by Kelly Fisher
I’ve said it before, and I’ll keep saying it until it stops being true: I have earned my opinions on Chinese cars the hard way. I was there for the era of superglue-scented interiors and when pieces of the car came loose. So when I tell you the GAC Emkoo impressed me, understand that it’s coming from someone who isn’t easily won over by a nice sunroof and some mood lighting.
GAC is one of the newer names arriving on our market, and the Emkoo is its compact crossover play, sitting somewhere between R599,900 and R659,900 depending on spec. It’s definitely not trying to blend in with a front end that is all sharp angles and a V-shaped grille, the kind of “mecha” styling that either reads as futuristic or slightly try-hard depending on your mood that day. I landed on futuristic, mostly.
Under the bonnet is a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine producing 130 kW and 270 Nm, mated to a dual-clutch gearbox. On the move, it’s punchy enough to be genuinely fun, and it’s frugal too. I was seeing figures close to the claimed 6.4 L/100km without trying particularly hard. Where it stumbles a little is at low speed: there’s some hesitation off the line, but it’s nothing deal-breaking, just a small tax you pay for the good bits elsewhere.
A few things stood out that I haven’t seen mentioned much. The indicators have a slightly tinny click to them. It’s a small, odd detail in a cabin that otherwise feels properly screwed together. It doesn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things, but it makes you notice everything else it didn’t get wrong. And the infotainment screen, while sharp and responsive, is on the small side. In a segment where everyone’s chasing tablet-sized displays, the Emkoo’s felt more like a large cellphone. Not a problem, exactly, just a miss in a car that gets so much else right.
The rest of the cabin really does feel solid. The materials, the fit, the general sense of occasion all hold up. Boot space is generous, the safety kit is comprehensive (five-star Euro NCAP, six airbags, the full ADAS suite), and there’s enough tech on board that you stop thinking about where the badge came from.
If you’re cross-shopping the usual suspects (a Haval Jolion, a Chery Tiggo 7 Pro), the Emkoo deserves a spot on that list. It’s not perfect. The gearbox has moments, the screen could be bigger, and yes, the indicators sound a bit tinny. But overall, it feels like a genuinely solid, well-resolved car wearing a badge most South Africans haven’t heard of yet. Give it a chance anyway.