GS3 Emzoom. It is another of the new Chinese models that continue to add diversity fo choice for local buyers, in a market where price and value remain immensely important. But what if you want a great value compact crossover, that isn’t a vanilla design?
That’s where the GAC GS3 Emzoom Could be the veritable bargain buy of early 2025.
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GAC entered the market last year with compact and mid-sized crossovers. Boldly styled, generously equipped and powered by the 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbomotors that seem to be a default for most mid-size Chinese cars.
We’ve tested the GAC GS3 Emzoom R Style, and even amidst the broad spectrum of value offered by Chinese cars in the local market, it’s quite the deal.
Bold ‘cubist’ design
The GS3 Emzoom features several angular and geometric surface and corner details, creating a car with presence. It’s not the subtle, organic design you’d expect from many five-door cars priced in and around R500 000.
From the grille patterning to the bumper piping and those central exhausts, the GAC in R Style finish makes a statement. Its design could be too bold for many buyers, but if you want a Chinese car with an expressive exterior design and geometric shapes, you’ll love the GS3 GS3 Emzoom in R Style.
The cubist-type styling details aren’t vanilla; but for buyers who want something differentiated and affordable, GAC’s cubist design language will have an appeal all of its own.
Those ‘hidden’ door handles
A debit of the ingress design are those auto deploying door handles. The aerodynamic benefits of having a door handle that sits flush into the door surface are real. Better aerodynamics mean less wind noise, slightly improved overall efficiency, and lower cruising speed fuel consumption.
The issue with those ‘hidden’ door handles is how they slip from your grip if you aren’t paying attention, especially if you are opening a door in high winds with the car parked at an acute angle. A traditional U-shaped door handle, or a hidden handle with a recess indent in the middle, which you can underhand grip, just work better.
Subtle cabin
GAC’s design team has been smart, separating the design themes between interior and exterior. Ergonomics are prioritised inside the GS3 Emzoom, instead of trying to repeat all the extravagant exterior design inside.
The infotainment screen is a reasonable 10.25-inches, which means you can discern menu options and icons at a glance. Like most Chinese vehicles, the infotainment screen features excellent luminance and graphic contrast, even in harsh South African sunlight.
Small item storage space is excellent, aided by the floating centre console design. There are 21 storage compartments to organise your daily commuting life or all those small items that inevitably get packed for a long weekend journey.
Compact but capacious
It might be classed as a small crossover, but the GS3 Emzoom has clever packaging, allowing 1274-litres of load space with the rear seats folded. Chinese auto designers are masters of making the most of wheelbase and space.
How big is that? Our default test for true loadspace utility is being able to transport an XL-size mountain bike with only its front wheel removed. And GAC’s small crossover passed the mountain bike transport test with ease.
For connectivity there’s the option of wired Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay. Both USB standards are supported, but the port placements aren’t ideal. They are under the floating centre storage console, and you can forget about connecting a cable or USB drive, while driving. The angle and hand dexterity required to reach down under the floating console with your left hand, is just too awkward to execute on the move.
GS3 Emzoom driving experience
In R Style trim, GAC’s five-door compact crossover looks like a raised ride height hot hatchback. It does claim some of that hot hatch likeness, with the adjustable driving modes, including a performance setting that amplifies the exhaust note.
It’s not a particularly heavy vehicle, so the 1.5-litre turbopetrol’s outputs are reasonably well matched to real-world driving needs. The engine boosts 130kW and 270Nm. Mild numbers, but the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission does make the GAC feel very responsive.
VW proved the potential of dual-clutch transmissions for compact cars with smaller engines. Its DSG transmission revolutionised expectations of how responsive a compact car could be without outrageous engine outputs. And GAC proves that logic with the GS3 Emzoom’s engine and drivetrain.
The seven-speed dual-clutch transmission is always intuitive to your driving needs. A benefit of any dual-clutch transmission is that the next gear (up or down) is always pre-selected. That means credible throttle response, without overshifting and harsh transmission kickdowns.
The 1.5-litre turbopetrol and seven-speed dual-clutch transmission are well matched, and overall drivetrain calibration is sound. With the GAC, there’s none of the low-speed throttle lurching annoyance that occasionally features on some Chinese cars, with similarly small-capacity turbopetrol engines.
GS3 Emzoom has become a better deal
What about the value and bargain pricing alluded to in the first sentence of this review? Well, the numbers and latest discounting aren’t complex to understand.
The GAC GS3 Emzoom R Style was priced at R549 900 last year. A good deal. Now? It’s only R489 900. Potentially, a great deal.
If you love Georges Braque cubism, you’ll love the design of GAC’s compact crossover. Factored with the latest discount, it could very well be the best deal of early 2025.
