Chinese automotive brand GAC Motor, which entered the South African new-vehicle market in 2024, has significantly lowered the asking prices of its models (in January 2025), including those of the arrestingly styled GS3 Emzoom compact family car.
GAC Motor, a subsidiary of GAC Group, was founded in 2008. The fledgling brand signed a strategic agreement with the Salvador Caetano Group to handle its distribution and retail operations in Mzansi and its first offering on local soil, the GS3 Emzoom, competes in the small-crossover segment of the market.
GAC Motor South Africa (SA), which launched the GS3 Emzoom in July 2024, followed by its Emkoo family car sibling in September 2024, has now announced “a strategic price reduction” for the models. It attributes the price drop to “a better forex rate through the end of 2024”, as well as “scaled global cost reduction initiatives, allowing (the Bryanston-based importer) to pass the benefits… to the consumer.”
See also: GAC GS3 Emzoom (2024) Launch Review
GAC Motor SA, which is said to be increasing its dealerships and service centres to 40 outlets, further says the adjustment is not “temporary sales support or promotional tactics”, but “a response to market conditions” and underlines the firm’s “transparency in pricing and commitment to fair… practices”.
See also: Dramatic price drop for GAC Emkoo
What does the GAC GS3 Emzoom offer?
Like its fellow Chinese-made small crossovers – the Omoda C5, Jaecoo J7 and BAIC X55 Beijing – the GS2 Emzoom is distinguished by strikingly futuristic styling cues, including sharp lines, hidden door handles, ornate taillights and – on the Sports Pack-equipped 1.5T R-Style – even a sportscar-inspired rear diffuser with a pair of centrally positioned exhaust ends, along with a sizeable panoramic sunroof.
The GAC GS3 Emzoom’s “flying-mecha” front-end design features LED headlights with LED DRLs, while a double waistline element accentuates the model’s flanks. The 3D-effect tail-light clusters, which are said to incorporate 66 LEDs, are complemented by the sporty rear wing; 18-inch alloys are standard.
The GAC GS3 Emzoom is 4 410 mm long, 1 850 mm wide and stands 1 600 mm tall; it rides on McPherson front and a torsion-beam rear suspension, and GAC Motor claims the small crossover’s load bay can hold 341 litres (and up to 1 271 litres when the rear seats are folded down).
With its stylish, upmarket and tech-laden cabin, the GAC GS3 Emzoom seems to straddle the small family car and boutique crossover segments; it has as many as 21 storage compartments (helped by its floating centre console design, no doubt) and a host of connectivity options via its 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which supports wired Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay.
Even the entry-level GS3 Emzoom 1.5T Comfort comes equipped with electrically folding side mirrors, keyless entry/start, a multifunction ‘wheel, cruise- and dual-zone climate control, Type-A front USB ports, one-touch anti-pinch electric windows, a reverse-view camera and 3 drive modes (Eco, Comfort and Sport).
But whereas the 1.5T Comfort has fabric and synthetic leather upholstery and a 3.5-inch driver info display in its instrument cluster, the 1.5T Executive has leather trim on the ‘wheel and seats, a 7-inch LCD digital instrument cluster, adaptive cruise control, 2nd-row ventilation outlets and rear reading lights.
As expected, the range-topping 1.5T R-Style has the most comprehensive spec, which includes rain-sensing wipers, 6-way power adjustment for the driver’s seat, a crystal-detailed transmission lever, a wireless charging pad, a surround-view camera system, Type-C front USB ports, a rear centre armrest and -headrest, ambient cabin lighting, as well as an electrically operated tailgate.
In terms of standard safety equipment, all variants come fitted with dual-front airbags, ABS with EBD, an electronic stability programme, hill-hold control, an electronic parking brake, tyre pressure monitors and ISOfix child-seat safety anchors.
However, you have to upgrade to the 1.5T Executive to benefit from additional safety items (and ADAS systems) such as dual front side airbags, automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, traffic-sign recognition, intelligent speed-limit control and lane departure warning.
On top of the 1.5T Executive’s safety spec, the 1.5T R-Line range-topper further adds curtain airbags, hill descent control and high-beam assist.
All GAC GS3 Emzoom derivatives are powered by a 1.5-litre 4-cylinder turbopetrol engine that produces 130 kW/270 Nm and is mated with a 7-speed (wet) dual-clutch automatic transmission.
The Chinese manufacturer claims GS3 Emzoom variants (all of which are equipped with electric power steering) can accelerate from zero to 100 kph in 8 sec, while consuming an average of 6.2 litres of fuel per 100 km on the combined cycle.
Warranty & Service plan
The GS3 Emzoom was the first of 3 GAC models (the 2nd being the Emkoo family car, with the Aion Y electric crossover also in the pipeline) to be launched in South Africa. All variants come with a 5-year/150 000 km warranty and a 5-year/60 000 km service plan, with service intervals every 15 000 km.
Furthermore, GAC South Africa offers a lifetime (unlimited years and -kilometres) warranty on the engine of the GS3 Emzoom, but it only applies to the 1st owner of the vehicle (Terms and Conditions apply).
Watch Jacob Moshokoa’s video review of the 2024 GAC GS3 Emzoom:
How much does the GAC GS3 Emzoom cost in SA?
| Launch Price (Aug 2024) | Revised Price (Jan 2025) | |
| 1.5T Comfort | R469 900 | R419 900 |
| 1.5T Executive | R499 900 | R439 900 |
| 1.5T R-Style | R549 900 | R489 900 |
GAC Motor South Africa said in a statement (January 2025) that it “is sensitive to (its) valued customers who have purchased a GAC Motor model in 2024 and in the interests of a fair and equitable relationship, (the company) invites these customers to contact the distributor through its website or contact numbers to discuss any potential concerns regarding the price reduction and how they will be accommodated.”
Related content:
GAC GS3 Emzoom (2024) Launch Review
GAC Emkoo (2024) Launch Review
