Verdict
At RM328,800, the GAC M8 undercuts the Toyota Vellfire by RM119,200 while bringing a 25.57-kWh plug-in-hybrid battery, 106 km claimed EV range and 300 Nm from both its petrol engine and motor. It is also 207 mm longer and has 70 mm more wheelbase. The Vellfire costs more, but its 510-litre boot is 230 litres larger, and its middle-row ottoman seats, ventilated front seats and soft-close powered doors better suit chauffeur-style use. The M8 is the rational pick for owners able to charge; the Toyota makes more sense when luggage space and rear-seat equipment matter most.
Pick the GAC M8 if you can use its 106 km EV range, want 300 Nm and prefer to save RM119,200.
Pick the Toyota Vellfire if you need the 510-litre boot and want ottoman middle-row seats, ventilated front seats and soft-close sliding doors.
Key differences
- Price: GAC M8 RM328,800; Toyota Vellfire RM448,000.
- Plug-in hybrid system: M8 has a 25.57-kWh battery, one 179-hp/300-Nm motor and 106 km EV range; Vellfire has no traction motor or EV range.
- Output: M8 petrol engine makes 187 hp and 300 Nm; Vellfire's 2.5-litre petrol makes 180 hp and 235 Nm.
- Dimensions: M8 is 5,212 mm long on a 3,070-mm wheelbase; Vellfire is 5,005 mm long on a 3,000-mm wheelbase.
- Boot space: M8 has 280 litres; Vellfire has 510 litres.
- Wheels: M8 uses 18-inch alloys with 225/60R18 tyres; Vellfire gets 19-inch alloys with 225/55R19 tyres.
M8
- 25.57-kWh battery with 106 km claimed EV range
- 300 Nm petrol-engine torque and 300 Nm motor torque
- Seven airbags and a 360-degree camera
- 280-litre boot trails the Vellfire's 510 litres
- Rear air-con is vents only, versus the Vellfire's dual-zone automatic rear climate control
- No ventilated front seats, middle-row ottomans or soft-close sliding doors
Vellfire
- 510-litre boot
- Power-adjustable ottoman captain's seats and ventilated front seats
- Soft-close powered sliding doors and powered boot
- RM119,200 more expensive
- 235 Nm is 65 Nm down on the M8's petrol-engine torque
- No plug-in-hybrid battery, EV range or AC/DC charging capability
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM328,800✓ | RM448,000 |
| Body type | MPV | MPV |
| Segment | Executive | Executive |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | — | RM835 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC, Turbocharged with Dual Variable Valve Timing and Plug-in Hybrid Assistance | 16-valve DOHC Naturally Aspirated with Variable Valve Timing |
| Capacity | — | 2,494 cc |
| Horsepower | 187 hp✓ | 180 hp at 6,000 rpm |
| Torque | 300 Nm✓ | 235 Nm at 4,100 rpm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 4 | Inline 4 |
| Fuel | Petrol Plug-in Hybrid | Petrol |
| Bore × Stroke | — | 90 mm × 98 mm |
| Compression Ratio | — | 9.8 |
| Number of Motors | 1 | — |
| Motor Horsepower | 179 hp | — |
| Motor Torque | 300 Nm | — |
| Battery Capacity | 25.57 kWh | — |
| EV Range | 106 km | — |
| Charging Rate (AC) | 6.6 kW | — |
| Charging Rate (DC) | 40 kW | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | eCVT Automatic | CVT Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 2-DHT | 7-speed Super CVT-i with Sports Sequential Shiftmatic |
| Gears | — | 7 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | — | Toyota |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 8.8 seconds | — |
| Rated Economy | — | 9.1 L/100 km |
| Top Speed | — | 170 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 5,212 mm | 5,005 mm |
| Width | 1,893 mm | 1,850 mm |
| Height | 1,823 mm | 1,950 mm |
| Wheelbase | 3,070 mm | 3,000 mm |
| Weight | 2,420 kg | 2,105 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 56 litres | 60 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 7 | 7 |
| Boot Space | 280 litres | 510 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 225/60R18 | 225/55R19 |
| Rear Tyre | 225/60R18 | 225/55R19 |
| Spare Tyre | — | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | Michelin e-Primacy | Dunlop SP Sport Maxx 060 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | China (CBU) | Japan (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Double Wishbone |
| Front Wheels | 18" Two-tone Alloys | 19" Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 18" Two-tone Alloys | 19" Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 7 (Driver and Passenger, Front and Rear Curtain, Rear Windshield) | 6 (Driver and Passenger, Driver Knee, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain) |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for Rear Doors | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 7 Three-point | 7 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on 2 Outer Rear Seats | Available on Outer Middle Row Passenger Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes, TSS Pre-collision Braking (4-120 km/h) with Pedestrian Detection |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector | LED Projector with Auto High Beam |
| Taillamps | Full LED | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | — | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Powered Front Seats | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Memory Function, Ventilated |
| Rear Seats | Second row Individual Captain's Seats, 60:40 Split-folding Third row | Power Adjustable Ottoman Captain Middle Row Seat, 50:50 Fold-up Last Row |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Rear AC Vents | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Sunroof | Panoramic Glass Roof | Fixed Panoramic Glass Roof, Rear |
| Power Sockets | — | 2 Front, 1 Console Box, 2 First Row, 2 Second Row |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Second Row, 2 Third Row | 2 Front, 2 Middle Row, 2 Last Row |
| Sun Shade | Panoramic Glass Roof Shade and Rear Window Shades | Powered Rear Sun Shades, Powered Panoramic Roof Shades |
| Audio | 14.6" Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, 16-Speaker Yamaha Sound System | 14" Display Audio with Touch Screen, Apple CarPlay & Android Auto Connectivity, 15-speaker JBL Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Driver's Side Auto Up and Down with Anti Pinch | Four Windows, Driver's Side Auto Up and Down with Anti Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go, Steering Assist and Curve Speed Reduction |
| Tiptronic | — | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | — | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Powered Boot | Powered boot with soft close function |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, 360-degree View Monitor | Yes, With 360 Degree Camera |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | — | ✓ |
| Power Door | Power Sliding Doors | Power Sliding with Soft-close Function, One-touch Auto Close, Anti-pinch |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | 150,000 km | Unlimited✓ |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years | 5 years |
| Warranty Notes | 8 Year, 150,000 km Warranty (Battery) | — |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
Used M8 & Vellfire for sale
M8 vs Vellfire FAQ
Is the GAC M8 or Toyota Vellfire better?
The M8 is better for a buyer who can charge at home or work and wants plug-in-hybrid driving at a lower outlay. Choose the Vellfire for its 510-litre boot, ottoman middle row, ventilated front seats and soft-close doors.
What is the price difference?
The Toyota Vellfire costs RM119,200 more than the GAC M8. That gap buys a larger 510-litre boot, more elaborate rear-seat and front-seat equipment, plus soft-close functions for the sliding doors and boot.
Which one has more luggage space?
The Toyota Vellfire does, with 510 litres of boot space versus 280 litres in the GAC M8. That is a 230-litre advantage, significant for airport runs or seven-up family trips with substantial luggage.
