But what if Chinese carmakers go the opposite route? What if, instead of countless doodads, they focused on the essentials of what makes a car good—things like refinement, comfort, and handling. Essentially, what you get is the all-new 2022 GAC GS4—a compact SUV that may be simple in features, but is simply good overall.

The GS4 looks well-proportioned with just the right number of curves and angles. The front and rear ends may come across as generic, but the execution, at least, isn’t over the top. LED is used on pretty much the entire exterior lighting, but designers resisted the temptation to put anything silly like dancing light patterns or sequential turn signals. On that note, the only critique here is the obvious absence of front fog lamps.

As with the GS8, the GS4’s exterior build quality is solid. The paint job is peerless, while the doors open with a nice, weighty feel to them; they also close with the same measure of authority. The tailgate though is hefty, and together with its awkward angle may entail extra effort to close shut for weaker individuals.

Weirdly enough, despite the push-button starter, the GS4 doesn’t have your typical smart keyless entry. By default, it requires its would-be owners to fumble through their pockets for the key fob to lock or unlock it. Going through the on-board menu, it can be programmed to lock and/or unlock automatically when the fob’s detected within a certain radius of the vehicle. But this feature isn’t 100 percent perfect, and could be tempting fate when parked in less-than-savory neighborhoods.

The odd key fob arrangement aside, the GS4’s interior is spot on. In terms of design, the same careful restraint found on the exterior is echoed inside. The predominantly black cabin, with just the right amount of aluminum trim, give it that sporty vibe. Fit and finish are upscale with soft-touch plastics covering just about every touch point. Again, kudos to the designers for foregoing the increasingly common floating tablet screen in favor of one that’s well-integrated into the dashboard. Interestingly, the tweeters aren’t at their usual location—at the base of the A-pillars. Instead, they’re the ones highlighted and surrounded by the bright work with the AC vents “hidden” just below it.

The infotainment screen itself, sized eight inches, is easy to use and navigate with its tile-based menus. That said, accessing the volume knob requires an adjustment to muscle reflexes since it’s a small knurled roller located to the left of the shifter. Back to the infotainment system, thankfully, there’s almost no “Chinglish” here. English is also the default language even after a factory reset. Oh, and yes, it’s got Apple CarPlay too.

Ergonomically, everything is spot on in the GS4. The thick-rimmed steering wheel offers an excellent amount of adjustment, while the jet-inspired shifter and the rest of the controls operate with a nice, crisp feel to it. The front seats, although forgoing any form of electric adjustment, molds the body excellently providing the right amount of support and comfort. A bonus is that the looks are great conversation starters too. Outward visibility at the front and sides can’t be criticized, although the thick quarter panels and small rear window does limit things at the back. Thankfully, rear parking sensors and a reverse camera come standard.

As far as compact SUVs go, the GS4 also scores high in terms of practicality. Not only does it have outstanding front passenger room, but it truly amazes at the back as well. The flat rear floor and generous seat width can easily accommodate three people side-by-side. The seat pinch is alright, but not having an adjustable recline feels like a wasted opportunity here. That omission aside, the rear’s got their own AC vents, charging ports, and adjustable headrests. Meanwhile, when it comes to cargo, the 470-liter hold is wide and deep on its own, but since the rear seats do collapse flat, it forms a whopping 1,560-liter of space.

Providing tractive effort is a tried-and-tested combination found in other Chinese offerings: a turbocharged 1.5-liter mated to an automatic transmission. What it lacks in on-paper differentiation, it makes up for in real-world execution.

Alone, the GS4’s mill produces healthy enough figures—168 horsepower and 265 Nm of torque, but what’s even better is its overall smoothness and refinement. It’s free from lag—a common problem with turbocharged engines. Power comes in steadily and builds up nicely, all while keeping itself whisper quiet. Meanwhile, the gearbox isn’t the usual CVT or dual clutch arrangement—it’s a conventional torque converter 6-speed Aisin unit. This lends it quick, shudder-free responses (it’s a bit too eager with downshifts though), and a surprisingly good 9.90 km/L figure in city traffic (average speed of 16 km/h).

Built on GAC Motor’s new Global Platform Modular Architecture or GPMA. 62 percent of the GS4’s body is built on high-strength steel. The strong shell, coupled with an independent suspension on both ends, gives it an uncanny ability to smoothen out the worst of Manila’s roads. Not only that, but it does so in an eerily quiet manner. Plus, the entire vehicle feels solid and sturdy, and that’s despite having what’s essentially a glass for a roof (there’s a 1.32-square meter panoramic sunroof up there). On the other hand, its relaxed nature doesn’t respond well to any hurried inputs. Despite its strong sense of stability, there’s copious amounts of body roll when pushed, and the brakes could use better bite, especially at the initial pedal stroke.

Previous to the 2022 GS4, critics often point out GAC Motor Philippines rather expensive positioning among its Chinese peers. Well, not this time. Priced at P 1.098-million, this is a compact SUV at conventional sub-compact sedan prices. Of course, something’s got to give, and that give is in the form of spec sheet worthy tech. It does have the basics nailed own such as all power amenities, leather-like (leatherette) steering wheel and seats, dual zone climate control with rear vents, and rear parking sensors with a reverse camera. It’s even got some surprising niceties like the panoramic sunroof, a kick-ass audio system, and cruise control. What it lacks would be things like powered seats, the full gamut of airbags (it only has four), automatic headlights, or even a moderately modern instrument cluster—the multi-function display is so pixel-starved, it feels like a 90’s throwback.

Despite the absence of these seemingly superfluous stuff, the GAC GS4 does manage to put a spotlight on what matters the most: on the engineering. More than anything, it proves that GAC Motor can build a car that’s more than just skin deep or balls deep in features. Instead, it relies on a solid foundation with a world-class powertrain and platform that can please even the most discerning car enthusiasts. Sure, there’s some push-and-pull when it comes to its price vis-à-vis its features, but after all’s said and done, it’s got a solid foundation that puts others on notice.