GAC, the relatively new comer to the South African market has been established in the country for about a year now and one of the first cars they brought in was the GS3 hatchback. The popular one in the line up was the Emzoom R Style which is there "hot hatch" variant of the model. The car itself has grown popularity with the local market with quite a few being sold, it is a very attractive car as we will touch on the styling shortly but does the engine have enough grunt to substantiate its sport looks and appeal? I spend a few days with it to find out and here are my thoughts.
DESIGN
If you like cars that make a statement, the Emzoom R-Style won’t disappoint, finished in Salt Lake Blue, the model was quite a looker with it commanding attention from everyone when I drove it. The R-Style trim pushes a dramatic, almost mecha-inspired look, with a large vertically-slatted grille, razor-sharp creases, pronounced wheel arches and orange contrast accents on the R-Style that emphasise sportiness. The rear treatment is similarly aggressive with a faux-diffuser and center-mounted twin exhaust outlets on the R-Style, styling cues that set it apart from conservative rivals. The overall effect is contemporary and polarising in equal measure: it stands out in traffic and on dealer lots. Practical details include retractable/electric door handles, 18” alloy wheels depending on spec, and a power tailgate on higher trims. The ride height and compact footprint keep city manoeuvrability while giving a confident road presence.
PERFORMANCE
Under the bonnet is a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder delivering 130Kw and 270 Nm of torque, mated to a 7-speed wet dual-clutch transmission (DCT). The spec combination gives the GS3 brisk acceleration that see's it accomplish a l 0–100 km/h time of around 8.0 seconds. The cars automatic gearbox selects sport mode when selecting drive and a further tap down then selects the normal drive gear, not sure if that is normal of a defect on the test car I had, but I found the accelerator extremely sensitive on the foot with the slight tap propelling the car forward like a jolt, this could be problematic in tight spots seeing that the car is so eager to go when in gear, it could be due to the dual clutch gearbox which normally show hesitation on take off so naturally it makes one tap the pedal harder.. On the move the Emzoom balances comfort and poise: reviewers report a taut but controlled suspension set-up especially on R-Style with grippier tyres, with neat steering feel. Several long-term and independent reviews mention slight DCT tip-in delay under certain conditions. Fuel economy in the GS3’s is pretty high for a small hatch, which the combined claim sits around 6.2 L/100 km, I was averaging around 8L/100km, not sure if it was due to me driving in sports mode most of the time.
COMFORT
Cabin space is surprisingly good for a car this size, the interior is extremely spacious and the seats very comfortable. The Emzoom’s wheelbase gives reasonable rear-seat legroom and a usable boot of about 341 L, comparable to class rivals. Front seats in higher trims are supportive and come with power adjustment for the driver; the panoramic roof brightens the cabin but may slightly raise interior heat in SA’s summer but still very cool option to have. The rear headroom is fine for the average adult, as normally with cars like this, many tend to bash their heads while getting in, you wont have that problem with the GS3. Build quality and materials feel modern with soft-touch surfaces, leather or PVC leather options, and tidy switchgear. I particularly liked the clean center console with everything driver centric giving you a cockpit feel in the car. The car comes with a dual-screen layout with a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen plus a digital instrument display. Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android mirroring, multiple USB ports (Type-A and C), wireless charging and a surround-view camera that is offered in the R-Style package. The system runs a modern-feeling UI and includes connected features where available.
VERDICT
The GAC GS3 Emzoom R-Style is a strong-value, feature-packed compact crossover that offers modern styling, genuine ADAS safety credentials and a compelling ownership package, notably the lifetime engine warranty for first owners. For South African buyers who prioritise kit, tech and safety over brand conservatism or who want a car that looks different from the usual suspects the Emzoom is a very attractive proposition and arguably one of the best value buys in the B-SUV segment right now. If you do lots of inner-city crawl traffic, test-drive the R-Style to judge the DCT behaviour for yourself and compare seat comfort over a longer route.
SPECIFICATION
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