Track day testing: How "sporty" is the GAC Empow?

GAC Philippines recently invited us to a track day event to test the 2024 GAC Empow to showcase its sporty capabilities. The event was held at the Batangas Racing Circuit (BRC), where we could safely try the sedan.

The automaker lined up several tests that covered the car’s handling, acceleration, braking, and traction control system. GAC also let us hot-lap the Empow on the short course layout of BRC.

ALSO READ: FULL REVIEW: 2023 GAC Empow GE -- A Honda Civic rival in the making, but with a few quirks

Acceleration and braking

The first test was for acceleration and braking to show us how quickly the sporty sedan can get up to speed and how quickly it can stop. It was a straightforward test where we would launch the vehicles and stop them within a given set of distances to show us how well they could perform in emergency stop situations at speed.

Autocross agility

The second test was a short autocross course to show off the sedan's agility. It was just a short slalom course with a U-turn at the back to repeat the course with a stop box for good measure. Here, we could test how quickly the Empow could handle changes of direction and how the sedan's rear would react to these sudden movements.

The GAC sedan is quick on its feet, and managing the vehicle's rear is easy, but it will still kick out a bit like any other front-wheel drive vehicle. 

Traction and stability

The last test showcased its traction control and electronic brake force stability program. For this test, the Empow was placed on a mixed-condition surface where one side was slick with soapy water and the other had dry ground. 

The sedan was put into an emergency stop situation, remaining stable. It was easily controlled even if it went a bit sideways thanks to its electronic stability control program and with minor inputs from the steering wheel. The driver even showed us how stable it was by only using two fingers to control the steering wheel. 

Hot-lapping the GAC Empow

After all the testing, we were allowed to hot-lap the GAC Empow to see how it would handle BRC.

The sedan is very composed with how it handles itself on track, power delivery is smooth from its dual-clutch transmission, and the turbo power comes in right on time to rocket you out of every corner despite the weight and length of the vehicle. 

The Empow also rotates reasonably smoothly if you want it to, and it can also be controlled easily with a bit of throttle input to put weight into the back to straighten out the car. 

Despite the course being the short layout of BRC, it was still an excellent chance to see and feel the sporty capabilities of the GAC sedan in a safe environment.

Verdict

The automaker markets the GAC Empow as a sports sedan. It was initially hard to believe since it was priced under ₱1.4 million, but after the track day experience with the vehicle, it's a bargain for what it is.

You have the power from its 1.5-liter turbocharged engine to rocket you out of corners and a balanced chassis that is good for on-road comfort and does well enough for the track. You also get good brakes, which can quickly stop the sedan. Its traction control system is also intuitive and not intrusive, letting you have fun safely.

A bonus to this is the active exhaust, which gives you aggressive exhaust notes at high revs and a few pops and crackles on the side to provide a sportier experience. However, the active exhaust can be turned off if you want a quieter and more civilized ride.

It's an overall balanced sedan that adds a touch of sportiness to what is already a comfortable daily car. It's a good mix of a car you can take simultaneously to the track and daily drive. 

Don't believe us? Why not head on over to your nearest GAC dealership to test out the Empow yourself?