When manufacturers launch all-new or refreshed vehicles, they usually reveal only the top-of-the-line version of that specific nameplate. Sure, there are some brands that also show a mid-range model but more often than not, most car brands in the country want to wow everyone with the fully decked-out variant that has all the bells and whistles.
In general, we liked how GAC Motor kept this particular variant stylish and pleasing to the eyes. They even kept the electronically-folding door handles which is one of my favorite features on the vehicle. However, I do wish they chose a better set of alloy wheels as I’m not too fond of the turbine-style design found in the GE. I’m also hoping they do something about the faux exhaust ports on the rear bumper.
While it seems I’m all praises, there are some points of improvement for GAC Motor to work on. For starters, I wish they had a separate control panel for the dual-zone climate control. With most of its functions on the touchscreen, making minor changes might distract the driver while on the road. Yes, there are shortcuts on the screen and the dashboard, but having tactile buttons and switches to adjust the climate control will be easier I believe.
In city driving, however, I wish the Emkoo delivered smoother gear changes. Yes, it has a wet-type DCT but a little bit more refinement from the transmission software would help the crossover switch cogs seamlessly. This is more apparent during stop-and-go traffic where the transmission would sometimes hang onto a gear before switching to the next one.