First Drive: GAC GS3 Emzoom Nova
The influx of new automotive players on South African soil shows no signs of slowing down. The latest brand fighting for a piece of the highly competitive compact crossover pie is Chinese automotive giant GAC Motor, distributed locally via the established European retail group Salvador Caetano.
Leading the charge is the boldly styled GAC GS3 Emzoom, a vehicle clearly aiming to tempt buyers away from local safe bets with sharp styling, a punchy drivetrain, and aggressive value-for-money pricing. We attended the local presentation to see if it had the substance to match its dramatic, mecha-inspired design.
Lineup and pricing
The Emzoom range positions itself squarely in the sweet spot of contemporary premium-budget crossover territory. Starting at R359 900, the pricing structure is aggressive:
GAC Emzoom Nova: R359 900
GAC Emzoom Executive Collection: R379 900
GAC Emzoom Executive: R449 900
GAC is entering SA with a heavy-hitting Lifetime Engine Warranty for the first owner, alongside a standard 2-year/30 000 km service plan.
Styling
GAC calls its styling theme the "Star Diamond Shadow" concept, featuring heavy creases, a complex so-called "flying-mecha" front grille, and hidden door handles that pop out on unlock. The colour palette matches offers options like Graphene Grey, Galaxy Lilac, and Fast Red.
Inside, the cabin breaks away from the drab, all-black plastic setups often found at this price point. The interior features a combination of synthetic leather and textured fabrics, with contrast stitching.
Space and tech highlights
Screens: Ahead of the driver is a digital instrument cluster (3.5-inch on the Nova, stepping up to a 7-inch LCD unit on the higher tiers) paired with a crisp, central 10.25-inch touchscreen display supporting wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Cabin practicality: Legroom and headroom are highly competitive for a compact chassis. There's a tiered floating centre console with an electronic gear shifter, dual cupholders, a wireless phone charger, and a cavernous storage tray underneath the transmission tunnel.
Cargo: A spacious boot area paired with an automatic tailgate on the top-tier R449 900 model makes it plenty practical for lifestyle gear or weekly groceries.
Powertrain
Under the bonnet sits GAC’s third-generation 1.5-litre Turbocharged Direct Injection (GDI) petrol engine. On paper, its outputs are:
Power is sent to the front wheels via a 7-speed Wet Dual-Clutch Transmission (WDCT) sourced from German component company Schaeffler. GAC claims shift times as low as 0.2 seconds and a 96% comprehensive efficiency rate from the low-viscosity lubrication system. From my experience, this is not the best dual-clutch unit out there, but perhaps it needs some calibration.
Driving Modes & Performance
The powertrain behaviour changes depending on which of the three driving modes you select via the toggle next to the electronic shifter:
Eco-mode: Pulls back throttle response significantly, prioritising fuel efficiency to help achieve GAC's claimed 6.2L/100km average.
Comfort-mode: The sweet spot for day-to-day commuting, balancing early upshifts with enough midrange torque to zip through urban traffic effortlessly.
Sport-mode: Sharpens the dual-clutch logic and provides a much more urgent pedal feel from the powertrain while adding weight to the steering feel.
Off the line, the 130 kW motor feels punchy, clocking a claimed 0-100 km/h sprint in 8.0 seconds. There are still some calibration issues, with either hesitation or an overzealous application of power to the front wheels, requiring precise pedal modulation. The ride is quite firm, but handling is good. Built on what GAC calls its "Mega Chassis" and boasting a strong 5-star ASEAN NCAP safety rating, backed by a 58.9% high-strength steel body.
Spec breakdown
| Feature | Nova (R359 900) | Executive Collection (R379 900) | Executive (R449 900) |
| Wheels | 17-inch Alloys (225/55 R17) | 18-inch Alloys (225/55 R18) | 18-inch Alloys (225/55 R18) |
| Seating | Synthetic Leather + Fabric (Manual) | PVC Leather Seats | Driver Seat 6-way Power Adjustment |
| Driver display | 3.5-inch Cluster | 7-inch LCD Instrument Cluster | 7-inch LCD Instrument Cluster |
| Safety | Rear Sensors, Cruise Control, Hill-start Hold | Adaptive Cruise, Forward Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning, AEB | Surround View Camera, High Beam Assist, Blind Spot support |
| Comfort | Manual Hidden Handles, Keyless Entry | Leather Steering Wheel, Rear Reading Lights | Sunroof, Wireless Charger, R-Style Sport Pack, Power Tailgate |
The mid-tier Executive Collection at R379 900 represents a massive leap in value, adding a full suite of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) like Adaptive Cruise Control, Autonomous Emergency Braking, and Lane Departure Warning for just a R20 000 premium over the base model.
Verdict
The GAC GS3 Emzoom lands in South Africa with an aggressive pricing structure, visual appeal, and a solid engine that needs better calibration with its gearbox. Backed by Salvador Caetano's international retail expertise and that eye-catching lifetime engine warranty, the Emzoom has all the right ingredients to turn heads and shake up the local crossover hierarchy. Time will tell whether this will be effective.
