It truly does seem that a new Chinese offering is breaking ground every month and launching in South Africa. The local market's appetite for affordable motoring while demanding a high level of equipment has meant that the initial few that plied their wares locally have enjoyed great success. So it makes sense that others would also try dipping their toes in the local waters. GAC Motors, China's 5th largest state-owned motoring manufacturer, is no different. In addition to the recently released GS3 Emzoom, it now presents the Emkoo.
Related: GAC Emkoo pricing revealed
The GAC Motors EMKOO is a C-segment SUV with a striking design and all the tech and value that South African consumers require in an SUV. It competes in a hotly-contested market segment where the established players continue to move volume despite the challenges from some of the newer Asian offerings.
Futuristic design
The GAC Emkoo is not what you would call compact. At nearly 4.7 meters long and 1.67 meters high, it is a sizeable vehicle. The sharp design language gives it a modern, futuristic, and almost concept car-like look, accentuated by the LED headlights, DRLs, and taillights—the latter being referred to as "light sable-styled."
The front has a sharp, faceted grille with multiple elements converging in a large V-shape up front with the streamlined LED headlights bookend either side. These units feature automatic activation and auto high beams on all trim levels.
Two trim levels are available: the Executive and the Executive-Plus. The latter receives larger 19-inch alloy wheels, an electric tailgate, heating and ventilation for the electrically adjustable seats and a few extra driver assistance systems.
Modern interior
The interior of the Emkoo is well-equipped and comfortable, with leather upholstery and a leather-bound multifunction steering wheel. Space is generous, and the rear legroom is very impressive—one of the mainstays of Chinese products. The flat rear floor section also helps with comfort, allowing three adults to sit adequately, even on longer journeys.
A 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system provides access to a multitude of entertainment options. The system supports wireless Apple CarPlay, although we found connecting it to be a little more challenging than we would have liked. It supports Android Auto through the third-party CarBit Link app or the supplied wireless dongle.
This system also accesses many of the vehicle functions and settings. The interface could be a little more intuitive, but after a few minutes of exploring, one should be able to find one's way around.
Drivetrain
Powering the newcomer is a 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine that produces 130kW and 270Nm torque. It sends power to the front wheels through a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox with wet clutches. The power delivery and response are better than what one will get in many of the contemporary offerings that use a similar setup, and the Emkoo offers three driving modes, Eco, Comfort, and Sport, with the ability to configure the profiles in a personalized manner.
GAC claims that you can expect to see a combined cycle fuel consumption of 6.4 L/100 km from the Emkoo, and on our test route, we were able to return mid-7.0 L/100km with little effort and the odd flex of the right foot.
The suspension tuning is also surprisingly good, with a firm but compliant ride that easily absorbs large undulations. We did find the secondary ride to be a little more abrasive, but this could possibly be ironed out with a slight adjustment to the tyre pressures.
Safety
The Emkoo is constructed from high-strength, hot-stamped steel and features at least 6 airbags. It has the standard ABS array with EBD but includes numerous Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance systems. The Executive trim includes lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and emergency braking. In contrast, the Executive-Plus gets blind spot detections, rear cross-traffic alert, and self-park functionality.
Pricing
The GAC Motors EMKOO is sold with a 5-year/150 000 km warranty and a 5-year/100 000 km service plan.
EMKOO Executive 1.5l TGDI: R599 900
EMKOO Executive-Plus 1.5l TGDI: R659 900
