2024 GAC GS3 EMZOOM Standard Review

The C-Segment SUV market has become increasingly competitive recently, with young families and newly employed individuals leaning towards models that offer adequate space, balanced features, and affordable prices. The newly launched GAC GS3 EMZOOM Standard in October 2024 enters this segment with a price of RM 103,800. Its core selling points focus on the power output of the 1.5T turbocharged engine, the space performance brought by the 2650mm wheelbase, and the standard intelligent features. The purpose of this test drive is to verify whether its actual performance in scenarios like daily commuting and weekend family outings meets expectations, and to evaluate how much value for money this price offers.

At first glance, the GS3 EMZOOM Standard leans towards a youthful design style. The front features a large honeycomb-shaped grille framed with chrome trims, paired with sharp LED headlight clusters on both sides, giving it a decent level of recognition. The body side lines are smooth, with a waistline running from the hood to the rear, preventing a monotonous side appearance. The 18-inch multi-spoke wheels paired with 225/55 R18 tires fit well with the C-Segment SUV positioning, avoiding an overly thin look. The rear design is relatively simplistic, with horizontally positioned LED taillight clusters that provide clear visibility when lit. The black protective plate under the rear bumper adds a bit of rugged SUV charm. The lighting system uses fully LED sources, including daytime running lights and rear fog lights, ensuring sufficient brightness and durability for everyday use.

Opening the car door, the interior predominantly features dark colors, and the dashboard layout is fairly orderly. The central control area is equipped with a 10.25-inch touch screen, which is medium-to-above-average in size compared to vehicles in the same price range. It offers good operating smoothness and supports basic multimedia and Bluetooth connection functions. The instrument panel features a 3.5-inch LCD display, which shows basic information such as speed, RPM, and fuel level. While it's not a full-LCD panel, it's sufficient for daily use. As for materials, the upper part of the dashboard is made of hard plastic. However, the detailing is decent, and it doesn't feel overtly cheap. The seats are fabric, with the driver's seat supporting six-way manual adjustment and the passenger seat supporting four-way manual adjustment. The adjustment range is sufficient to cover seating preferences for most users. The rear seats can be folded down in a 60/40 split, which expands the trunk space; however, the standard trunk capacity is 341L, which is suitable for a few carry-on bags or shopping items. For long trips, folding down the rear seats may be necessary to load more luggage. Regarding space, the 2650mm wheelbase is standard for C-Segment SUVs. The front row offers generous space, with sufficient headroom and legroom for passengers around 175cm tall. In the rear row, there’s roughly two fists' worth of legroom and one fist of headroom. The slight floor protrusion in the middle doesn’t have much impact, and seating three adults isn’t overly cramped. As for storage spaces, the front door panels have slots capable of holding two water bottles, the central armrest box and glove compartment have moderate capacity, and the rear also features door panel slots and a central cup holder, meeting basic practical needs for families.

In terms of power, it is equipped with a 1.5T turbocharged engine with a maximum power of 130kW (177PS) and a maximum torque of 270N·m, paired with a 7-speed wet dual-clutch transmission. During actual driving, the power response in the initial acceleration phase is quite responsive. A light press on the accelerator gives a noticeable sense of thrust, with the turbo kicking in at around 1500rpm. The engagement of the turbo is smooth and not abrupt. During acceleration, the gearbox shifts quickly and smoothly. Driving in urban roads, whether following traffic or overtaking, feels effortless. When driving at high speeds, the engine maintains a speed of around 2,000rpm, providing sufficient power reserves. When accelerating, pressing the accelerator deeply prompts the transmission to downshift quickly, delivering continuous power output. There is only one standard driving mode, which is sufficient for daily use.

In terms of handling, the steering wheel has a moderate resistance and precise direction with no noticeable play, making it very agile for daily lane changes or turns. The front suspension adopts a MacPherson independent suspension, while the rear is a torsion-beam non-independent suspension, a common configuration in C-Segment SUVs. For small bumps in urban roads, the suspension filters out most vibrations, offering decent ride comfort. However, when meeting speed bumps or larger impacts, the rear suspension feels slightly stiff, with more noticeable vibrations for rear passengers. The overall chassis tuning leans towards comfort, and at high speeds, the vehicle remains stable without feeling light or floaty. As for braking, the front ventilated discs and rear solid discs work well together, the brake pedal has a moderate travel, and the braking force output is linear, instilling confidence during daily braking.

Fuel consumption is a key concern for most people. In this test drive, mainly on urban roads with occasional sections of highway driving, the average fuel consumption was about 6.5L/100km, slightly higher than the official figure of 5.9L/100km. However, considering the city’s congested traffic, this fuel efficiency is within the normal range for turbocharged vehicles of similar displacement. In terms of noise control, engine noise and tire noise are relatively low during low-speed driving. At high speeds, wind noise becomes slightly more noticeable, but it is still within an acceptable range and does not disrupt normal conversations inside the cabin. The seat comfort is quite good, with fabric seats providing decent wrapping and support, making long-term seating less tiring.

To sum up, the 2024 GAC GS3 EMZOOM Standard's core strengths lie in its performance and practical interior space. The 1.5T engine's output is among the top in its segment, and its 2650mm wheelbase provides spacious seating, making it well-suited for family use. In terms of features, it comes standard with LED headlights, a 10.25-inch central control screen, keyless entry, and electrically folding side mirrors. Although it does not offer many high-end features, the basic features are sufficient for daily usage. However, it only has two airbags, which is slightly less than some competing models with four or six airbags, and the number of speakers is limited to just two, resulting in average audio quality.

Compared to similarly priced C-Segment SUVs like the Proton X50 or Honda HR-V, the GS3 EMZOOM Standard has an advantage in terms of power specs, while its space performance is on par. Its price is slightly higher than the Proton X50 Premium version but slightly lower than the lower trims of the Honda HR-V, making its overall value moderate. It is suitable for families that prioritize power and space over high-end features or for young professionals seeking a balanced and durable commuter vehicle. If you are looking for an SUV that meets both daily commuting and family travel needs, and also places some importance on power, the GS3 EMZOOM Standard is worth considering.