2023 GAC Emkoo Drive to Pampanga: More than just a striking crossover SUV

The popularity of five-seater compact crossover vehicles is continuously gaining momentum in the Philippines as seen on the likes of the Ford Territory, which currently has a market share of 46 percent in the said segment – translating to 6,955 units sold so far this 2023. 

2023 GAC Emkoo

Car brands in the Philippines are aware of the demand, which is why it is pitting their respective challenger in the compact crossover segment. GAC Motor Philippines is among the car brands wanting to take a slice of the pie as it launched the Emkoo at the 2023 Manila International Auto Show last April.

The GAC Emkoo is a five-seater compact crossover that comes with a striking and distinctive exterior design. It also comes with a modern-looking interior as well as a host of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) that are available even on the entry-level trim.

But, does the Emkoo’s intricate styling enough to sway potential buyers? We took it for a quick road trip up north to find out. 

GAC Motor PH Manila Bay dealership

Philkotse is among the invited publications at the media drive organized by GAC Motor Philippines featuring the Emkoo. The drive’s starting point is the car brand’s dealerships in Manila Bay where a fleet of four GAC Emkoo units welcomed the participants. Of note, the GAC Emkoo is available in two variants, the entry-level GE and the top-spec GL.

It comes with a striking exterior

The Emkoo has a modern-looking exterior, which stands out from its current segment rivals. It arguably has the most radical-looking design, which makes it one of the Emkoo’s main calling cards in swaying car buyers. It has a grille-less front fascia that’s complemented by LED headlights, and a pair of fang-like LED daytime running lights. This trio design combo gives the Emkoo a distinct and assertive look. 

Look at those character lines

The Emkoo’s crisp and intricate exterior continues to be seen at the sides. The character lines give emphasis to the Emkoo’s fast-back-inspired finish while the black cladding provides an accent to the overall side profile. It also comes with seamless door handles, making the vehicle look as sleek as possible. The top-spec Emkoo GL comes with 19-inch dual-tone alloy wheels while the entry-level GE trim is fitted with 18-inch blacked-out wheels. 

2023 GAC Emkoo (shown is the entry-level GE trim)

The rear is as striking as the front end. It comes with slim LED taillights, crisp character lines, and a flat silver finish on the bumper. I only wish that the amount of black cladding on the Emkoo’s rear be reduced a bit to make it more sleek and less rugged-ish. 

Inside, the GAC Emkoo has a modern-looking cabin. Soft-touch materials are present throughout the interior as seen on the dashboard and door cards, which gives a premium-like finish. GAC found a way to sort of hide the use of hard plastics as the said material is placed on the non-touch points inside the cabin. 

The Emkoo's front interior

The driver’s seat gets a six-way power adjustment, which helps in allowing me to find my most preferred driving position. What’s even better is that the front seats have a ventilation function, which is perfect in tropical countries such as the Philippines. The bolstering and cushioning of the front seats are also notable, giving me a relaxed feel while making my way out of the city, and while driving through the expressways en route to Pampanga.

The GAC Emkoo's infotainment touchsreen comes with Apple CarPlay compatibility

The two GAC Emkoo variants come standard with a 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Also equipped as a standard feature is the seven-inch digital gauge cluster. The two screens’ resolutions are good and the infotainment screen is relatively responsive to every touch. 

However, the Apple CarPlay got disconnected and the infotainment screen froze for a bit when I was cruising along NLEX. This is an issue that I have also experienced in other cars that I have tested such as the next-gen Ford Everest.    

Rear passengers get plenty of legroom

Rear passengers, on the other hand, get plenty of legroom. It also has rear aircon vents, which help in cooling down the cabin more efficiently. Of note, the entry-level Emkoo GE doesn’t come with a sunroof, a feature that’s exclusive to the top-spec variant.

The GAC Emkoo, regardless of the variant, is powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine that delivers 177 horsepower and 270 Nm of torque. The engine is connected to a seven-speed wet dual-clutch automatic transmission. It also comes with three drive modes: Eco, Comfort, and Sport. 

I opted to use the Comfort mode during the course of the media drive. The Emkoo’s 1.5-liter turbo gasoline puts out adequate power, giving you confidence when you want to overtake slower vehicles. However, there’s a little hint of shift shock, especially at lower gears but it’s not that bothersome.  

The Emkoo has notable noise insulation

Meanwhile, the throttle response is good even when the Comfort mode is engaged. When I tried the Sport mode, the throttle became more responsive while the engine revs stayed on higher rpms as expected. 

The Emkoo’s steering wheel feels light but it still has enough road feedback. It gets firmer as you start to gain speed, which gives better control of the vehicle when cruising at highway speeds. 

Another thing that stands out with the Emkoo is its road impact absorption. This crossover’s suspension leans more on the soft side, resulting in a smooth drive. Road bumps and imperfections are absorbed within reason, which adds to the Emkoo’s overall drive and ride. On the other hand, I was surprised with the Emkoo’s cabin insulation as outside noise is reduced to a minimum. Even the tire noise was relatively muted while I was driving along the expressway.

Among the Emkoo’s arsenals is the availability of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) on both the entry-level and the top-of-the-line variants. This means that the entry-level Emkoo is still loaded with tech features despite having a lower price tag. 

One of the ADAS features I tested during the drive was the adaptive cruise control, which worked fine when I engaged it. A little bit of a learning curve might be needed though when locating the button for the cruise control’s speed adjustment as it is placed near the buttons that are meant to toggle the menu integrated into the digital gauge cluster. 

The lane keep assist function is another ADAS feature that I tested. The said ADAS tech helps the Emkoo to be centered within the lane by applying steering torque or a subtle nudge to the steering wheel. This allowed me to have a more leisurely and safer drive while cruising the Skyway Stage 3 and NLEX.

Cruising at the Skyway Stage 3

The drive from GAC Manila Bay to our destination in Pampaga clocked a driving distance of 132.2 kilometers, and it took us more than two hours and a half to reach our stop. When it comes to fuel economy, the GAC Emkoo registered 12.3 km/l. Expect a more detailed fuel economy rating once we fully review the GAC Emkoo. 

2023 GAC Emkoo

With all said and done, does the GAC Emkoo have what it takes to take on its competition? I think that it has enough arsenal to challenge its segment rivals. Aside from its striking design, the GAC Emkoo is a five-seater compact crossover that’s fully equipped with tech and safety features. And oh, the Emkoo retails with a starting price of Php 1,298,000 while the top-spec trim is priced at Php 1,498,000.