By Otsile Kadiege

A new Chinese automotive brand called GAC has set up shop in South Africa. The new automaker will be distributed across Mzansi by a company called Salvador Caetano. We recently joined GAC Motor South Africa at their first-ever local media launch where we got the opportunity to spend some time behind the wheel of the brand’s all-new, sporty crossover GS3 Emzoom SUV.

Exterior design and styling

Outside, the newcomer boasts an eye-catching, bold design with many sharp creases. Highlights include slim full-LED headlights, a large grille with vertical slats, sporty 18-inch alloy wheels, pop-out door handles, a rear spoiler with an integrated brake light, aggressive looking LED taillights and a prominent rear diffuser with centred dual exhaust tips. The range-topping R-Style grade adds orange accents on the front splitter, grille, roof rails, rear pillar and rear diffuser.

Overall, we like its daring exterior look, however the orange accents on the R-Style derivative won’t be to everyone’s liking.

Interior design and tech

Climbing aboard, the GS3 Emzoom has a modern and somewhat minimalist design. Standout features include a two-tone cabin (blue and black), fabric or leather seats depending on the chosen grade, a sporty flat-bottom multifunctional steering wheel, ambient lighting, a decently sized panoramic sunroof, a 7-inch digital cluster and a 10.25-inch touch display powered by an 8-core chipset.

The cabin is a lovely place to be in. It’s comfortable, it has a subtle design, there are physical climate control buttons and dials, it’s littered with quality materials, the infotainment system is easy to use and its display has decent graphics as well as an impressive camera quality. There’s also ample rear knee- and head-room, but its luggage compartment is small, which should be expected for a crossover SUV.

Performance and drive impressions

Under the hood, the GS3 Emzoom is powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged four- cylinder turbocharged petrol engine developing 130 kW of power and 270 Nm of torque. This engine, combined with GAC’s MegaWave Power technology, allows the vehicle to accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in a claimed 8 seconds. Fuel consumption is at a claimed 6.2L/100km (WLTP). The powerplant is paired with a 7-speed DCT gearbox.

The 1.5-litre mill is peppy, it has a fruity exhaust note and its assistance systems aren’t intrusive. That said, there’s a noticeable lag which makes overtaking tricky, it’s suspension is a bit choppy and cabin insulation is not that great.

Pricing and warranty

GS3 Emzoom 1.5L T Comfort – R469,900

GS3 Emzoom 1.5L T Executive – R499,900

GS3 Emzoom 1.5L T R-Style – R549,900

The vehicle comes with a 5-year/150,000km Warranty and a 5-year/60,000km Service Plan, offering peace of mind with service intervals every 15,000km.