Clash of the Subcompact SUV Titans: GAC GS3 Emzoom vs Geely Coolray

The crossover market has become increasingly popular over time, particularly in the Philippines and across the globe.

With the introduction of its Coolray, Chinese automakers like Geely have become more prevalent, which is one of the reasons for this. It not only met crossover expectations for sporty styling and ride height, but it also dispelled the negative stereotype of Chinese automobiles. The Geely brand became well-known throughout the nation because of the Coolray's successful sales performance.

Now other automakers want a piece of the crossover market. With the brand-new GS3 Emzoom, GAC hopes to upend the subcompact crossover market, where the Geely Coolray currently holds a commanding position. The Philippines is the first international market to receive the model, which was first introduced in China last December 2022. The GS3 Emzoom offers outstanding performance, eye-catching design, and ample capacity in a single unit at a reasonable price.

Both the 2023 GAC GS3 Emzoom and 2023 Geely Coolray are stylish and well-equipped. But which of these crossovers from China is best? Let’s dive into the differences between both vehicles.

Variants and Prices

The starting price for the GAC GS3 Emzoom in the Philippines is P998,000. The GAC GS3 Emzoom GS has the lowest pricing and goes all the way up to the P1.198-million GAC GS3 Emzoom GL. Please take note that these model pricing are only being provided for a short period of time.

In the Philippines, the Geely Coolray starts at P1.083 million. The Geely Coolray 1.5 Comfort Turbo SE has the lowest price and goes all the way up to the Geely Coolray 1.5 Sport Turbo SE, which costs P1.299 million.

Exterior

The new design language used by GAC, which radiates a sporty yet futuristic industrial look typified by angular edges, geometric materials, and a dynamic attitude, is what gives the GS3 Emzoom its overall appearance. The vehicle's exterior is completed by 19-inch alloy wheels and a stylish body kit, both exclusive to the top-of-the-line 2023 GAC GS3 Emzoom GL variant.

The GAS GS3 Emzoom's front face has a "Flying Wing" front grille and Laser-Eye LED headlamps, which give the vehicle a sleek, futuristic appearance. Its light dart tail lamps are highlighted in the side profile by arc shadow blades.

Sleek and contemporary are the first adjectives that come to mind when describing the exterior of the Geely Coolray. The Geely Coolray's front fascia has a “Borderless Cosmos Grille” and a high-tech LED lighting system that improves visibility and contributes to increased road safety.

The 18-inch alloy wheels on the Geely Coolray give the design a touch of elegance while enhancing the dynamic appearance of the vehicle. In addition to enhancing the athletic appeal, the dynamic spoiler on the back also improves aerodynamic performance.

Interior and Key Convenience Features

The GS3 Emzoom's interior mixes a contemporary style with usability and comfort. Leather seats, wireless charging, futuristic AC vents, a 10.25-inch infotainment screen, a 7-inch LCD instrument cluster, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Phone Mirroring, a multifunction steering wheel, and other cutting-edge technology features are all infused with a futuristic aesthetic.

A motorized tailgate is incorporated for greater convenience when loading freight, and the vehicle's storage sections and compartments can accommodate up to 21 things. When the back seats are folded flat, the luggage compartment gives a huge amount of cargo capacity.

The interior of the Geely Coolray is roomy, comfy, and opulent in addition to having an appealing exterior. Numerous amenities compliment the functional and fashionable interior design to make every trip delightful.

A 10.25-inch touchscreen display on the Geely Coolray gives users access to a wide range of features and systems, including QDLink, a cutting-edge smartphone communication system that enables users to stay connected while driving. Push-button start and keyless entry are also included, making it simple to start the car without searching for your keys. Accessing the cargo area is also made simpler by the electric liftgate.

Safety

The Emzoom is equipped with many industry-required safety features, including ISOFIX child safety seat anchors, tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS), dual front side and curtain airbags, seatbelts with pretensioners and force limiters, hill-start hold control (HHC), hill-descent control (HDC), electronic parking brake with auto hold, electronic stability program (ESP), tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS), and engine immobilizer, to name a few.

The GS3 Emzoom also includes a variety of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) technologies, such as cruise control, parking sensors, a reverse camera, and other sophisticated systems like Lane Keep Assist, Lane Departure Warning, High Beam Assist, and Traffic Jam Assist.

The Geely Coolray has a number of cutting-edge safety features that give both drivers and passengers peace of mind. Safety is always a top priority.

The Geely Coolray comes standard with an anti-lock braking system, traction and stability control, hill start assist, hill hold control, a 360-degree view parking camera, front and rear corner sensors, tire pressure monitoring system, cruise control, active park assist, as well as a blind spot detection system.

Performance

A 1.5-liter gasoline direct injection turbocharged engine and a seven-speed wet dual clutch transmission power the GAC GS3 Emzoom. The powerful engine generates 270 Nm of torque and 174 horsepower, all of which are directed to the front wheels.

A 1.5-liter three-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine powers the Coolray. The engine generates 255 Nm of torque and 177 horsepower. A 7-speed wet dual-clutch transmission that only drives the front wheels is coupled to the engine.

Conclusion

The GS3 Emzoom certainly packs the features, performance, and style to rival the Coolray. However, only time will tell whether the newcomer can outperform the leader from its perch. If you're fan of this kind of crossovers, it's one battle you wouldn't want to miss. 

Photos from GAC, Geely, Kent Flores, Dylan Afuang, Roy Robles