The South African automotive landscape is being reshaped by the introduction of more and more Chinese products on what seems to be a monthly basis. The latest brand to land on our shores is GAC Motor, which launched its GS3 Emzoom recently. They were kind enough to drop one off for me to review the week after the launch event. Here are my thoughts on the newcomer.
Related: GAC Motors coming to SA!
Pros:
-Non-R Style models have a broad appeal
-Ride quality is decent
-Interior quality is impressive
Cons:
-More show than go
-Drivetrain calibration needs work
-Pricing is steep
About GAC
GAC Motor was founded in 2008 and has since expanded rapidly in China, employing 113 000 people. The brand began selling vehicles outside of China in 2013. With the rise of Chinese vehicles locally and through the European Salvador Caetano Group retailing and distributing the brand locally, GAC has landed on local shores.
"As a company deeply rooted in the automotive industry and present on three continents, this partnership, helped GAC Motor to accelerate its international business, and it marks the beginning of a fruitful collaboration. Together, we will leverage our strengths to bring high-quality vehicles to the South African market, supported by a robust dealership network focused on customer satisfaction," said Mr. Wang Shunsheng, Deputy General Manager of GAC Motor.
Styling
The exterior styling of the GS3 is interesting, to say the least. We see some of Spanish brand Seat's performance sub-brand Cupra in its looks and a healthy dose of Mazda and Nissan, which is not a bad thing! Our test unit was the flagship R Style model, and as such, it features a rear spoiler, front and rear splitter and an interesting colour combination, along with a rear exhaust exit that wouldn't look out of place in the world of motorsport. The GS3's angular, sharp design cues garnered many looks from inquisitive motorists, many asking about the car and remarking that it looks good. I share their sentiments, but having looked at the Executive and Comfort models, I think their more reserved exterior has more appeal than the R Sport.
Interior & Space
Heading inside, things are just as flamboyant, with blue being the dominant colour. Blue and black artificial leather cover the interior, contrasting with silver accents in the centre console. All tangible material surfaces are of good quality, while the metal speaker covers for the DTS-sourced sound system are quite sharp to the touch. Speaking of the sound system, I was underwhelmed; having seen the DTS logo, I expected solid quality, but it was decidedly average. Moving on to infotainment, there's a 10.25-inch touchscreen with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while a 7.0-inch digitised instrument cluster rounds off a thoroughly modern interior aesthetic.
In terms of functionality, the system features good resolution and works relatively well, particularly once your iOS or Android device is connected. Thankfully, many climate control-related functions can be operated by buttons. The driving modes must be adjusted via the screen, though, which is quite irksome, particularly when there's an active exhaust button on the steering wheel, which does not open the flaps unless you're in Sport mode. The system houses a surround-view camera system and allows control of the various semi-autonomous diving aids, which include adaptive cruise control
Since the GS3 is roughly the same size as the Toyota Corolla Cross (440-litre boot), its 341-litre boot appears small. However, it expands to 1 271 litres with the rear seats folded flat, alluding to the emphasis on rear occupant space in place of ultimate boot volume.
Drivetrain
Driving impression
The R Style press unit arrived at the office as I handed over the keys for another vehicle, and the sporty-sounding exhaust note immediately took me aback. The hot hatch-like idle combined with its outlandish exterior and interior design had me thinking I had another Hyundai Kona N on my hands, so I grabbed the keys and headed out for a drive. I started my journey in Eco mode and realised that I could not activate the loud exhaust mode in the most efficient setting, so I went into the driving modes, which can only be accessed on the infotainment screen, where I tried both Normal and Sport mode.
While the rorty exhaust note is sometimes grin-inducing, the true performance on offer is lacklustre, which would not be a problem if the aesthetics and aural promise were not that of a performance car. While not sluggish, the acceleration feels ordinary, and the lack of gear shift paddles seems like an odd omission on a vehicle with sporty pretensions.
The low-speed calibration of the dual-clutch gearbox in combination with the turbocharged engine can result in some clunky low-speed operating as the gearbox decides which gear it wants to be in while the turbo spools, sometimes meaning a delayed response when trying to accelerate, followed by a flurry of acceleration as everything catches up with driver inputs. This is not unique among Chinese products, as most models with a dual-clutch gearbox and turbocharged engine display these traits. Still, it feels slightly more exaggerated here simply because there's more exhaust noise and the anticipation of some performance.
Tackling the daily grind is truly where the GS3 feels more at home. Driving becomes more palatable once you've acclimatised to the drivetrain's response and adjusted your inputs and expectations accordingly. The steering is relatively light, and its response is sometimes vague, but in keeping with a vehicle of this type. Ride quality and cabin intrusion are impressive, making this a good car to drive on the open road. With the product feeling far more agreeable in more mundane driving scenarios, I would have to conclude that the less sporty and, indeed, more affordable Comfort and Executive models would be a safer bet if you're looking at an Emzoom.
Fuel economy
GAC claims a fuel consumption figure of 6.2 L/100km, but our real-world figure was 9.1 L/100km, which is quite heavy for a compact crossover. A single 47-litre tank of petrol yields around 500 km of driving range.
Safety
The GS3 was recently crash-tested by the ASEAN NCAP, achieving a five-star safety rating. It scored 88.39 points out of 100, making it safe to assume that it's a safe product.
Pricing*
The pricing GAC has opted for in the GS3 range is quite high, considering more established Chinese models such as the Haval Jolion and Chery Tiggo 7 Pro can be had for less, never mind even more established players like the Toyota Corolla Cross, Kia Seltos, and Hyundai Creta, which can all be had for less.
GS3 Emzoom 1.5 T Comfort – R469 900
GS3 Emzoom 1.5 T Executive – R499 900
GS3 Emzoom 1.5 T R-Style – R549 900
* All models come with a 5-year/150 000km warranty and a 5-year/60 000km service plan, with service intervals every 15 000km.
Verdict
Undoubtedly, the GAC's first locally introduced product is impressive in some areas. Our R Style press unit's bold styling and sporty exhaust note promise performance but deliver run-of-the-mill Chinese compact crossover drive qualities. This, combined with a high list price, means that the GS3 may find things tough in this incredibly competitive segment.
