It stops on its own, goes forward on its own, cruises on its own, keeps its lane, almost parks itself, and it’s an MPV (multi-purpose vehicle). That’s part of the Advanced Driving Assist System (ADAS) of the M6 Pro GL which we took for a drive recently for the GAC Media Drive from Manila to Pampanga and back.
Although the average car buyer will likely not put the high-tech features as the major reason for the choice, having these features in one’s vehicle will add value to ownership.
The attraction of the M6 Pro GL starts from the exterior design. It carries a classic style that says elegant, safe, and fun. The interior presents comfort through the captain seats and spacious leg room which is more than enough to stretch even with the extra bags of goodies which I like having beside me during a drive.
The M6 Pro interior has three rows to seat seven adults, with captain seats in the first and second rows, and adjustable third row backrests. For those who need to be connected, there’s hardly a chance a phone battery can drain with charging ports in all three rows.
More interior features are a one-piece LCD instrument cluster with 10.25-inch touchscreen display; eight-speaker sound system; panoramic sunroof, and up to 1,100 liters of configurable luggage space.
It’s been a long time since I joined a media drive, all these flashy comfort features easily gave a good first impression of the M6 Pro GL which also introduced me to the new world of cars.
Smart vehicle
The M6 Pro GL is a good way to start getting to know the new vehicles now in the market. It is definitely a smart vehicle. The advanced driving assistance system takes over some maneuvers so that the driver can monitor other conditions around him.
Let’s start with the adaptive cruise control. That guided the M6 Pro’s speed to adapt to the speed of the vehicle we were following, even without human input. When the car in front slowed down, the M6 Pro also slowed down. Later, while queuing at the toll booth, the M6 Pro – still on cruise control and without human input – followed the speed of the vehicle in front, inching its way, and stopping. That’s known as the Traffic Jam Assist.
Another “wonder” system is the M6 Pro’s Lane Keep Assist. The system keeps the vehicle running in its lane even when one takes off his hands from the wheel. A beep sounds when the car’s wheels start to stray toward the lines, such as when the road curves. It’s a maneuver we tried only to check the system. But we do not recommend that. No matter what, the old-fashioned way of “keep your hands on the wheel” style of driving still is the safest way to go.
Other features of the ADAS in the M6 Pro GL are the lane departure warning, autonomous emergency braking, forward collision warning, high beam assist, integrated cruise assist, and traffic sign recognition system.
Safety features
Getting to know the M6 Pro was a delightful learning experience at the drifting track where race drivers, Georges and Louie Ramirez, had created courses to test its safety features.
Georges took me through the courses, my hesitancy to obey instructions was apparent. Who takes a turn at 60-kph and then slams on the brakes while coming into the corner? People testing a vehicle do that, so I had to… on second try.
Georges explained that the exercise tested the ABS which still allowed me to steer after jamming on the brakes to simulate panic braking. I knew I had to trust the system and pushed on the gas, and reaching 60, slammed the brakes. The car still followed the shape of the corner.
The Moose Test was tricky, I had to give the wheel to Georges. It required a sudden lane change on a road soaked in soapy water. The test is done to see how well a vehicle evades a sudden obstacle.
When the M6 Pro swerved to the next lane, stability control took about 60 percent of the workload, and made it easier for the driver to manage the rest, he explained.
The final exercise was to make it clearer to understand the engine, Georges said. Running at 60, the car drove onto a slippery road, and then he slammed the brakes. Instead of spinning, the car kept its course with “electronic brake distribution, stability control and traction control happening there.”
“To have all those features usually unheard of in a family van is quite impressive. These features which are found in sport cars make it really safe for you and the family,” he said.
Engine, power, size
The M6 Pro is powered by a 1.5-liter gas engine with 174-HP at 5,500 rpm. It is a front-wheel drive. The MPV measures (LxWxH): 4793 mm x 1837 mm x 1730 mm.
Parking assistant
Rear parking sensor and 360° camera will make a new driver park like a parking valet. We had that exercise at the tracks, and confidence flowed because the cameras showed us what we could not see.
Prices
If you are thinking of buying an MPV, check the GAC showroom for the M6 Pro which is available in several variants. The one we had was a GL and it is priced at ₱1.598 million. The GS variant is also available at ₱1.23 million.