2023 GAC Emkoo GL

From concept to reality

GAC Motor is on a roll and in the right direction. The GS3, GS8, Emzoom, and the new M8 are certainly turning heads and grabbing attention.

The Emkoo crossover was one of the first products under this new direction, making its debut at the 2023 Manila International Auto Show under new distributor Astara. But is this GAC -and its imaginative approach to the design- good enough to capture your imagination and be worthy of your money?

The Emkoo goes against segment stalwart Ford Territory, the current generation Territory actually made its debut at the same time as the Emkoo. Also competing in the same ring are the Changan CS55 Plus and the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro. The Geely Azkarra and Haval H6 fit into its size comparison, but the H6 is a hybrid, while the Azkarra is a mild hybrid; but both are priced around 20% more.

In terms of styling, GAC decided to go for a more unique approach for the Emkoo; a welcome departure from the cloning disease that plagued many Chinese crossovers where it gets very confusing as to which brand or model you’re looking at. I like the overall futuristic concept car styling, it might be everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s refreshing and original.

It’s a very well-put-together car and the materials used are of high quality. Designers used very edgy styling cues and strong character lines. The GL variant we drove came with 19-inch wheels standard which gives it a good overall stance.

The Emkoo will definitely catch someone’s eye whichever side you look at. The automaker also has some very interesting names for its exterior features such as “Eyes of Enlightenment” headlights and “Quantum Lightsaber” taillights. The mecha-style rear spoiler adds a very sporty touch to the design too. I did however find the fake exhaust ports on the rear bumper to be quite tacky, I think they should have integrated the real exhaust pipes into it.

Step inside and the futuristic look continues, you get a 7-inch digital instrument cluster in front of you plus a larger 10.1” floating touchscreen for the infotainment system. The multi-function steering wheel feels good to touch and the buttons are easy to reach. The controls are laid out well, it just takes a while to get used to. Both driver and front passenger seats come with power adjust buttons. You get a good amount of greenhouse with the large windshield and panoramic sunroof. It’s not perfect, as you can see the price of the car comes in as the quality of some materials gets plasticky.

The infotainment system connects to Apple CarPlay via USB, I was oddly prompted if I wanted to connect wirelessly, but it didn't quite work out as expected. Audio quality is decent via the 6-speaker system of the GL version tested. You can connect non-Apple phones via Bluetooth or the USB-A and USB-C ports.

Under the hood is a 1.5-liter GDI turbo engine rated at 177 PS and 270 Nm of torque, this is mated to a 7-speed DCT. On paper, it is somewhat in the midrange compared to the competition. But in the real world, it’s pretty peppy and packs good acceleration as you weave through traffic Shifting on the wet-clutch DCT is smooth and seamless.

The Emkoo is a rather large vehicle for its class measuring 4,680 mm long, 1901 mm wide, and 1,670mm tall. It also sits on a 2,750 mm long wheelbase, one of the longest in its segment. You’ll feel its width in tight spaces, but it’s pretty easy to move around with the light electronic power steering. Its turning radius is quite good despite the long wheelbase, and crossovers typically suffer from having a larger turning radius.

The suspension was tuned more on the comfort side, so don’t expect sharp cornering and dynamism with it. The steering feels light for my taste even on “sport” setting, there’s no option to make it firmer. But most buyers may find it better for their driving style. Given the edgy exterior styling, I was expecting more of that side of the driving spectrum. What I think they aimed for was more of a balance between handling and comfort NVH seems to be well taken care of, and there’s a good amount of sound deadening to mute out road noise.

In terms of safety, it is equipped with an ADAS (Advanced Driver Assist System) giving it an alphabet soup of safety features. This means it gets neat tricks like Adaptive Cruise Control, Integrated Cruise Assist, Autonomous Emergency Braking, Automatic Emergency Braking-Vulnerable Road Users Protection, Forward Collision Warning, Traffic Sign Recognition System, Traffic Jam Assist, Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, and Surround View Camera System with Rear Parking Sensors. It also comes with an Electronic Stability Program, Hill-start Hold Control, and Hill Descent Control.

The GAC Emkoo offers a good proposition as a midsize 5-seat crossover. It’s not perfect, but its price tag of PHP 1,498,000 for the top-trim GL variant is quite competitive. The entry-level GE version is PHP 200,000 less with slightly fewer creature comforts and an inch smaller wheels, but the same amount of ADAS features.

This should be good for someone who wants a standout looker and a casual drive, and even while some things could be improved (notably the quality of certain interior bits), the Emkoo certainly makes a great argument for the money.