What is the Buick GL8?

It might surprise you that in China, the Buick brand is held in high esteem, on the level of Audi or Lexus in North America. Parent-company General Motors has leveraged that popularity to produce some unique vehicles in that market. One of those is the GL8, an MPV (multi-purpose vehicle, aka minivan) that sports some surprisingly high-end appointments.

Buick GL8

Initially launched for the 2000 model year, the first GL8 looked like the North American Chevrolet Venture. Subsequent design generations upped the luxury factor, with the current model having debuted for 2022.

GL8 Lineup

The GL8 lineup is as wide as it is deep with a variety of trim levels and seating configurations, including four-, six, and seven-passenger options. Buyers can make their vehicles as utilitarian or luxurious as they want. At the top of the lineup are available features such as Nappa leather upholstery with 18-point massage function for the second-row; a 21-speaker Bose sound system; a “starry roof” that employs 366 LED and 162 flashing lights to create custom show; 128-color interior ambient lighting; and a 32-inch sliding screen that can partition the front seating area from the rear.

Most models use a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission. For the 2024 model-year the company added a plug-in gas/electric hybrid option that has a 1.5-liter gas engine with a dedicated battery pack.

Pricing for the Buick GL8 starts at about $50,000 U.S. and skyrockets from there. Expect this vehicle to remain exclusive to the Chinese market indefinitely.

CG Says:

There is a Chinese-made Buick that’s available for sale in North America – the Envision SUV. While certainly not as opulent as the GL8, it’s a solid enough entry in its segment. An ultra-luxury minivan is something that hasn’t been tried in North America and likely never will be. There is potentially a market here, but such examples would have to be equipped with every single bell and whistle and imported in extremely limited quantities.