Tagaytay Drive: 2024 GAC Emkoo Hybrid – right HEV at the right time?

A day drive with the hybrid GAC Emkoo

In the automotive industry, it pays to introduce a product at the right time considering how fast-paced car development is. Especially now that consumer preference is starting to switch to hybrids, anyone who makes the most efficient and could drive the farthest range usually has the edge in the competition.

What could have been considered a “game changer” today, might not be the case in a matter of a few months.

For GAC, they previewed the Emkoo Hybrid back at April’s Manila International Auto Show. But only recently have they launched the electrified version of their compact crossover. So where does the GAC Emkoo with its new hybrid variant stand now that it’s available in the market? We got to know more about the new model on a quick drive to Tagaytay.

In terms of styling, the Emkoo Hybrid looks exactly the same as its pure combustion engine counterpart. And to be honest, it doesn’t really need to be changed at all. I like how the Emkoo is coming along as it racks up the years.

It’s a good gamble that GAC went for a futuristic – almost concept car-like styling as it remains unique. You’ll know exactly it’s an Emkoo once you see one on the road. It’s a love or hate it affair, but the fact is, despite the design quirks (HDMI-like faux exhaust tips), we’ve never seen other newer crossovers go as bold as GAC with the design when they did the Emkoo.

Inside is also the same story. With the engine turned off, there’s nothing different between the Emkoo Hybrid and the pure combustion version inside. So you still have those quirky door handles, the 7-inch digital instrument cluster, the 10.1-inch floating touchscreen for the infotainment, and even the gear selector’s the same.

It all changes though once you start the Emkoo Hybrid. Instead of a starter motor engaging, you’re left with, or remains with, well.. silence. That’s because the Emkoo Hybrid has a 2.0-liter Atkinson cycle four-cylinder engine assisted by an electric motor to form the HEV system. The engine makes 140 PS and 180 Nm of torque. With the help of the motor, however, the Emkoo Hybrid has a total system output of 238 PS and 300 Nm of torque.

The digital screens turn on and the difference shows. Instead of a tach on the center of the screen, the Emkoo Hybrid shows a central power gauge. On the left, instead of a water temp bar, you get a battery bar similar to what we see with Nokia era cellphones.  The same goes for the infotainment screen, as there’s an extra graphic that shows where the energy is being transferred – to the wheels, to the batteries, or being supplied by the engine.

We drove from Makati to Tagaytay choosing a route of our preference. For this drive, I decided to take a personal favorite route going up – drive the entire southbound of SLEX, exit at STAR Tollway in Tanauan, and turn right to reach the longer, more scenic, and twistier Sampaloc road in Talisay.

As it was before, the Emkoo in its hybrid version exhibited the characteristics of a smooth highway cruiser. Despite the addition of a battery, the Emkoo Hybrid feels light on its feet, doesn’t heave about when changing directions, and keeps its composure on sudden dips and the bumpy surfaces you’d normally encounter when driving on the current state of SLEX.

The most significant change, and a really positive one that got me impressed, is the level of mechanical refinement. On the pure ICE versions of the Emkoo, the DCT transmission leaves me wanting for a bit more smoothness and better kickdown response. For the Hybrid version though, it’s every bit as refined as I wanted it to be. There’s immediate power on your left foot whenever you need it, and the tuning of the throttle means you can actually be very smooth with your inputs. That’s something I was able to experience as we went up Sampaloc road without the Emkoo Hybrid breaking a sweat.

If there’s any comparison to how the hybrid Emkoo drives now, I would probably say it’s somewhere near the CR-V e:HEV levels. Speaking of which, I believe the HEV system on the Emkoo behaves in a similar manner. It has the ability to run on electric, pure ICE, and combined system depending on the demands of the road. It’s simple and straightforward for the end user as you don’t need to fiddle with things such as EV mode, and the selectable drive modes only alter the regenerative braking and throttle response characteristics.

Of course, fuel efficiency was expected to be stellar as we managed 3.9 liters per 100 km during the drive, which translates to almost 26 kilometers per liter.

On the short drive we had from Makati to Tagaytay and back, my overall impression is that the hybrid powertrain has further refined the driving dynamics of the Emkoo, as it addressed the areas for improvement of the pure combustion version. That alone makes me think the Emkoo has gone from good to great because of the new hybrid powertrain.

However, the major challenge for the Emkoo Hybrid going forward is not because it’s a product that needs fixing. But rather, it’s the timing of its arrival. Back in April’s MIAS, other competitors haven’t introduced vehicles as refined as the Emkoo Hybrid for its price point. But now, it’s up against a very strong product from BYD - the Sealion 6.

Let's wait and see if GAC can pull it off in swaying buyers the Emkoo Hybrid way.