cabin features double-glazed glass front and rear, maintaining the GL8's reputation for quietness.
The GL8 Lushang is positioned in the 250,000-yuan (about $35,200) new-energy MPV segment in China. It is a Chinese guide price before taxes and incentives. With its hybrid system addressing fuel consumption and range anxiety, and a host of family-oriented cabin improvements, the Lushang aims to stand out in a market that increasingly values practicality and efficiency in large MPVs.
Based on reporting by 汽车之家. Edited and published in English by geisou.
