Power Wheels Magazine A Notch Above
GAC Motor Philippines, the subsidiary car brand of Astara Philippines, has taken great strides in promoting the brand, such as establishing multiple dealerships around the country and getting popular actor Dingdong Dantes as their brand ambassador. They have also taken great lengths for people to pronounce the brand name correctly. For those who don’t really know, GAC stands for Guangzhou Automobile Group, thus the initials, which is pronounced as “gee-ey-see” (G-A-C) and not as “gak” as most people tend to do.
GAC Motor brand ambassador Dingdong Dantes in an earlier GAC Emkoo print ad.
Another thing that GAC Motor Philippines is taking great lengths to promote is the fuel efficiency of their vehicles. Take for example their GAC Emkoo Hybrid – a front-wheel drive mid-sized 5-door SUV powered by a 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle inline 4-cylinder engine with a 134 kW electric motor – that was advertised as achieving a fuel mileage of 22.1 km/L (kilometers per liter) according to official tests. When it was our turn to test drive the Emkoo Hybrid, we took it as our personal challenge to try and equal or even better this official fuel mileage rating.
Behind the GAC Emkoo Hybrid’s ultramodern cubist facade…
… is a 140 hp 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle 4-cylinder coupled with a 180 hp (134 kW) electric motor.
Long Drives on Tollways
It just so happened that we were invited to the Guanzon Festival 2025 at The Waltz Convention Center in Calasiao, Pangasinan, which is around 205 kilometers north from our Project 8, Quezon City residence. We figured that the drive to-and-from Pangasinan plus side trips would give us a round-trip mileage of around 420 kilometers. We also figured we can get excellent fuel mileage on the tollways when we traverse NLEX (North Luzon Expressway) to SCTEX (Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway) up to TPLEX (Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway) en route to Calasiao.
We drove the Emkoo Hybrid from Project 8, Quezon City to Calasiao, Pangasinan to attend the Guanzon Festival 2025.
It was fun to drive with the sun and the sky peeking through the panoramic glass roof.
The GAC Emkoo Hybrid proved to be an enjoyable and capable highway flyer.
Except, of course, it was easier said than done. With several slow vehicles hogging the overtaking/fast lane of the tollways, we were compelled to speed up and overtake on an open lane, then drop the speed down to the posted speed limit, only to be slowed down again by a couple of slow-moving vehicles forming a gauntlet on all lanes. The gas-and-brake highway maneuvers consume fuel inefficiently and the 7-inch Digital Instrument Cluster displayed our best AFE (average fuel economy) at 5.7 liters per 100 kilometers.
The 420-kilometer drive to-and-from Pangasinan was quick, fun and relaxed.
On the tollways, we achieved an average fuel economy (AFE) of 5.7 L/100km or 17.54 km/L.
Close but No Cigar
By itself, an AFE of 5.7 L/100 kms, which is equivalent to 17.54 km/L, on the highway with the aircon on and some traffic slowing us down, is already impressive. Unfortunately, it is still short of our target of 22.1 km/L. We later realized that our steady driving style on the highways gave the regenerative braking system little time to recharge the battery pack. When the electric motor kicks in to assist the gasoline engine to overtake slower cars on the highway, the battery pack gets sapped, leaving little power for the electric motor to engage and the gasoline engine to disengage, thus consuming no fuel, when cruising at low speeds.
On the highways, we didn’t decelerate or brake enough for the Regenerative Braking System to fully recharge the battery pack…
… we only realized it as we were about to exit the NLEX Bocaue toll plaza.We tried to do better charging the battery in stop-and-go city traffic.
When we got back to Metro Manila, we were surprised with the Emkoo Hybrid’s fuel economy in city driving with traffic. The lowest AFE we got was 8.4 L/100 kms, or 11.91 km/L when we got stuck in heavy crawling traffic, while the best AFE we achieved was 4.6 L/100 kms, or 21.73 km/L, which made us very proud. However, our pride was short-lived when we found out that some of our colleagues who have test-driven the Emkoo Hybrid before us have reported fuel mileage as high as 26 km/L (in Comfort mode) and even 37 km/l (!) during a long highway drive with minimal traffic. We really need to learn a more efficient way of driving a hybrid vehicle. (Or you really need to learn if your colleagues aren’t exaggerating their claims. – Ed.)
In heavy, crawling city traffic, our AFE went down to 8.4 L/100km or 11.91 km/L…
But we were able to improve the AFE to 4.6 L/100km or 21.73 km/L by planning our trips and modulating our right foot.
Fuel Efficiency & Occupant Comfort
Of course, fuel efficiency is just one facet of the Emkoo Hybrid’s multi-facetted performance. Its leather interior has generous head-, leg-, shoulder-, and hip-room to comfortably transport five occupants over long distances. The ventilated front bucket seats have power adjustment for convenience and built-in coolers that feels heaven-sent during long hot summer drives. The cockpit is ergonomic and modern at the same time, with a “floating” center console that has the unique Diamond Gear Selector and a large cup holder on top, and additional storage space below to keep smaller, easy-to-misplace stuff.
Ventilated front bucket seats offer supreme comfort and support. Round edge design on aircon vent controls continue to the interior door levers.
“Floating” center console has a “Diamond” gear selector and mobile phone charger. Large drink holder can hold a Big Gulp.
The lower part of the “floating” center console can hold small, easy-to-misplace stuff. USB port and 12-volt outlet is easy to access.
The automatic air conditioning system keeps the interior cool even when the electric sunshade is full retracted and the panoramic glass roof lets the sunshine (and heat) in. The infotainment system with 10.1-inch floating touchscreen and 6 speakers does its job well and keeps all the occupants informed and entertained. The 60/40 split backrest of the rear bench seat can be adjusted and folded down to increase the cargo capacity from 181 to 1,859 dry liters, further emphasizing the utility aspect of this GAC 5-door sport utility vehicle.
10.1-inch “floating” touchscreen for the infotainment system has easily accessible sliding fan speed control for the A/C system and sliding volume control for the audio system.
Rear bench seat has generous leg room. The recline of the seatback can be adjusted.
The 60/40 split seatback can be folded to increase luggage/cargo capacity from 181 to 1859 dry liters.
Edgy & Angular Ultramodern Design
GAC Motor refers to the exterior design of the Emkoo Hybrid as “ultramodern” with an edgy and angular body, “Eyes of Revelation” headlights on top of a unique cubists grill, and “Quantum Lightsaber” taillights bookending a large tail gate. Personally, we find the front end handsome but the rear design a bit busy, especially with the tall roof spoiler that looks like it was taken off a boy racer and the black-and-aluminum rear bumper/lower panel with twin exhaust ports that looks like it was taken off a spaceship.
We find the futuristic front end of the Emkoo Hybrid handsome like our classic Jaguar XJ6…
… but we find the rear a bit busy with too many “cliche” angles & elements attached to it.
Its 19-inch two-tone aluminum alloy wheels wrapped with 235/55R19 GitiComfort 225v1 energy-saving tires fill up the Emkoo’s large wheel wells quite well. We applaud GAC engineers and designers for shoehorning the hybrid powertrain, independent suspension system, all-wheel disc brakes, comfortable and spacious interior, and an advanced driving assistance system (ADAS) into a 2.75-meter wheelbase and svelte angular body that’s around 4.7 meters long, 1.9 meters wide and 1.7 meters tall. Overall, we find the Emkoo Hybrid eye-catching and ultramodern, indeed.
19-inch wheels and 235/55R19 tires used to be expensive aftermarket accessories. Now, they’re standard with the Emkoo Hybrid.
19-inch wheel-and-tire combination make the angular 4.7-meter-long SUV body look svelte.
Ultramodern Hybrid Muscle
Going back to our challenge to match or better the official fuel efficiency, we have to be honest with you, our dear readers: We tried but we cannot help ourselves. You see, with 480 Newton-meters of combined torque at the tip of our right foot – 180 Nm from the engine and 300 Nm from the electric motor – the 1,670-kilogram Emkoo Hybrid accelerates like a proverbial bat-out-of-hell. Like a muscle car from the 1960s, it lunges forward and pins you to your seat when you stomp on the accelerator pedal. Unlike a ‘60s muscle car, there’s no wheel spin and no drama, just fast, smile-inducing forward motion.
The Emkoo Hybrid looks like it is always ready to pounce on other unsuspecting motorists with 480 Nm of torque.
And unlike a ‘60s muscle car, the Emkoo Hybrid is utterly civil and safe. ABS (anti-lock brakes) and EBD (electronic brakeforce distribution) helps rein it in from speed while ADAS assists during spirited driving with TCS (traction control), BSD (blind spot detection), LCA (lane change assist), LKA (lane keep assist), LDW (lane departure warning), FCW (forward collision warning), and other systems. It can even apply the brakes with AEB (autonomous emergency braking) in cases of imminent collision with other vehicles and AEB-VRU (automatic emergency braking-vulnerable road users) protection when it detects an imminent collision with pedestrians or cyclists.
With 320 hp on tap from its hybrid gas-electric powertrain, most motorists can only see this view of our Emkoo Hybrid flying on the highway.
Thus, we cannot really help ourselves but be impressed with the GAC Emkoo Hybrid. It is a quick, torque-laden but highly-controllable and safe SUV. We love the exhilaration of accelerating quickly and forcefully, forgetting our fuel efficiency goals. Despite compressing a 3 ½ hour trip from Metro Manila to Pangasinan into just 2 ½ hours, and enjoying spirited driving while it was in our weeklong custody, this Superstar Silver media test unit with more than 14,000 kms on its odometer, after being driven by several motoring media personalities with different driving styles and habits, still returned an Overall AFE of 7.0 L/100km or 14.29 km/L.
Now, THAT is truly impressive!
We are truly impressed by the overall performance of the GAC Emkoo Hybrid.
SPECIFICATIONS
Vehicle Type: Front engine, FWD, 5-door SUV
Price: P1,698,000
Engine: 2.0ATK inline 4-cylinder
Displacement: 1999cc
Maximum power: 140 hp @ 6000 rpm
Maximum torque: 180 Nm @ 4500 rpm
Transmissions: DHT
Electric motor power: 134 kW
Electric motor torque: 300 Nm
Fuel tank capacity: 50 liters
Wheelbase: 2750 mm
Length: 4680 mm
Width: 1901 mm
Height: 1670 mm
Trunk capacity: 181-1859 liters
Minimum ground clearance: 160 mm
Minimum turning radius: 5.5 m
Curb weight: 1670 kg
Front suspension: Independent, MacPherson struts with coil springs
Rear suspension: Independent, multi-link with coil springs
Front brakes: Ventilated discs
Rear brakes: Solid discs
Steering system: Rack & pinion with electric power assist (EPAS)
Wheels: 19-inch 10-spoke 5-lug two-tone aluminum alloy
Tires: 235/55R19
Advanced Driving Assistance System:
ACC Adaptive Cruise Control
ICA Integrated Cruise Assist
LDW Lane Departure Warning
LKA Lane Keep Assist
LCA Lane Change Assist
BSD Blind Spot Detection
FCW Forward Collision Warning
RCW Rear Collision Warning
RCTA Rear Cross Traffic Alert
AEB Autonomous Emergency Braking
AEB-VRU Automatic Emergency Braking-Vulnerable Road Users Protection
HBA High Beam Assist
TJA Traffic Jam Assist
TSR Traffic Sign Recognition System
