Buick is still big in China. With more homegrown competition popping up in recent years, Buick doesn’t have the luxury car dominance in China that it used to have, but the brand still has a strong reputation and sizeable sales volume in the Asian country. Since China is Buick’s biggest market, it has its own unique Chinese lineup that looks quite different than our USDM model range for the Tri-Shield brand. One of several models offered in China, but not the U.S., is a luxury minivan called the Buick GL8.
“Luxury minivan” might sound like an oxymoron to American ears, but the Chinese love them. In fact, the Buick GL8, with its most luxurious variant called the GL8 Century, is just one of several premium minivans available in China. A few of its top competitors include the Lexus LM, Mercedes-Benz V-Class, and Volkswagen Viloran. The latest generation of the GL8, which rides on the GM VSS-F platform, launched in China earlier this year. In China, the GL8 is available with a mild hybrid turbocharged 2.0L I4 LSY engine developing 233 horsepower, or a plug-in hybrid powertrain with a turbocharged 1.5L engine, producing a total output of 392 horsepower and 428 pound-feet of torque.
All of these global automakers that offer premium minivans – or “MPVs,” if you prefer that terminology – are wary of offering their luxurious family haulers to American buyers. This is likely because Americans simply don’t associate minivans with luxury vehicles. Range-topping trims like the Chrysler Pacifica Pinnacle, Honda Odyssey Elite, Toyota Sienna Platinum, and Kia Carnival SX Prestige are really nice family vehicles, but don’t come with the high-end quality or gravitas of a true luxury car.
This is an opportunity for Buick. Although it’s been doing a good job in recent years of carving out its own identity in the States with a unique, cohesive design language and an interesting product offering in the Buick Envista, offering the Buick GL8 in North America would really make the brand stand out. It would be in a class all on its own as a true luxury minivan. The GL8 even has a luxury trim level above Avenir, the GL8 Century Flagship. Bringing that model range to the States would finally present American families with the option of luxury vehicle quality and features with minivan practicality. A minivan might seem like an odd halo car, but the GL8 would be a better halo car than the Buick Cascada.
Regardless of whether you’re in the market for a premium minivan, do you think the Buick GL8 should be offered in the United States? Let us know in the poll below, and share your thoughts in the comments.
Comments
It should be BUILT stateside in one of gm’s several underutilized plants.
No way. Minivans have a soccer Mom stigma and most are bought for family-toting duties. The last thing we need right now is something else trying to move upmarket. It’ll be telling to see the $60K ID.Buzz fall flat, which it will after the “gotta have it first” folks are done.
Haven’t seen any expensive minivans on the beach lately, eh, bummer? Must not exist anywhere, then.
The problem is, there’s probably no GL8 platform that meets the safety standard in the US. The A pillar of this car almost broke into pieces in the standard crash test in the Chinese market. This would be the last thing in the whole market that I would consider alongside the Expedition. 😄
At least this looks so good！
Why it just put the Chevy Venture back into production. That’s all this thing is, with new skin and undersized powertrains priced like a Lexus.
I say no as American’s didn’t buy the first Buick van years ago and they won’t yet today. It’s ugly IMO, but the reality is that it’s just not butch enough for the US buyers.
Now, how about they brings some of those very nice Buick SEDANS to the US.
Why not just invest some money for a change in GM’s existing Express Vans. All you need to do is put in a high end interior and your done. GM has not spent a dime on the Express in 30 years.
The only way it would have a shot in the US is if it was a Cadillac.
Too ugly. Chinese.
It’s quite attractive, and for the record, the Chinese auto workers build great quality vehicles.
Would be nice if they can offer all wheel drive for us in snow country, I think Toyota has the only awd van?
Sienna’s cannot tow or haul as much as an Express/Savana, but fuel efficiency wise they are very good.
The Traverse/Arcadia/Buick/Caddy SUVs fill that market, although not exactly “minivans”.
Not even close. Although they are the same size on the outside, the “SUV”s are much smaller inside, do not offer the flexible seating options a minivan does, and do not have the highly useful sliding doors. The only vehicle that competes with a minivan is another minivan.
How do I know? With 4 kids I’m currently driving my 8th minivan (and a Z3 and MX-5 for fun).
Bring it. And make fabric upholstery an option on all models for those of us in warm climates. Honda dropped the EX Odyssey so you can only get pleather and leather trimmed seats now. No thx.
Buick needs to fill the white space with a sport wagon and 4 door coupe.
I would like GM to build a minivan for the US market, does it need to be this one? I don’t see how it could be, but it would help fill out Buick’s small lineup. I would truly like to see GM compete with the ID Buzz with a retro throwback to their own rear engine air-cooled van, the Corvair, but based on what I saw with the Bolt, I think they could do the now traditional minivan 3rd row folds into the well of the cargo area since the Buzz is limited in size so it could sell in Europe, and using the platform of the Blazer EV, I think it would be easy enough for them to bring out. And as an EV platform, it would not as directly step on the toes of the Traverse/Acadia/Enclave the way other brands have with the Odyssey/Pilot and Sienna/Highlander/GH. They could even have a lifted, camper-ready version for GMC to do van life and give the brand a more entry-level EV. But GM will never do it.
There’s something wrong when the cost of top end “family movers” are pushing up against the price of good clean used small RVs.
I miss the luxury minivan. Have fond memories of the Chrysler Town & Country, Oldsmobile Silhouette, and short-lived Buick Terraza. There is simply nothing that comes close to the comfort and versatility of luxury minivans.
So yes. I certainly wouldn’t hate the idea of the GL8 making it stateside but unfortunately, there’s a better chance of us getting the 2nd gen XT5 over this ever happening. GM is too quick to axe anything showing a slight sign of poor sales.
85Zingo,
True, unless it’s an EV in which case sales volumes don’t matter.
If Buick’s current slogan is “Exceptional By Design,” to my eyes this is unattractive – though I must quickly admit that it appears to be in the same stylistic ballpark as other Chinese or premium minivans.
Unless they re-design this a little more attractively, it would be better if GM gave Buick a production version of the Buick Electra-LT Concept (the wagon body style) to the U.S.
With the high cost of new cars today compare to 40 or 50 years ago today’s new vehicles are five times the cost and still have the same basic functions and making them cheaper then long time ago they took pride in quality and they work now it’s like having disposable recycled vehicles they should bring back sedans and station wagons something that people can’t afford and be proud of like the Buick Lucerne we all should go back to basics how vehicles used to be build with quality
Don’t bring that POS back to the US…bring us back the second gen Cadillac CT6! Not all buyers want a minivan, CUV, SUV, EV or a mall-crawler pickup. Give us a full-sized luxury sedan!
No, it’s ugly and would only further erode the dignity of the Buick brand.
Yes, as long as it is built in the US or Canada. No, if it is imported from mainland China.
Don’t know what the VSS-F platform is? Hope it’s not the same old GM junk of the past. If so it will flop. Otherwise a PHEV with 4-500 total HP & 500 + lb ft torque’s. Priced around the $60K mark loaded and they will sell like wildfire. I’m not in “mini-van” mode right now but a very nice Avenir’ or better interior I might buy one.
Honda Odessey in China
I offered my wife a new Suburban, and she said no! She drives a 2005 GMC Safari AWD, which I bought new for her. I asked her what would happen if we found another van for her. Her response: “When GM makes another mid-size van, AWD, I will buy it, but not until then.” It has a 120K, is problem-free, and looks like new.
We also own a 2011 GMC Savana high-top conversion we bought new and travel in. 120K, problem-free, and 20+ MPG; neither vehicle burns oil. Both are outstanding quality vehicles, including the 17 Camaro and 24 Enclave.
I have been looking at Ford, Toyota, Honda, KIA, and Chrysler mid-size vans. While I have been loyal to GM for 50 years, I might be forced to end my loyalty because GM is not offering mid-sized vans. GM leadership should look at the brands, as mentioned above, as sales are in demand. It was a mistake closing Delaware and Baltimore. If made in the USA, a Buick or other GM models, mid-sized van, AWD, would be a welcome addition to the GM stable.
Buick definitely needs to bring the GL8 Century to the US (especially the 4-seater version cuz otherwise what’s the point?). They also need to bring the LaCrosse to the US as well. Buick needs a more diverse lineup. Sooo over the absurd SUV/Crossover/Truck craze. We need a full force comeback of sedans, minivans, and station wagons.