SAIC-GM Buick Buick GL8 -Hybrid PHEV

As an owner of the GL8 PHEV, I've been driving it for three months, covering approximately 4,000 kilometers, mainly for city commuting and occasional short trips. Now I'd like to share my real driving experience, hoping to provide some reference for friends who want to buy this car.

1. Exterior Design

The exterior of the GL8 PHEV still features the classic MPV shape, which is overall stable and imposing. At the front, the flying-eave spreading-wing front face paired with the through-type headlights gives it a strong presence. The recognition at night is extremely high, and the light show when unlocking the vehicle is also very ceremonial. The side lines of the body are smooth, and the hidden door handles are not only good-looking but also reduce wind resistance. The rear through-type taillight design looks great when lit up, echoing the front. I would give the overall exterior an 8 out of 10.

2. Interior Configuration

1. Interior Texture: I chose the blue and white interior color scheme, which looks fresh and premium. However, as everyone says, the white seats are not stain-resistant and require more effort to maintain. The interior is largely wrapped in soft materials, with a good tactile feel, and the stitching工艺 in the details is also very exquisite, creating a good overall sense of luxury.

2. Infotainment System: The 30-inch 6K dual-screen display is very clear and operates smoothly. With the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chip, there is basically no lag. The four-zone voice分区 wake-up recognition is very useful; even passengers in the back row can easily control the windows, air conditioning, etc., and it can also recognize continuous commands, which is very convenient. However, the automatic brightness adjustment of the large screen is not very intelligent and can be a bit dazzling at night. I hope this can be optimized in the future.

3. Comfort Features: The second-row seats are a major highlight of this car. Made of Nappa leather, they feel soft, with 12-way power adjustment, as well as power leg rests, massage, ventilation, and heating functions. Sitting in them is as comfortable as a first-class cabin, and my family always praises the second row every time they sit there. The six-seater model also has ventilation and heating for the third-row seats, which is very friendly to rear passengers. However, the space of the third-row seats is still smaller than the first two rows, and the legroom is a bit cramped.

4. Practical Features: The on-board heating and cooling refrigerator is quite practical. You can have hot drinks in winter, but it would be perfect if the cooling effect is better in summer. The 360-degree panoramic image and 12 ultrasonic radars are very convenient when parking or moving the car. The L2+ level driving assistance system can also reduce driving fatigue on highways. However, the trunk kick sensor is not very sensitive; sometimes it takes several kicks to get a response.

3. Power and Range

1. Pure Electric in Urban Areas: I basically use pure electric mode in urban areas. The official pure electric range is 138km, but the actual range is about 100km, which is completely sufficient for my daily commute. Moreover, the pure electric mode is quiet and smooth, with quick acceleration and easy overtaking. The key point is that electricity is cheap, so the cost is very low.

2. Long-Distance Hybrid: When driving long distances, I use hybrid mode. The fuel consumption on highways is about 6 - 7L/100km, which is much more fuel-efficient than pure fuel vehicles. Once, I drove a 500-kilometer long trip. I fully charged the battery before departure, drove for a while in pure electric mode first, then switched to hybrid mode, and the whole journey was very smooth without any range anxiety.

3. Charging Situation: I have a charging pile installed at home, and charging at off-peak electricity prices at night is very cost-effective. It takes about 3 - 4 hours to fully charge. If using fast charging outside, it takes about 30 minutes to charge from 30% to 80%, which is also acceptable. However, if there is no fixed charging pile, charging once a day is a bit troublesome.

4. Driving Experience

1. Handling Experience: The steering wheel is very light, and the steering is precise. Driving such a large car doesn't feel strenuous at all, and the turning radius is not large, making it very flexible for U-turns and turns on narrow urban roads. The brake and accelerator pedals are tuned linearly, and the feedback between the pedal force and speed is very even without any abruptness.

2. Driving Quality: The chassis tuning is very good. When passing through speed bumps or potholed roads, the vibration filtering is excellent, making the ride in the car very stable without obvious bumps. The sound insulation is also quite outstanding; with double-layer laminated glass and active noise reduction, when the windows are closed, external noise basically can't come in. At a speed of 100km/h on the highway, there's no need to speak loudly to communicate inside the car.

5. Summary

The Buick GL8 PHEV has outstanding advantages: an imposing exterior, luxurious and comfortable interior, spacious space, low fuel consumption, and a good driving experience. It is very suitable for both family use and business reception. However, there are some minor drawbacks, such as the interior being prone to getting dirty, the actual pure electric range being slightly shorter, the trunk kick sensor being insensitive, and the large screen's brightness adjustment not being very intelligent. But overall, these minor issues do not affect my love for it. If you are also considering a plug-in hybrid MPV, the GL8 PHEV is worth a test drive.

It's been about three and a half months since I picked up the car, and I've driven almost 8,500 kilometers. Mainly during the New Year, I drove 2,800 kilometers from Jiaxing to Chaoshan. Overall, I'm very satisfied. I didn't charge on the way, and the fuel consumption was around 7.5L, which surprised me. I usually use pure electric mode for commuting and charge it every two days. I picked up the car in December when the weather was cold; the pure electric range showed only 108 kilometers, and with the air conditioning on, I couldn't even drive 100 kilometers. Now it's April, the weather has warmed up, the displayed range is about 130 kilometers, and the electricity consumption has dropped to 18 kWh/100km, compared to over 21 kWh/100km in winter. The interior is high-end and luxurious, but this white seat is both loved and hated. I wipe it almost every two or three days, probably because I cherish the new car. I almost never get a chance to sit in the second row; it's exclusively for the two children's car seats.

I have been following the plug-in hybrid GL8 since its launch. Previously, I drove an eighth-generation Accord, a 2010 model, for 14 years. With a growing family, I've wanted to change cars in recent years and finally waited for its release. During this period, I also looked at the Sienna and Denza D9. The Sienna is fuel-efficient and hassle-free, but its safety and high-speed chassis performance are somewhat lacking. The Denza D9's外观 doesn't suit my aesthetic; during the test drive, I found the rear seat起伏 to be a bit pronounced. On June 15th, I went to the 4S store to see the plug-in hybrid GL8 and fell in love with it at first sight. Let me share my personal feelings and evaluation:

Advantages:
1. The exterior is elegant with suitable dimensions, and it has high safety configurations. The seats are comfortable, providing a better fit with the body the longer you sit.
2. Driving experience: I picked up the car on July 10th and have driven nearly 800 kilometers, including four short highway trips. On the highway, the interior is very quiet—no engine or motor noise, only slight wind noise. I used adaptive cruise control in intelligent hybrid mode, with a fuel consumption of 5.3L/100km. On July 13th, when it rained heavily in Zhengzhou, I maintained a speed of around 120 km/h on the highway. The vehicle's chassis felt solid, and the power was源源不断—it was amazing.
3. In urban areas, I usually use pure electric mode. With the windows closed, almost no noise can be heard inside the car. Family members and friends in the rear seats have praised the comfort repeatedly! Even children don't feel motion sick at all. The 12 BOSE speakers are very satisfying for listening to music and watching TV shows.

Disadvantages:
1. The pure electric range is a bit short. Under normal circumstances, a fast charge can fill it up in 1.5 hours.
2. The 4-piece headrest set promised by the manufacturer has not been delivered yet.

The above only represents my real driving experience over the past 20-plus days. The plug-in hybrid GL8 is suitable for both business and family use, balancing practicality and prestige—it was the right choice.