25-06-2025
Five Chinese GM Cars You Can't Buy Here
Wouldn't it be nice if General Motors, among the world's largest automakers, still sold an affordable compact sedan in the United States that starts at $14,000? Or how about a full-size Cadillac sedan powered by gas, not electricity? Wouldn't it be great to buy an opulent minivan or battery-electric Buick? Or how about a sportier rendition of the Cadillac XT4? At that point, GM would be treating its customers as well as it's treating its Chinese customers. When it comes to sweet rides, America is clearly getting the short end of the stick from unadventurous GM product planners.
Currently available in China, but not the U.S., the Buick Electra E5 is a midsize battery-electric SUV with 385 miles of range and a base price of $23,665. It's rated at 241 horsepower and 243 pound-feet of torque, good for a 0-60 mph run of a little over seven seconds and a 112 mph top speed. Buyers have a choice of battery size, with the largest battery providing 130 miles of range in as little as 10 minutes. Already having undergone a design facelift, the instrument panel features a 30-inch curved screen with over-the-air updates, a 5G Wi-Fi hotspot, and the latest wireless iOS 26 CarPlay and Android Auto – something new American Buicks lack. It also features Level 2 semi-autonomous driving and an optional 14-speaker Bose Centerpoint audio system. An 8-speaker unit comes standard.
When it comes time to carry cargo, its 17.7 cubic-foot cargo hold expands to 58.5 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. While the Electra E5 was slated to be on sale by now, tariffs have clearly put such plans on hold. Nevertheless, the Electra E5 marks the return of a nameplate that debuted in 1959, replacing the Roadmaster at the top of the Buick food chain. It would be used through 1990, when it was replaced by the Park Avenue, the former name of an Electra trim level.
With prices starting at the equivalent of $74,500, the front-wheel-drive GL8 Century is the top-of-the-line minivan model boasting an incredibly indulgent interior. Its level of luxury was once common to Buicks, albeit decades ago, before GM accountants stripped the marque of luxury.
That's certainly not the case with the GL8 Century, which prioritizes passenger comfort with seating for four or six, although you'll want the four-seat layout. The Nappa leather rear seats adjust 18 ways and feature five heat zones with a massage function. There are even heated footrests. The suede headliner features 366 LEDs, a design idea nicked from Rolls-Royce, as well as a 32-inch entertainment screen that deploys at the touch of a button and is augmented by a Bose 21-speaker audio system. There's also a 13-liter refrigerator, 5G connectivity, and an aromatherapy system. Of course, there's a partition for rear-seat privacy.
Power comes from a 48-volt hybrid system with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and nine-speed automatic transmission rated at 233 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. A 30-inch infotainment display is standard. The fully independent suspension favors ride comfort, in the finest Buick tradition.
Misguided GM executives seem convinced that no one in the United States wants a full-size gas-powered luxury sedan. That's left this profitable market segment open to European and Asian automakers who have gladly scooped up Cadillac's market share. While it's been a half decade since the Cadillac CT6 roamed these shores, it survives in China, where a second-generation was unveiled for 2024. For its latest iteration, the Cadillac CT6 features a revised design that draws inspiration from the Cadillac Escala concept car, a vehicle that was initially intended for production but was ultimately canceled by GM, resulting in its transformation into a concept.
The style remains sleekly luxurious, something that can't be said of the Cadillac Celestiq EV, which owes much of its design to Citroen. It's powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter gasoline engine that provides 233 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque to a 10-speed automatic transmission. Of course, it comes with Cadillac's 33-inch display that houses both the driver's digital instrument cluster and the infotainment system. It's also equipped with Super Cruise and GM's masterful Magnetic Ride Control 4.0. The cabin comes trimmed in dark ash open-pore wood, 26-color ambient lighting, and an AKG audio system. Prices start at a sensible $51,000.
Imagine the Cadillac XT4 with a sleeker roofline and longer wheelbase and you have the Cadillac GT4. Built in China to compete with the Audi Q3, BMW X1, and Mercedes-Benz GLA, the GT4 sports trendy thin headlamps connected by a light bar up front, while Cadillac's trademark T-shaped taillamps wrap the rear corners and are visually connected by a chrome trim strip. Opting for the up-level 28T Sport trim brings with it a black cabin and blackout trim across the SUV, along with 19-inch black aluminum wheels, lending it a decidedly sportier appearance. Like the XT4, the GT4 is front-wheel drive, although all-wheel drive is available.
Power comes from a pair of mild-hybrid drivelines. The base model GT4 25T Luxury is powered by a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 204 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque. The 28T Sport is equipped with a larger turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine good for 230 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The top speed is 130 mph, and a nine-speed automatic transmission is standard. As you'd expect, a 33-inch instrument cluster and infotainment combination display dominate the dashboard. Additionally, there are the expected luxuries, including heated and ventilated seats, a 15-speaker AKG audio system, a surround-view camera system, a digital rearview mirror, and a head-up display. Prices start at a reasonable $31,000.
Having received a mid-cycle refresh in 2023, the Chevrolet Monza is the sort of compact sedan that GM has sold stateside for decades and should sell here again. Its fascia is a trapezoidal grille and slim headlamps that recall the Chevrolet Blazer. Its instrument panel features dual 10.25-inch screens, one a digital driver instrument cluster, the other an infotainment touchscreen. A separate set of controls below the air vents adjusts the climate.
It's powered by a turbocharged 1.5-liter engine rated at 111 horsepower and 104 pound-feet of torque or a turbocharged 1.3-liter mild-hybrid driveline generating 161 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission is standard. The Monza name was originally used on a 1975-80 Chevrolet subcompact, built on GM's H-Body platform shared with the Vega. With a greenhouse borrowed from Ferrari's 1971–72 365 GTC/4, the Chevy employed much of the Vega's hardware, with badge-engineered versions sold as the Pontiac Sunbird, Oldsmobile Starfire, and Buick Skyhawk. This modern version is also sold in Mexico as the Chevrolet Cavalier Turbo. Prices start at slightly more than $14,000.
It's quite a shame that, as large a company as GM is, executives haven't filled niches in the U.S. market with more products from its Chinese factories. Now that tariffs make such plans prohibitively expensive, it seems that the Chinese market will continue to be offered a far more diverse range of vehicles than the U.S. market.
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