“There’s always room for family.”

These words by Dominic Toretto of the Fast & Furious franchise pretty much explain the importance of MPVs among Filipinos.

The M6 Pro is GAC Motor Philippines’ attempt at providing a people mover that’s stylish, premium, and most importantly, spacious. We got to experience the minivan on a day trip to Pampanga, and here’s what we found out.

Unlike the usual seven-seater MPVs on the market, the M6 Pro is not a subcompact vehicle. It measures 4,793mm long, 1,837mm wide, and 1,730mm high—similar to a Toyota Innova.

The most important measurement is the 2,810mm wheelbase, which allows the MPV to afford plentiful space. Under the hood is the same 1.5-liter four-cylinder turbo gasoline engine found in the Emzoom, the Emkoo, and the Empow.

With three people in the vehicle, I drove the first leg from GAC Manila Bay to San Simon, Pampanga. This allowed me to experience a bit of city driving before heading to the expressway. The throttle was abrupt in stop-and-go traffic with a small jab on the pedal resulting in a rather big push forward.

I’m not the keenest when it comes to the transmission, but my car-mate commented that the shifts felt clunky. To learn more about the vehicle’s driving dynamics, you can read my colleague’s in-depth review.

If anyone is wondering why the destination was the R33 Drift Track, that’s because the organizer, Ramirez & Cutter, wanted to show off the safety features of the M6 Pro. These were tested on different sections that involved hard braking, tight turns, and mixed traction.

The point of all this, really, is that modern cars have never been safer thanks to all the tech that makes them idiot-proof. You don’t need the skills and the reflexes of a rally driver to save the car in a hairy situation. With features such as traction control, stability control, ABS, and electronic brake-force distribution, you’d have to try hard to spin out or flip over.

After having a bit of fun on the track, the best part followed. No longer behind the wheel, I was able to experience the M6 Pro as a passenger.

The highlight of the vehicle for me is the cabin. Not only does it feel premium but it is also spacious and ergonomic. None of my belongings felt out of place thanks to the plentiful storage compartments and charging ports.

What I enjoyed most about the MPV was that I was able to sleep comfortably with the help of the adjustable second-row seats.

At the end of the trip, I realized that while the GAC M6 Pro may not be particularly fast and furious, it is a comfortable ride that the family will enjoy.

If you have issues with Chinese car brands due to the ongoing territorial conflict in the West Philippine Sea, perhaps you should consider your purchasing decisions with everything else that has “Made in China” stamped on it.