Not just a ‘Temu Lexus’

WHAT IS IT?

GAC (Guangzhou Automobile Group Motor Company) is one of the many Chinese brands giving the old guard a hard time in South Africa right now. It was founded in 2008 and started exporting cars in 2013, reaching Mzansi in 2024. It already has 40 local dealer locations and growing.

WHY THIS?

Cars have become incredibly expensive in South Africa. This has made the more affordable brands from China attractive to buyers, especially when you consider what these vehicles come with. The GAC Emkoo, for example, has hints of a Lexus about it both inside and out, but retails for half the price. It’s not just a “Temu Lexus” though – it’s a decent car that can stand on its own.

OUTSIDE

Like a Facebook relationship, it’s complicated. Complicated in that there is a LOT going on here, and also complicated because I can’t figure out if I like it or not.

There’s no question that the Emkoo turns heads – that busy, angular, sleek front end is gorgeous. Change the badge and it could be a Lexus. It’s the same with the profile, but when you get to the rear, I feel like the designers should have stopped one step before the spoiler. It’s trying too hard.

INSIDE

Perhaps the most surprising element of this vehicle is the huge amount of space for all the occupants. Rear legroom – expansive. Front legroom – epic. Headroom – lofty. Boot – cavernous (but a small cave, not Kango.)

Less surprising is the number of techie bits – there’s a massive central screen that controls everything, there’s a screen behind the steering wheel and there’s a HUD (heads up display) as well, so you can see things like the speed projected beyond the windscreen.

THE DRIVE

Pros: GAC has put a cracking little engine in the Emkoo, a 130 kW/270Nm 1.5-litre 4-cylinder turbo-petrol paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The car goes really well, with responsive acceleration and low noise levels. The suspension is soft and comfortable, but not too soft, and gear changes are silky.  

Cons: The Eco mode knocks off too much power, to the extent that there is significant turbo lag. Just leave the car in Comfort mode or flick it into Sport when you’re in the mood. The steering is also a bit light. Finally, the claimed fuel consumption of 6.4L/100km is mere propaganda – I never got it below 8L/100km and it was usually closer to 10, even though I did mostly highway driving.

Driver assistance: There’s a chance that the driver assistance systems don’t bother Chinese drivers because they’re already used to their government controlling everything, but for us free-rolling South Africans the intrusions are a bit much. Luckily you can switch off the lane change assist and the front crash avoidance if you’d like to.

FINAL WORD

GAC did something impressive recently: first, it dropped the price of its two vehicle ranges in South Africa, because forex fluctuations allowed them to. Then, even better, it reached out to recent buyers of the cars to ensure they benefitted from the decrease too.  

GO GET IT

The GAC Emkoo starts at R519 900 (it was R599 900) and is backed by a 5-year/150 000km warranty as well as an impressive 5-year/100 000km service plan. Visit www.gacmotorza.co.za for more info.