GAC. No, that wasn’t you clearing your throat, and yes, you’re forgiven for wondering whether it’s pronounced like GMC. In reality, it’s Guangzhou Automobile Group Co; so G A C it is. They are a major state-owned Chinese automaker.
More importantly, they have more than 20 years of experience building Toyotas and Hondas in China. Now they’re setting their sights on Australia, aiming to crack the top‑ten sellers by 2028. Ambitious? Absolutely.
But if the Emzoom is anything to go by, they’re not turning up unprepared. It rolled into the driveway as one of those rare surprises in this job, the kind that makes you pause, walk around it twice, and think, “Hang on… this might actually be good”.
As the week unfolded, that first impression held strong. The Emzoom doesn’t tiptoe into the Australian market; it strides in wearing Galaxy Lilac paint that practically demands attention. People stop. They stare.
They try to figure out what the G badge is. Honestly, that’s half the fun, watching curiosity turn into genuine interest. The angular grille sets the tone, giving the Emzoom a sharp, modern look that stands out in a sea of safe, rounded compact SUVs.
Even the door handles get in on the theatrics, popping out as you approach. Inside, the surprises continue. You expect hard plastics and cost‑cutting at this price point, but GAC has gone in a different direction.
Yes, there’s some plastic, but it’s balanced with soft‑touch materials across the dash and door cards. The cabin feels thoughtfully assembled rather than thrown together. Best of all, there’s barely any piano black trim. That alone deserves applause.
Wireless phone charging sits in the centre console, and there’s additional space underneath it. The 7.0‑inch instrument cluster sits neatly without intruding on your line of sight, while the 14.6‑inch central screen handles everything.
We mean that, as you’ll find the settings for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, seat ventilation, mirror adjustments, and the automatic parking system. The blind‑spot monitoring display appears on the centre screen rather than the mirrors, which is unusual.
Whether it’s better is up for debate, but at least you get a clear view of what’s lurking beside you. Living with the Emzoom day‑to‑day is easy too. That is unless you accidentally knock it into Sport mode.
An enthusiastic shove into Drive can flick it from Comfort to Sport. That’s when the 1.5‑litre turbo engine (127kW/270Nm) suddenly behaves like it’s been fed a double espresso. It revs high, reacts instantly, and lunges at the road with more enthusiasm than actual performance.
Paired with the 7‑speed DCT, it fires through gears like it’s trying to win a speed‑shifting competition. It feels like it’s simply trying too hard. Instead of a confident low‑end growl, you get a frantic scramble, claws out, scratching at your face, screaming for attention.
A little more refinement here would go a long way. Comfort mode, however, is where the Emzoom finds its rhythm. Fuel consumption averaged 6.2-litres/100km, beating the official figure. With a 47-litre tank, that gives you solid range.
The ride is smooth and composed, and the independent front suspension gives you confidence through corners. You can throw it into a set of bends and trust that it’ll hold its line rather than wobble like a politician’s promises.
The 18‑inch wheels look sharp but still offer enough sidewall to survive drive‑through kerbs and potholes. Across 1200km of testing, on highways, backroads, pothole dodging, and everything in between, the Emzoom stayed rattle‑free.
That’s not something every car in this price bracket can claim. For a compact SUV, it offers respectable practicality. The boot gives you 341-litres of space, expanding to 1271-litres with the rear seats folded.
The powered tailgate is meant to open via a kick sensor, but after several minutes of frustrated foot‑waving under the bumper, it refused to cooperate. At least it can be opened and closed through the central screen.
You can set the height, and open it via the button on the back like an ordinary vehicle, but where’s the fun in that. The only odd omission is the lack of a rear parcel shelf. It feels like something that should be there, especially in such a premium-esque cabin.
The Emzoom packs plenty of safety tech, but not all of it is perfectly polished. The radar cruise control works, but the adaptive function needs refinement. It tends to surge toward the car ahead, then back off, then surge again.
It’s almost like it’s unsure how close it wants to be. It’s usable, but not confidence‑inspiring. Lane keep assist, on the other hand, is solid and easy to set up. The emergency braking system is excellent.
It proved its worth when a rogue kangaroo launched itself onto the road. A skid, a moment of eye contact, and a shared understanding of how close things came. Both roo and reviewer walked away unscathed.
At $26,990 drive away, paired with a 7‑year unlimited kilometre warranty and 5-years of roadside assistance, the Emzoom makes a compelling case for itself. It’s one of those cars that challenges your expectations.
You think budget Chinese newcomer, but what you get is something far more polished, more premium, and more thoughtfully executed than the price suggests. It’s not perfect. The radar cruise control needs work (as we mentioned), and the cup holders need rubber lining.
The halogen number plate lights cheapen the rear end too. But these are small complaints in the bigger picture. What matters is that the Emzoom feels like a car built to impress, not just compete. It’s bold, comfortable, well‑equipped, and genuinely enjoyable to live with.
You can find out more about the 2026 GAC Emzoom Luxury from the brand’s Australian website, or by talking to your local dealership. To get a low rate finance quote, talk to Australia’s best reviewed car finance broker; Credit One.
To see a great range of vehicles for sale, check out OnlyCars.com.au.
Our test vehicle was provided by GAC Australia for independent review purposes. Exhaust Notes Australia has not been paid to review this vehicle.
