The GAC Emzoom is a stylish and comfortable compact SUV that offers good value with its warranty and standard features. However, its sporty looks can be misleading due to underwhelming performance, and some find the price too high for what it offers. It’s best suited for buyers prioritizing style and comfort over outright performance.
GAC is the abbreviation for Guangzhou Automobile Group Motor Company. It is a state-owned company, the 5th-largest automaker in China and reportedly retailed no fewer than 2.5 million cars in 2023.
The Portugal-based Salvador Caetano holding company has obtained the rights to distribute GAC products in South Africa, of which the GS3 Emzoom is the first. Other Em -prefixed (not M) vehicles in GAC’s stable include the Emkoo family car/medium SUV.
GS3 Emzoom’s surprisingly spacious interior
There’s no such thing as a free lunch, though. The price for being able to comfortably accommodate adults who like consuming extra (oh, let’s say) wontons is a limited luggage capacity. The load bay is said to accommodate 341 litres, which extends to 1 271 litres when the rear seatback is folded forward.
Up front – and similar to many of the GS3 Emzoom’s compatriots – there’s a dizzying mix of materials scattered around the fascia, although the more industrial ones have been implemented sparingly to solely carry out the heaviest buffering against scuffing.
Wireless Apple CarPlay is available, though Android users can only mirror their smartphone screens by installing a CarbitLink app or using an aftermarket box that allows wireless Android Auto, which GAC will install for R1 500. GAC says the latter connectivity should appear as an integrated feature by next year.
Sweet – and slightly sour – driving experience
The driving experience is a mainly sweet (and only minorly sour) affair. GAC claims a 0-100 kph sprint time of 8 sec, although an impromptu, smartphone-measured attempt to emulate this time only delivered a double-digit result. This is owed either to overzealous traction control (with no switchable traction or stability control) or too much clutch slip at pull-away, which robs the 1.5T R-Style of any instantaneous alacrity – or both. Plus, the kerb weight (of around 1 400 kg) makes a meal of its power-to-weight ratio.
Once the GAC gets going, though, metres are munched as it sets off chasing the horizon. It’s not firing-squad-facing fast, but the flat torque curve – once reached – keeps the GS3, um, effortlessly zooming (sorry, Mazda) at impeachable velocities. Just mind the hyperactive ABS when it’s time.
GS3 Emzoom’s surprisingly spacious interior
The utilisation of space in the GAC GS3 Emzoom is quite smart, however. Both rows of seats extend rearwards beyond their adjacent roof pillars. That, along with the absence of a transmission tunnel, creates an entirely flat rear passenger floor that facilitates a truly cavernous passenger area.
Lifestyle treasures:
Had driven the medium SUV around Johannesburg locations and with the pecs it has, slowly it’s competitors like your Golf 6 or 7 drivers kept asking themselves what’s this naught brand that we keep seeing being powerful on road,they would stop me for a exterior check and embraces it with its marvelous look and feel it has..
There’s no such thing as a free lunch, though. The price for being able to comfortably accommodate adults who like consuming extra is a limited luggage capacity. The load bay is said to accommodate 341 litres, which extends to 1 271 litres when the rear seatback is folded forward.
Up front – and similar to many of the GS3 Emzoom’s compatriots – there’s a dizzying mix of materials scattered around the fascia, although the more industrial ones have been implemented sparingly to solely carry out the heaviest buffering against scuffing.
the driver is faced by a pair of digital displays, with the centre one offering a range of adjustments (including opening all windows and the panoramic sunroof). It sits atop a row of physical buttons to control the more essential in-car functions.
Wireless Apple CarPlay is available, though Android users can only mirror their smartphone screens by installing a CarbitLink app or using an aftermarket box that allows wireless Android Auto, which GAC will install for R1 500. GAC says the latter connectivity should appear as an integrated feature by next year.
Sweet – and slightly sour – driving experience
The driving experience is a mainly sweet (and only minorly sour) affair. GAC claims a 0-100 kph sprint time of 8 sec,smartphone-measured attempt to emulate this time only delivered a double-digit result. This is owed either to overzealous traction control (with no switchable traction or stability control) or too much clutch slip at pull-away, which robs the 1.5T R-Style of any instantaneous alacrity – or both. Plus, the kerb weight (of around 1 400 kg) makes a meal of its power-to-weight ratio.
Once the GAC gets going, though, metres are munched as it sets off chasing the horizon. It’s not firing-squad-facing fast, but the flat torque curve …..Follow @ GACmotorSA and S.A BUZZ