The Emkoo is part of GAC Motors' maiden voyage into South Africa. GAC Motors has been around for some time, hailing from China, but it's appearing more in other territories. You can check out our review of the Emkoo here.
Related: GAC Motors Emkoo (2024) First Drive Review
The Emkoo shines in the aesthetics and technological department. The faceted front and end and strong silhouette are evidence of this. Inside, the Emkoo is a comfortable cocoon; you can expect some of the latest tech you'd tend to find in vehicles like this. How does Emkoo compare to its price contemporaries in terms of running costs? We compared the Emkoo in the 1.5T Executive trim versus the Toyota Corolla Cross in the 1.8 Hybrid XR and the Kia Seltos in the 1.5 LX Auto trim.
Looking at the figures
| GAC Motors Emkoo 1.5T Executive | Kia Seltos 1.5 LX Auto | Toyota Corolla Cross 1.8 Hybrid XR | |
| Engine | 1.5 litre turbocharged petrol 4 cylinder | 1.5 litre naturally aspirated petrol 4 cylinder | 1.8 litre naturally aspirated hybrid assistance petrol 4 cylinder |
| Power/Torque | 130kW / 270Nm | 84kW / 144Nm | 90kW total (72kW engine + 18kW electric) / 163Nm total (142Nm engine + 21Nm electric) |
| Gearbox | 7-speed Dual Clutch Transmission | CVT | CVT |
| Claimed Fuel Consumption | 6.4 L /100km | 6.3 L /100km | 4.3 L /100km |
| Airbags | 6 | 6 | 7 |
| Driven Wheels | Front | Front | Front |
| Hybrid | No | No | Yes |
| Kerb Weight | 1540kg | 1304kg | 1430kg |
| Fuel Tank Capacity (Litres) | 55 | 50 | 36 |
| Claimed Range | 859km | 794km | 837km |
| CO2 Emission (g/km) | 147 | 154 | 98 |
| Service Plan | 5 years /100 000km | 4 years /60 000km | 6 services /90 000km |
| Price | from R519 900 | from R492 995 | from R527 200 |
*Pricing stated here was correct when publishing and is subject to change without prior notice. Manufacturer figures were also claimed here.
Comparing the figures
Purchase Price
To see which is cheaper to buy, we'll conduct a quick calculation to see how much it all costs to finance them. We'll calculate using our finance tool and set the parameters at 72 months, a 10% deposit, no balloon/residual, and a 12% interest rate.
| Car | Purchase Price | Monthly Installment |
| GAC Motors Emkoo 1.5T Executive | from R519 900 | R9 148 p/m |
| Kia Seltos 1.5 LX Auto | from R492 995 | R8 674 p/m |
| Toyota Corolla Cross 1.8 Hybrid XR | from R527 200 | R9 276 p/m |
The Kia Seltos wins for the lowest purchase price and monthly instalments.
Claimed Fuel Consumption
| Car | Claimed Fuel Consumption |
| GAC Motors Emkoo 1.5T Executive | 6.4 L /100km |
| Kia Seltos 1.5 LX Auto | 6.3 L /100km |
| Toyota Corolla Cross 1.8 Hybrid XR | 4.3 L /100km |
The Toyota Corolla Cross uses the least fuel out of the trio, and this remains true during our real-world testing too!
Service Plan
| Car | Service Plan |
| GAC Motors Emkoo 1.5T Executive | 5 years /100 000km |
| Kia Seltos 1.5 LX Auto | 4 years /60 000km |
| Toyota Corolla Cross 1.8 Hybrid XR | 6 services /90 000km |
It's debatable here, but the Toyota Corolla Cross wins for us because it offers extra service over the GAC. However, what do you prioritise more: distance or period of time?
Who wins?
The Toyota Corolla Cross in 1.8 Hybrid XR trim wins this comparison. It's the cheapest to fuel and maintain in terms of servicing. In second place is the Kia Seltos, which is the most affordable in terms of its list price. You can search AutoTrader for the latest Corolla Cross, Seltos, and Emkoo offerings. You can also sell your car using AutoTrader.
